And do not grumble as some of them did….     1 Corinthians 10:10

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul gives warnings from Israel’s history – specifically from when they were in the desert.  He says in verse 6, “now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”  He warned against idolatry, sexual immorality and of testing the Lord.  Then the last warning – Do Not Grumble (complain).  I felt pretty confident as I read this list until I came to that last one – Guilty!

We give the Israelites a hard time and think that we would have done so much better if it were us in the desert – Moses did refer to them as a stiff-necked people.  Never mind the fact that we’ve read the whole story and know how it ends and what God’s plan really was for them.  Doesn’t that make it so much easier than when you are smack dab in the middle of it? Here they were, directly in God’s will and on His path for them.  He was literally leading them day and night by cloud and fire and they still grumbled and complained.  I guess it is hard to see the good sometimes when you are in the midst of a trial. I tend to think it is OK for me to grumble because I’m not always sure of God’s will for my life.  I want to be in His will and always on His path but I don’t have that cloud showing me the exact way and that can be frustrating.  Sometimes He is silent, so I grumble when He is not speaking or revealing to me what I am seeking from Him.  Sometimes my prayers aren’t being answered the way I want so I grumble.  Sometimes all I hear is “wait” or “be still” so I grumble because I want action.  I feel like I need to be doing something.  In those times though, maybe the something I need to be doing is just sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary did (Martha was the one busy doing something and ultimately missing out being with Jesus).  Just drawing close to Him and getting to know Him better – resting in Him.

Many times God’s will and His path are not easy for us, just like it wasn’t easy for the Israelites in the desert.  But none the less, He is in control and He is working all things out for us and those around us so who am I to grumble? I think it is really a trust issue.  Do I really trust that He loves me and wants what is best for me? The Israelites were His chosen people and He wanted the best for them – a land flowing with milk and honey. We need to die to self, take up our cross and follow Him. It will not be easy, but I think it’s worth a shot to grumble less and trust more.