Struggling Well With Life

Grumbling seems to be a theme here in the middle of Exodus. First the Israelites grumbled about being trapped between the waters and the Egyptians - delivered. Then they grumbled about not having good water - and the water was treated and provided. Then they grumbled about food, and thought they would starve to death - bread and quail fell from heaven. Then they grumbled about water again thinking they would die of thirst - and the rock is struck and water flowed. What does this say about grumbling? Does the squeaky wheel really get oiled? Do we just wear God down, like our kids do sometimes, and just give in? That can’t be it! I don’t think it was their grumbling that moved God to action, but perhaps their desperation, and recognizing their need for Him was the greater message. Our grumbling is the expression of dissatisfaction of where we are, it’s our nature. Sometime it has to get pretty bad, before we scream for help. May our grumbling move us to see our need, our desperate need for Jesus. He is there with forgiving arms, just a-waiting for us to get to the end of ourselves once again.