Consider it Joy - Feb.10-14

Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.” - Numbers 14:1-4

Much of our reading this past week has been about Israel and their tragic sliding into unbelief in the wilderness. First we see it with complaints about the hardship of the journey and the lack of meat to eat, then we see questioning of Moses as God’s chosen leader, finally it culminates in the Israelites refusing to enter the land that God promised them. These actions of theirs of course have consequences and it’s tragic to watch it unfold as we read about it.

It’s easy for us to read Numbers and see the foolishness of the Israelites. These people had seen God do amazing things, and yet they still complain and don’t believe. What may not be so easy for all of us is to read this account and see our own foolishness and how similar it can be to theirs.

How often do we, just like Israel, complain about the hardship in our life? The stress at work, our health, or even the food we have to eat! How often do we question our leadership, not really trusting that God is the one in control? And finally, how often do we too fail to obey God, because we don’t really believe in his promises? If you’re anything like me, the answer to these questions is “far too often”. Luckily for us, God knows that we have this tendency, and so he addresses it in His Word.

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. - James 1:2-4

The hardships that we see Israel face in Numbers are just like the hardships that we too will experience in this life. But let us know that God is using this testing of our faith to build us up, to strengthen us, to make us whole. So next time we have to stay overtime at work, or catch a cold yet again, or have to eat Mac N Cheese for the 5th time this week, let’s not be like the Israelites and complain. Let’s believe God’s Word, let’s count it as joy and enter into the life he’s prepared for us with thanksgiving. Have a great week!