Monday 25 July 2005

Waters of bitterness

And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” – Exodus 15v23-24

One would think that people’s faith and confidence in the God Who will reign forever and ever would have a faith that lasted longer than just three days. Yet, just three short days after the Red Sea deliverance God’s people ran out of water. They had just seen God bring 10 plagues on Egypt and part the Red Sea to let them leave. They had seen the most powerful army in the world destroyed by God. Still, they could not trust God to take care of their thirst.

What did they do? Sadly, they did something that God hates – they complained. Why do you think that complaining is so abhorrent to God? The answer is simple, when we complain we put ourselves in the place of God because we are deciding what is best for us. Complaining comes from discontentment, which God calls idolatry in the book of Hebrews. When we complain we are telling God that we know better than He does.

God mercifully stepped in and met their need. A short time later they came across 1 place with twelve wells of fresh water. God knew what He was doing long before these malcontents whinged and griped.

In the New Testament we are told to let all things be done without murmurings or disputings, to be content with such things as we have, and are told that Paul had learned to be content no matter what his state.

Godliness, with contentment, is great gain. Lord, remind us of the complainers the next time we are tempted to question you.

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