Control.

“Say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, ‘Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.’ Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you.” ~ Numbers 11:18-20

These verses reflect just how frustrated God can get with His people. Israel was a band of brooders. The story reflected in these verses is just one example of Israel’s ungrateful attitude and God’s response to their ungratefulness. 

God rescued them from slavery. He led them across dry land through the Red Sea. He took care of them, freed them, rescued them, provided manna from Heaven when they were hungry. Yet, what did they say to Him?  “Give us meat to eat. We had meat in Egypt.”

What a bunch of babies. Yet, I do the same. God takes care of me, frees me from the bondage of sin, rescues me more times than I can count, and repeatedly provides for me. Still, I brood. 

Instead of looking at what God has done, I seem to focus on what He hasn’t done. He didn’t heal my sisters from cancer. Then, I lost my only brother. Within the same year, my father passed away. I was once the youngest of four children Now I am the last man standing with my sweet mama. 

Control. It’s all about control. Instead of me yielding to God’s will and accepting His way, I demand my own. I question His choices. I want to control God instead of vice versa. 

I don’t think I have the right to belittle others for brooding or acting like a bunch of babies. I seem to be doing a good job of that on my own. 

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