Uh-oh!

Uh-oh is right! Today’s reading has a very different tone! Israel complains about their hardships. Cravings set in for fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. Moses hears the grumbling of Israel and unloads on God. Exhaustion and burnout are in his voice. Aaron and Miriam unload on Moses, questioning his marriage and leadership. Spies are sent into Canaan, but the report is a story of can’t do, not can do. The camp turns into one unhappy mess!

God responds. It’s not pretty. Fire breaks out in the camp for complaining. A plague sends many to an early grave for gluttony. Miriam’s leprosy breaks up the family feud. Chapter thirteen ends with us hanging; how will God respond to the spies’ report of Canaan?

As I think about Israel’s situation, something simple is missing. The attitude of gratitude is gone! Israel is not focusing on blessings; they are focused on problems. In thinking about this, 1 Corinthians 10 comes to mind. The Apostle Paul speaks about Israel and says this…

These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. (1 Corinthians 10:11, NLT)

There is power in gratitude! Now, gratitude doesn’t magically eliminate an uncomfortable situation, but it changes us in that situation. As gratitude changes us in our situation, the outcome is affected. Without gratitude, we feel entitled, and complaining then follows. With gratitude, we feel thankful, and requests then follow. The outcomes between the two are different! Notice the attitude of gratitude in the following two verses. Notice how it changes us in the situation and impacts the outcome!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7, NLT)

God is a good God, good all the time! Let’s rejoice in His goodness, and may our gratitude be evident to all!

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Thanks for joining me in my adventure to read the Bible chronologically! Today’s post comes from Numbers 11-13. Tomorrow, I will be reading Numbers 14-15, Psalm 90.