Numbers 11:1 - "The people fell to grumbling over their hard life." That so speaks to me right where I am. Our finances, or lack of them, have loomed way-too-large on me. On Friday, all 3 of our cars sat broken with little money to fix one. I've had to give up some benefits in having cancer. I've found myself caught up in that quote from 66 Love Letters: If you focus on the smaller story of your life from your birth to your death, you'll misunderstand everything that matters. Things that feel awful to you will be seen as nothing other than tragedies to reverse, endure, and prevent from happening again. I get stuck there in my relationships and in my financial situations. So what am I missing here? Even Moses in 11:11 says: What did I do to deserve this? And I was so surprised that God provided for Moses what he asked. God did say to Moses in 11:23 "Do you think I can't take care of you?" God is revealing what lies under my grumbling over hard stuff. I know He can take care of me but what is He asking of me? You know the C.S. Lewis quote: "We're not doubting that God will do the best for us, we're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." Then Miriam talks about Moses in 12:1, behind his back, and speaks exact words I've muttered under my breath: "Is it only through Moses [others] God speaks." I've felt like a grasshopper among giants (13:33) most of my life but no more. I can't stay there anymore. Can't explain it; don't know how the shifts happen; but all I know is God is showing up at my residence and turning my grumbling into glory. He took care of me and my family this weekend in ways that I could have never imagined! Even on Sunday, 3 people came up to us not knowing our need and said that God had layed something on their hearts and here! No more grumbling. No more grasshoppers.
The whining.
ReplyDeleteHow can they?
Why do we?
I went into more details on my Love Letters From My Lord blog.
May God hear praises to Him from our mouths today instead of grumbling. How I love Him. He is a good God to me...
I begin to grumble when my eyes are focused somewhere other than on God. It happened yesterday, in fact. Thank you Lord for the reminder, for even humbling me with Your words, "So, do you think I can't take care of you?".
ReplyDeleteI speak to him intimately, in person,
ReplyDeletein plain talk without riddles:
~Oh, how I can't wait to talk to Him in person, in plain talk without riddles!
I was convicted on the whining part, too!
This spoke to me as well...
God answered Moses, "So, do you think I can't take care of you? You'll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not."
While I wait for the "soon enough" I am going to trust Him and stop whining. What a message this morning!
Trusting... By faith!
Angie xoxo
Murmuring, complaining, whining - I know how I feel about it, I know how the Lord feels about it, but I continue to do it upon occasion.
ReplyDeleteEveryone had a heart condition and interestingly enough, all the sins were committed by the mouth - the whining, the eating the spreading of rumors.
I blogged about whining on Abbasgirl today and will add more on annettescovertocover.blogspot.com
Yes, I too was convicted of complaining. The last few days have been difficult. And also to be reminded that God will take care of me!
ReplyDeleteOh, that glorious Day when we then know clearly face to wondrous Face, in plain talk without riddles! I'm reminded of an old hymn--it could be my theme song for my life. here I stumble and grumble--already have this morning about a mess in the kitchen to wake up to. The refrigerator has groceries, we have a heated home on this chilled morning, the water is running clear and clean, I have coffee in hand, and I whine.
ReplyDeleteLord, I'm certain I would have been one that grumbled in the desert. Help me to remember Your faithful record of taking care of Your children, and my own history of Your care. Keep my lips from uttering ungrateful negativity. Bless others through my words that I may glorify You and not fall into sin. Thank you for Godly women who care what Your Word says, not for head knowledge but for Life altering change. I am honored to walk with them in this endeavor. Bless each of them with a satisfaction that only You give. Because of Your Love and Mercy, Amen.
There was definitely conviction in every chapter of this reading!
ReplyDeleteGrumbling over my hard life - check
Whining about an unmet craving - check
Not believing God can take care of me - check
Talking behind another's back - check
Feeling afraid, like a grasshopper among giants - check
And to see the Lord's intense anger at the sin speaks volumes - the fire, the plague, the leprosy, and ultimately denying 603,548 people entry to the Promised Land!
It's not like God ever changes. My sins of the mouth anger Him just as much. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
I'm very thankful for my Beautiful Savior who spares me from the wrath of my Holy God. It still amazes me that I went through 27 years of life thinking that I didn't need Jesus. Talk about being blinded to the truth about myself! I am eternally grateful for the forgiveness I've received and could never possibly earn.
Bev,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say how thrilled I am that God met your needs this weekend. What a blessing! And I'm sure it's a blessing to those 3 people God has used. You have been on my mind a lot these days and I'm so happy that He's turned your grumbling into glory! You are something special, my friend.
Love,
Cici
Bev, I am blessed by the fact that He blessed you thru three families this week end. I will have to throw my two cents in the ring...He brought me up short yesterday when the thought crossed my mind about not being provided for in my old age....and He said 'Have I not taken care of you from the time of your birth till now, Mary Lou, don't be so little of faith." I acknoweldged what He said and what He has done for me the entireity of my life and hung my head and shamed and thanked for what He will do for me and for how I KNOW He has gone ahead of me, even if I can not see that with my physical eyes. None of us who are children of the King should ever whine or complain..but we do and He is still faithful. Praise His name.
ReplyDeleteBev, I am so excited to see the daily miracles God is working in your life that encourage you when other elements seem to be heading the wrong direction. Thank you for sharing as it extends the encouragment to me and I dare say all of us in this blog community.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for the miracle God preformed in my life today. I woke up with a strange health symptom and began to whine about it, then God reminded me I wanted to be determined to always Praise and Glorify God as best I can no matter what and today was no exception.
Before I could finish this post it was time to run to the lab in one direction then just enough time to get to my knee doctor in another direction. Not really sure how the visit would go since I don't start my physical therapy until tomorrow. It has taken six weeks to get phy therapy started. God blessed me richly as the doc was so pleased to see my progress and noted to me how blessed my recovery is going considering the elements.
This afternoon I saw my internal medicine doc who reported my blood work was really good and I could now wait two weeks before more lab work. He was also pleased to see my progress though now well yet I definitely am improving. Praise God from whom ALL Blessings flow.
I was a grasshopper seeing the giants as the day began...then God in his amazing Grace and Mercy came and rescured me with encouragemnt to know I really am making progress.
Just as Bev mentioned even though everything is not perfect God is defnitely providing to remind me I can ALWAYS TRUST HIM no matter what.
Sojourners on this blog...your thoughts from Numbers amaze and encourage me as I never took the time to realize how rich this book is to my everyday life. Bev, Twinkle, Cici, Mary Lou you remain in my prayers as you process daily the path that God currently has you in.
I am so moved as I read your comments for you know God is on your side and leading you and it's just very moving to me! You'll never give up on Him. Falling forward with you. Maybe that sounds arrogant but I'm stumbling through these chapters of life held strong by a Sovereign God in the midst of some tight places. Larry calls it "sovereign stumbling."
ReplyDelete