...And They Grumbled

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.” Luke 4:1. “Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit…” Luke 4:14.

The Jordan River is where Jesus was baptized and received the Holy Spirit beginning His formal ministry. He didn’t even get a break before being led into the desert, having to enter a season of testing. Satan was His greeter and failure was Satan’s goal. Jesus was victorious in His response although He was hungry, lonely and tired. When God led the Israelite’s out of slavery to set them apart as His chosen they were also delivered into the desert for a season of testing. Their testing spanned to forty years however due to their response in the desert. In both instances God’s desire was to establish fellowship, holiness and ministry in His chosen.

His chosen Israelites called out for freedom…“The LORD said, ‘I have heard them cry out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.” Ex 3:7. God gave them freedom… “So I have come down to rescue them…” Ex 3:8.

…and they grumbled. “What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt…It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” Ex 14:11-12.

They cried out for food… ‘…but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’ Ex 16:3. God gave them food… ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you.’ Ex 16:4.

…and they grumbled. ‘…and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat!”’ Nu 11:4. God gave them meat… ‘Now the LORD heard you when you wailed…Now the LORD will give you meat…but for a whole month – until…you loathe it – because you have rejected the LORD.’ Nu 11:18-20.

...and they grumbled. They cried out for water… ‘But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses.’ Ex 17:3. God gave them water… ‘Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.’ Ex 17:6.

…and they grumbled. ‘Now the people complained of their hardships.’ Nu 11:1. God gave them a home… ‘Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.’ Nu 11:2.

…and they grumbled. ‘…and they spread a bad report about the land.’ Nu 13:32.

God HAD ENOUGH … ‘How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites….I will do to you the very things I heard you say…not one of you will enter the land I swore to make your home…’ Nu 14:28-30.

God is still rescuing His chosen and trying to set them apart for fellowship, holiness and ministries. Are we walking through our lives like Christ or are we grumbling through life focusing on our own earthly discomforts. God is slow in anger and abounding in love as the Bible states but in our verses you can see God's patience wearing thin. God will get to a point where our grumbling will trigger action on His part due to our ungrateful and selfish hearts. We must all pray for a deeper heart of gratitude and keener focus on the spiritual things of this world.