The Power of Our Appetites
Exodus 16:2-3: "And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, 'Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."
Oh, how quickly the Israelite's worship turns to complaining! In chapter 15, they celebrated God's great deliverance from Egypt. They marveled at how awesome the Lord their God is – "majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders" (15:11). Faced with their hunger, they quickly forgot God's miraculous works. Instead of crying out to the Lord for provision of food, they cried out against Moses and Aaron and accused God of bringing them out to the wilderness to kill them of hunger. Why the drastic shift?
The nation of Israel had only known provision through the nation of Egypt. There, they had plenty of meat and bread. Those were the good old days; they lacked for nothing! Nothing, that is, except for freedom. How quickly people can forget the pain of bondage and oppression. How easy it is in times of need to think of slavery as abundance. The nation of Israel was ruled by their appetites. Their bellies led them to long for the pain of slavery so that they could experience the satisfaction of being well-fed.
God saw them, and he knew their hunger. With a simple request, the Lord was able to provide all that they needed. Why did they not call out to the one who split the Red Sea, the one who worked multiple miracles in the land of Egypt? They did not know that this all-powerful God wanted to provide for all their needs. They had to learn to ask so that they would receive.
On this journey to the promised land, the Lord would long for his people to entrust their appetites to him! Like the Israelites, we are walking a journey of faith. Our appetites and longings will either lead us to the Father or to bondage. May we choose the Lord today!
Reflection:
What do you do in times of need? Have you learned to cry out to your heavenly Father who not only can meet your needs but also delights to meet your needs?
Oh, how quickly the Israelite's worship turns to complaining! In chapter 15, they celebrated God's great deliverance from Egypt. They marveled at how awesome the Lord their God is – "majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders" (15:11). Faced with their hunger, they quickly forgot God's miraculous works. Instead of crying out to the Lord for provision of food, they cried out against Moses and Aaron and accused God of bringing them out to the wilderness to kill them of hunger. Why the drastic shift?
The nation of Israel had only known provision through the nation of Egypt. There, they had plenty of meat and bread. Those were the good old days; they lacked for nothing! Nothing, that is, except for freedom. How quickly people can forget the pain of bondage and oppression. How easy it is in times of need to think of slavery as abundance. The nation of Israel was ruled by their appetites. Their bellies led them to long for the pain of slavery so that they could experience the satisfaction of being well-fed.
God saw them, and he knew their hunger. With a simple request, the Lord was able to provide all that they needed. Why did they not call out to the one who split the Red Sea, the one who worked multiple miracles in the land of Egypt? They did not know that this all-powerful God wanted to provide for all their needs. They had to learn to ask so that they would receive.
On this journey to the promised land, the Lord would long for his people to entrust their appetites to him! Like the Israelites, we are walking a journey of faith. Our appetites and longings will either lead us to the Father or to bondage. May we choose the Lord today!
Reflection:
What do you do in times of need? Have you learned to cry out to your heavenly Father who not only can meet your needs but also delights to meet your needs?
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