October 2000

[Part Twenty-three]

”Do ALL without murmuring” (Php 2:14)

               When the Israelites were released from their 400 year bondage to Egypt (lit. “oppression”) to make an ELEVEN DAY trek through the Wilderness of Sin to Canaan’s Promised Land, you would think they would be continually singing. rejoicing and humbling themselves before the Lord in unspeakable gratitude; not just because they were FREE AT LAST, but that they had witnessed unprecedented miracles that accomplished their great deliverance. First the plagues on Egypt- during which Israel was kept safe in Goshen- concluding when the angel of death “passed over” their homes on whose doors they had obediently spread “lamb’s blood”! Then came the glorious night when God parted the Red Sea to let all Israel pass through on dry ground as a bright cloud illumined their way, and as a pillar of fire held Pharaoh’s pursuing chariots at bay. When they were safely across, the waters returned to their place, swallowing up Pharaoh’s army- including their horses and chariots! [It is said that, to this day, pieces of those chariots can be found in that sea!] You would think that such spectacles of divine glory would be enough to sustain our forefathers for ELEVEN DAYS- no matter what lay ahead of them. However, history records their *murmurings against Moses, his brother, Aaron, and, to their eternal shame, against God, Himself- because they were subjected to trials and hardships out there in the wilderness! (Ex 16:7)

[*Murmurings (Heb 8519 “Grumblings- in the sense of obstinacy”; from 3885, “To stop (usually overnight); stay permanently; in a bad sense, be *obstinate and complain! To abide (dwell, endure, remain, lodge, tarry, continue) all night; grudge; be left behind!”

*Obstinate (Dict) has 2 roots: ob- “in the way”; and stare- “to stand”; or put together: “TO STAND IN THE WAY!” From these same two roots is the word,“OBSTACLE”!! It is defined: “Stubbornly adhering to a frame of mind, purpose, or course of action- in spite of all sound reason or clear evidence to the contrary! Not easily corrected, subdued, or moved.” Obstacle is defined,“That which opposes, obstructs or hinders from passage!” Stubborn is defined: “Difficult to handle, manage or treat!” These present a picture of digging in one’s heels as a mule. refusing to accept change, defer to reason, or progress in any way that denies or defies his “self-will”.]

                Plague-weary Egypt, and her woebegotten Pharaoh, and those deluged charioteers, learned the hard way what it meant to DEFY THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF THE LIVING GOD! But who would think God’s own people would have to learn obedience the same, hard way- and an 11 day journey turned into a 40 year death sentence! [11 = Judgment; and 40 = trials, testings, probation] None of Israel’s first-generation was allowed to set foot in the Promised Land! Idolatrous self-love begets stubbornness, rebellion, and murmuring against the Love of God! Not for nothing He says, “REBELLION is as the sin of WITCHCRAFT; and STUBBORNNESS is as INIQUITY AND IDOLATRY, since YOU HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD...!” (1 Sa 15:23) It is the way of all sinful, willful flesh to rise up in carnal contention against the Will of God; but it is also The Way of God’s Grace and Glory to bring fiery corrections on that iniquitous state so as to not only teach all of His divine nature, but to enable them to be made partakers of that very nature! So splendid! When the “husk” of our carnality is peeled away to reveal our true spirituality within, we must be the most blessed and grateful people on earth! This is both our Hope and High Calling! Let us not be heard among the “murmurers”, beloveds; but let us be among the “praise-givers”of our praiseworthy, FAITHFUL GOD!

[TO BE CONTINUED]