Welp, this isn’t how I planned to wrap up our Loaves & Fishes series. I’ve skipped over this story on my Loaves & Fishes planning list because it hits close to home for many of us. Yet when I prayed about what to prepare for you, I felt prompted to write this story – maybe God wanted me to write it for me. I suspect that some of you will resonate with it as well. Today’s devotion reminds us that as we’re praying for God’s provision, we must avoid a critical mistake after we receive it.

 

The theme of today’s devotion is this: Never take God’s provision for granted.

 

In the Old Testament book of Numbers, the Israelites were upset about God’s solution to their food problem. After freeing them from slavery in Egypt, God sent literal food from heaven every single day for them. Many of us are familiar with this well-known story, but if you aren’t, I wrote about this miraculous provision in the first week of the Loaves & Fishes series that you can read here.

 

While Exodus 16 provides an introduction to the arrival of manna, Numbers 11 offers more specifics about this heaven-sent food. Pay attention to the description of manna and the different ways the Israelites could prepare it:

 

 

First, remember that God provided home delivery – how cool is that?! Next, there was a process to preparing the manna, which offered the Israelites a daily routine and a sense of purpose. We forget that God’s provision is often tied to meaningful work and a chance to serve others – which was also good for the Israelites’ emotional and mental health.

 

The problem arose when the people grew tired of manna.  Instead of seeing it as God’s gift of provision, they began to take the manna for granted. They stopped being grateful for it. This happens to us as well. Some of us take our jobs or even our family for granted. We stop seeing these as gifts (remember, gifts don’t have to be perfect or problem-free to still be a gift). The dark side of assuming that someone or something will always be there is that we begin to compare it, we’ll critique it – and often complain about it.

 

Ever heard the saying “familiarity breeds contempt?” This describes what happened next in Numbers. Check out the Israelites’ complaints. Pay attention to how they romanticized their time back in Egypt:

 

 

So that’s how they remembered Egypt? How quickly they forgot the beatings, nonstop labor, and brutal control? Many of those mothers had freshly empty arms from the babies that the Pharaoh ordered to be killed. But, they chose to complain about heaven-sent manna?

 

As much as I want to roll my eyes at the Israelites’ complaining, I am them. They are me.

 

How many of us begged God for a particular dream, job, home, spouse, or kids? Then, years later, we’re complaining about the burdens that come with great blessings. Trust me, I’ve complained, too.

 

 

First, we can acknowledge pain, loss, grief, or disappointment. We don’t have to minimize or deny it.

 

However,  there is a difference between acknowledging and complaining.

Acknowledgment recognizes the facts. If your company withholds your pay, you should acknowledge that and the harm it causes. If your medical condition is painful or you’re afraid for the future, it’s okay to be scared.  For those caring for loved ones, you can acknowledge the overwhelm and exhaustion.  

 

Complaining is different. When we take the facts and add negativity or blame, there’s an unspoken, but implied allegation that God isn’t treating us right or that He’s gotten something wrong. This is why regular  complaining is a warning sign for our spirits. Yes, it’s tough in our world, but you here today by the grace of God and He will not fail you..

 

God takes complaining seriously. In my humble opinion, complaining is the decaf of bitterness. As Christians, we know full-on bitterness is bad, but we’re willing to allow grumbling to slide. But, God takes complaining seriously.

 

In the Israelites’ situation, they groused about the lack of meat, so God sent a wind filled with quail. The Israelites were delighted! However, instead of gathering what they needed, they filled Costco-sized shopping carts of birds, grabbing far more than needed. They stuffed their mouths and stomachs like starving people without a God who took care of them. The result was tragic because God allowed a food borne illness of some type that killed significant numbers of people.

 

You want to know a kicker to this entire situation? God never prohibited the Israelites from hunting for meat! They could have gone hunting at any time. But their negativity consumed any productive or problem-solving conversations. A tragedy all around.

 

Like I said, this wasn’t the way that I wanted to end our Loaves & Fishes series, but if we’re praying for God’s provision in our lives – no matter what it is – then we must be mindful of how we behave after God’s blesses us.

 

Did today’s devotion grab your attention? Is God prompting you to shift from negativity to remember His kindness to you? Give yourself a few moments to reflect.

 

Do This: If complaining is a habit, I’d love for you to check out my dear friend Melissa Spoelstra’s 7-Day Contentment Project (here). Her fabulous challenge involves wearing a bracelet on your wrist that you switch from side to side. This helps you become more aware of when you’re complaining.

 

2.  WORSHIP MUSIC – Music that focuses on God’s power or grace reminds us that we’re held by a loving, powerful God! For me, a worship song a day helps keep constant complaining away! Friend, if you complain either in your mind or to others, it’s time to talk less and worship more! Check out my Spotify worship playlist here!