Thoughts for another day

August 7, 2006

Today's verse: Nu. 11:1. And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD. (KJV)

In Mumbai, its been raining quite a bit off and on since the last three days and people are complaining. I was thinking to myself, if it rains people complain. If it doesn’t, people complain. If it rains heavily and continuously, people complain and if it rains intermittently, people are fed up of the rains. This from a people who comprise the vast population of about 15 million, who need a lot of water.

My mind traverses backwards in time when the Israelites were freed from the iron grip of Egypt by amazing acts of God; when He brought the mighty Egyptians to their knees before the Israelites and how! The Israelites saw this and were extremely happy but when it came to certain practices, they murmured and complained against God. They knew that God was with them and that He could provide everything; they but needed to ask. yet instead of doing it, they started complaining.

When you complain, God doesn’t like it. He sometimes works thing out in a manner that makes us feel unhappy. The situation is not to put us down but to build us up in the long run. But it rattles us and instead of praise, murmur escapes our lips. A check into our own lives will reveal how many times we have murmured against God and what reasons made us do it. Yet, in His infinite mercy and love, He does not as much as lift a finger against us; yet He patiently explains to us why He is doing what He is, unfortunately, we don’t have time to listen.

My friend, complaining against this beautiful God of ours is an act of utter sacrilege, no matter what difficulty He has put us in. Remember, it is precisely at that time He is looking to see if you are faithful. If you are, His Hand will move toward you and open up with blessings galore. If you aren’t, His countenance falls as it were, for it is like an insult to Him.

Lift up your voice today, in the midst of your difficulty and praise Him. Oh, He will love you for it and lift you up as sure as there is blood flowing within your veins.