Greetings siblings
How familiar are you with the term ‘gobsmacked’? If my memory serves me correctly, it relates to being more than just a little astonished. In fact, I usually consider myself sitting with an open mouth, gobsmacked, by the news I’ve heard. You may find that Oxford or Webster confirms my analogy.
Today I’m somewhat gobsmacked as I reflect upon our Nougat. Despite having stated the same thing before, seeing words in print and hearing them echoed back to me was a shock to my system. How about you, do you have any reaction to putting yourself in the place of the Children of Israel as you consider Today’s Holy Nougat?
Exodus 16:8 CEVDCI
[8] Then Moses continued, “You will know it is the Lord when he gives you meat each evening and more than enough bread each morning. He is really the one you are complaining about, not us—we are nobodies—but the Lord has heard your complaints.”
Against Whom Do We Complain
Moses was clear, in the bigger scheme of things, he and Aaron were nobodies. They did not have the power to create food, meat and water in the wilderness. They didn’t even know the route to where they were going. Like the murmuring Children of Israel, they were totally dependent on YHWH. So complaints against Moses and Aaron’s leadership and authority were really complaints against God.
Point to Ponder
Do you believe that the Children of Israel were deliberately challenging God’s authority?
Application
Siblings, Moses’ accusation rings true today, even for you and me. Just think, if we claim God as our ultimate provider, yet we keep stating that we are in lack, our statement suggests that God has failed to provide. It might be what we intend to say, but is it necessarily true?
Are we gobsmacked to think of God taking our complaints about the system personally? Do we realise that when God hears us, our complaints against the system are heard as complaints against God?
The Bible carries references to God’s presence, protection and provision for the Children of Israel and countless others. Some of us, myself included, have proven God multiple times. Yet, our negativity, doubts, and fear continue to discredit Philippians 4:19. For our words, our worries, and our witness say, ‘God has forgotten us, let us fend for ourselves’. Worse yet, after God has provided, we get so caught up in our accomplishment that we forget God’s involvement.
One songwriter says, ‘Why worry when we can pray?’ And that’s God’s call to us today.
In all circumstances.
No matter what
You see siblings, we belong to God all the time. God cares for us all the time. God doesn’t take a break from caring for us. That’s not what the Sabbath refers to. God is always on duty, ensuring that all things work together for good for us who love the Lord, for us, the called. But we must remember, Romans 8:28 says the ‘good’ that is fulfilled aligns with God’s plans.
To whom then, do we turn when the going gets rough? I recommend that we turn to God, through Y’shua our Saviour.
Self-Check
Have we caught ourselves grumbling about the system? If so, did we stop to repent, and then pray for ‘the system’ and ourselves? Selah.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
