#DailyDevotion Do You Grumble Against God Or Do You Pray To Him?

Exodus 17:1–3

Breaking camp as the LORD directed them, the whole congregation of Israel left the desert of Sin and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. ²The people quarreled with Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they said. “Why quarrel with me?” Moses asked them. “Why test the LORD?” ³So there the people were thirsty for water, and they grumbled against Moses. “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt?” they asked. “To have us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?”

Well the Israelites had been through a lot. They had a difficult time in Egypt and Moses didn’t make anything easier for them when he came to rescue them with the signs and wonders of the LORD. The he got them trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army; they really thought they were going to die then. Then running around the wilderness they needed food (why didn’t Moses plan for that, huh?). Now this seemed to be the last straw. They needed water. Moses had led them to a place with no water. You can’t sustain a million plus people in the wilderness without any water. So the Israelites started grumbling against Moses.

Well has that how your life has been going since the LORD Jesus Christ saved you? Is it just one obstacle after another. One thing breaks and then other. You think things are fine then you have an accident. Then your kid gets sick. Then the bills come in. Then you have family problems. It seems as if it never stops. Well I don’t think it ever does in this lifetime.

So what did the Israelites do? They grumbled to Moses, “Give us water to drink!” Moses’ response, “”Why quarrel with me? Why test the LORD?” And the Israelites grumbled against the LORD. It wouldn’t be the last time. How were they testing the LORD? How were they grumbling against the LORD? Well first and foremost they weren’t turning to the LORD to ask him for these things. They had been told the LORD was with them. They saw the signs and wonders the LORD had done in Egypt. They saw the Red Sea parted and they walked on dry land through it and then saw it drown the Egyptian army. They saw the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night indicating the LORD’s presents with them. Yet they did not believe the LORD was going to take care of them.

Now what about you? Do you believe the LORD Jesus Christ is going to take care of you? Jesus told us, ²⁵“So I tell you, don’t worry about what you’ll eat or drink to keep alive or what you’ll wear on your bodies. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds in the air. They don’t sow or cut grain or gather anything into barns; but your Father in heaven feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” He also said, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matt. 6) So why are you grumbling and complaining about how the LORD treats you? Did he not save you through Jesus from sin, death and the power of the devil? Do you believe the LORD Jesus Christ is with you are not? Jesus gave us this promise at the end of Matthew, “I am with you always until the end of the age.” Now we should believe it. If we are lacking in anything or experiencing hardships, he knows about it. Now are you going to grumble and complain or pray to your Father in heaven about it?

Heavenly Father, forgive us for not trusting in your care or providence. Give us a stronger faith to pray and trust rather than grumble and complain. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.