"God's Response to Our Grumbling," Exodus 16: 2-15, Pastor Marvin G Spence
Sometimes in our lives we will meet people who are either never satisfied, always seeing the cup as half empty or never seeming to have enough. There are life lessons to be learned from the nearsighted, newly freed Hebrews who complained about food while discounting what God had already done for them--set them free and on the path toward the Promised Land. First lesson: Celebrate the blessings that God has already bestowed upon us and be thankful. Second Lesson: Like the Hebrews, we have done nothing to merit the Lord's grace and providence so we should reclaim our humility and make pleasing God the priority, rather than ourselves. Third lesson (which those Hebrews failed to learn): "Be still" and trust that the Lord will never forsake his beloved people. In the midst of our challenges, concerns and fears it may be hard for us to see that the Lord's love for us remains constant and unfailing. Fourth Lesson: Don't let grumbling over perceived unfairness lead to discontent and rebellion toward God. Remember God's response subsequently denied them access to the Promised Land. Unless we withdraw to a quiet place to pray and listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit we risk complaining, grumbling and murmuring when praise and thankfulness should be the first thought on our minds.
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