No grumbling

DEVOTION

EXODUS

NO GRUMBLING

Ex 15:19-25

19 When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea." 22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" 25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

NIV

Certainly the women had some kind of music making with the tambourines and they even danced before the LORD with Miriam singing before them. Her song is basically a repeat of a portion of the Song Moses lead the whole of Israel in. One could make the point the women only followed the example of the men. Certainly in those days, in that culture, that would be true, as their identity was their association to a man, either as a daughter, a wife, or a mother of the firstborn son. In the case of Miriam, she is identified as a prophetess of God and a sister of Aaron.  This is not the case today as in most cases woman desire to have their own identity, many without any association to a man, at least in our country and culture. There are cultures who continue this concept of women only having identity associated with a man. Whether either is right for this day and age is certainly open to interpretation of the scriptures. What we have come to in our culture may be acceptable to the LORD, or it may not. We absolutely accept the fact God created both man and woman, although in a completely different manner. We also know in doing what he did, in the manner in which he did it, he established an order to their relationship as man and woman. Certainly both man and woman are the creation of God and thus equal in his eyes, but he established different roles for each of them. It may be that in our culture the fact that women have more heart attacks then men do may be due to women trying to fulfill the role God established for men. But this is not our lesson, however interesting that idea may be. Our lesson is in the bitter waters of Marah. Certainly we would have to surmise over two million people would consume a great deal of water. It would almost be impossible for them to carry that much with them, at least to last for days or weeks. It would be necessary for them to find places of water in order to continue on their journey. Marah was one of those places and it had already been three days of traveling without finding a source of water. So when they did arrive at Marah, everyone wanted to drink, yet it was bitter to the taste. So they grumbled to Moses. They had to expect that he would get God to change the water so it would be drinkable. Otherwise they would have asked God themselves. Of course God had already demonstrated to the people that Moses was his man to lead them, he was in affect their pastor. But the point is the people expected something to be done so they could drink. In all reality they could have drank bitter water if they were thirsty enough, but they wanted sweet water. This is only the beginning of these people and their grumbling. Were they not just happy to be free from their misery from their treatment from the Egyptians? So what the water is bitter, they are a free people enjoying the presence of God leading them with a pillar of smoke in the day and a pillar of fire at night. They have seen him at work with his mighty hand, saving them. But they grumble because things aren’t perfect for them. What do we learn here? Yep, we need to learn not to be like them and grumble when things seem not to be perfect, at least in our eyes. God has sent the Spirit to us and he convicted us of our sin and need of repentance. We responded and we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and as a result we have been rewarded eternal life in the presence of our God. Yet we grumble over some of the dumbest stuff in this life that isn’t just the way we want it to be. Either we have “nothing” to wear, or our car is too old, or we don’t have enough money, or on the list goes, depending on our situation. Just look at the choices we have when it comes to food. Look at the choices we have as to what we do wear or don’t wear. We have so much and yet do we still find something to grumble about? Sure, water is a necessity of life, but what have we determined to be necessities in our life, in order not to grumble? It may be different for everyone, but the fact remains, we really should not have anything to grumble about. God has provided us with his salvation. Isn’t that enough? Well, he has also provided so much in the physical realm as well, isn’t that enough? Why do we still want more? Are we never satisfied? Are we not admonished to be content?

1 Tim 6:6-10

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

NIV

There are other scriptures that give us the same instruction about being content with what we have, that God has provided all we need. Sure he did change the water, but the point is, no grumbling.