Moses had been on top the mountain with God 40 days receiving God’s Law for the people to live by; the Ten Commandments.
While Moses was gone the people waiting at the base of the mountain began to “run wild” thinking their leader wasn’t going to return and then what; how would we be fed; who would protect us from danger? They forgot what God had ‘already’ done for them! God had not forgotten them; they forgot God. You can really see this same fool thinking in America today and the outcome of behavior with protests, riots, destruction and death.
Their constant complaining (protests) resulted in what was not good for them, and if Moses had not prayed for them God would’ve “disregarded” them and left them on their own.
God had not forgotten them; they forgot God. When God’s people forget Him – God disregards His people. When God “disregards His own people” what happens? Their fears come upon them!
God hates grumbling and complaining because it rejects “personal responsibility and sacrifice.” When God’s people pull away from Him – He pulls His protection and provision away from them. This is painful in so many ways, but works to draw His true sons and daughters back to Him.
What happens when God finds fault with our complaining about the way things are? Complaining to God means that we are not taking personal responsibility for the way things are. Taking responsibility is not about mouthing off and stirring up strife and division. Taking personal responsibility starts with personal repentance of trusting in man instead of God, and then doing what God says is right to do. If a nation’s leadership takes personal responsibility – the same thing will be done.
If you depend on man/government and man/government does not do what you think they should do, you will complain and accuse – instead of taking personal responsibility which at times requires personal sacrifice.
Why do children have a hard time seeing their own sin/faults? Why do children cry and throw tantrums when they don’t get what they want? Why do children blame others for their discomfort? Why do children use name-calling? Why do children rebel against rules placed on them? Why do children NOT see the shame and pain coming with their continual complaining and crying which is rooted in “it’s all about me!”? When children think they have been ignored, left out or denied – what do they do? Well, we’re seeing it in America today like never before. We’re seeing it from adults; and these adults (parents and teachers) are raising up their little ones to think and act the same. This is evil at work.
We’re also seeing who is getting all the attention (with the media) and they like it that way because they think acting this way is how they can get what they want. When citizens see the government as their daddy or god, this is what that self-deception results in: disorder, destruction and deaths.
Children simply need to trust and obey their parent? And for all the ‘irresponsible’ people living in America legally or illegally – feeling as if they have been ignored, left out or denied personal things – they simply need to grow up, shut up and simply obey the laws and “take personal responsibility.” What we see today is not about “free speech,” it’s about irresponsible people wanting the government to meet all their needs; it’s about hatred of our Constitution and new administration.
The problem in America is that people have forgotten God. When we forget what God has said about right and wrong and start doing what WE EACH think is right in our own eyes – we will get what we deserve to get with thinking like that. God will disregard us and let all our fears come upon us – until we repent, humble ourselves before Him, straighten up and do those things that He has called us to do as a nation, and instructs each of us to do ‘personally.’
God gave the Hebrews in Egypt their freedom by following God’s servant, but with freedom comes personal responsibility and even personal sacrifice along the way. They learned this – against their will. The longer they fought against God’s will – the longer they suffered in the desert.
What is better than complaining, protesting and rioting for what you need or want, or for what you think all people need and want? Why are we seeing so much quarreling and fighting over the new administration? “Where you have envy (wanting what others have) and selfish ambition (personal agendas), there you find disorder and every evil practice.” “You have lived to indulge yourself. You do not have because you do not ask God, and when you do ask, you do NOT receive from Him because you ask with WRONG motives (self-centeredness).”
What is the solution to all this disorder and destruction we see happening in America? “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and God will lift you up.” A “humble” person takes responsibility to do what is right in God’s eyes. If we did more praying and waiting on God to show us what to do personally (being personally responsible), than what we do in childish mouthing off, posting and protesting against the new administration – what might happen?
The book of James in the Holy Bible is very timely and applicable for America today: Trials and Temptation, Listening and Doing, Favoritism Forbidden, Faith and Deeds, TAMING THE TONGUE, Two Kinds of Wisdom, Submit Yourselves to God, Boasting about Tomorrow, Warning to Rich Oppressors, Patience in Suffering, THE PRAYER of Genuine FAITH. (Chapters 1-5)
God’s Word is our manual for life that is truly life. Opening our mouths to God (in humble prayer) is far more productive than publicly mouthing off about the things we don’t like. Children are mouthy about things they know so little about, or nothing at all, showing themselves ignorant and undisciplined. And, when they are reprimanded for it – they don’t like that either. They argue back.
So, what is needed with children is painful discipline; for this is what God says will result in a harvest of righteousness. Painful discipline teaches children (of any age) to become personally responsible in so many ways, even to the point of personal sacrifice at times, which reveals “maturity.” What kind of nation can we expect to be living in with childish-leaders running wild in all directions? God help us!