About CFC
Complaints welcome
By Fred Macdonald
2nd February 2012 | Category: Join the Journey 2012
Key Verse
“What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
Main Content
Central truth: You can tell what is on your heart...and continue to trust Him
The Israelites don’t appear in the best light here.
God has just delivered them from the plagues he visited on the Egyptians, He has led them out of slavery in Egypt with a fair amount of plundered goods, He has been guiding them with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night, He has parted the Red Sea for them leading them through on dry land and then He has destroyed their former oppressors behind them.
One miracle after another and then just a few days later they are moaning ‘is the Lord among us or not?’, and ‘it would have been better if we had died in Egypt’. I’ve often read these chapters and thought it is no wonder they didn’t make it to the Promised Land – how could they not see what God had done for them?
Maybe travelling for 3 days in the desert without finding water had something to do with it. Maybe they hadn’t forgotten how long God had allowed them to go through the pain of slavery. Maybe desperation and pain had affected their perspective and squeezed their trust.
In 17:4 Moses takes his turn to moan to God. ‘What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ So, the Israelites complain because they think there is a good chance of dying of thirst; Moses because there is a good chance of the people killing him.
How is what Moses says to God so different to what the people are saying to him?
I guess it comes down to the fundamental nature of his relationship with God. Moses probably knew God better than anyone else on the earth. He had been actively involved in many miracles since the burning bush. He also doesn’t try to hide his fear and frustration. He comes to God trusting in His goodness and His love for him and just pours it all out. God in turn rewards him for it.
I want to be able to complain the way Moses did. I don’t want the hard things of life to stop me seeing the truth and being able to trust God completely. After nearly 30 years of following him I know I have still so much to learn, but, no matter what, I will choose to trust in God’s goodness and His love for me.
Consider:
How is your view of God – do you see him the way Moses did?
How do you talk to him?
Are complaints OK?
Fred Macdonald
Hi, I'm Fred MacDonald - husband to Mandi and dad to Gabriel and Zoe. I've been a member of CFC for more than 25 years and I've worked at Queen's University for almost as long. I enjoy playing most sports but probably my favourite activity is just sitting - especially if I can combine it with watching Ireland win at rugby.
