"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as
warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come."
{1 Corinthians 10:11} (NIV1984)
The people
of Israel were examples to us. They were real people, in a real wilderness,
with real problems! Yet Scripture tells us that the punishment they experienced
was for our benefit. We are the ones who have received the promises of God. We
are the ones with the changed hearts, renewed minds, righteous spirits, with
the Holy Spirit present within us. Idolatry through pagan revelry, sexual
immorality, testing God, and grumbling are all temptations that we face today,
and that we can overcome through faith.
Grumbling seems to be hidden in this
list. We think of grumbling as the right of anyone who has a leader. We, who are
affected by the decisions of our leaders, have the right to grumble! Don’t we?
No. We don’t have the right. Scripture is clear about this! Grumbling in our
tents (homes), or in our assemblies is a sin against God, and God will punish
those who sin in this way. We hold Moses up as a leader to be admired - if only
our leaders had the vision, integrity and giftedness of Moses! Yet those people
grumbled against Moses. The problem is with us, not with our leaders.
Oh
Holy Spirit, open our eyes today and show us this hidden sin, that we might be
rid of the scourge of grumbling.
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