What a difference three days can make! Fresh off the heels of tremendous victory over Pharaoh and the Egyptian army, the children of Israel broke out into singing. (Exodus 15: 1-21) And who couldn’t blame them! God miraculously delivered Israel in dividing the Red Sea for them to safely cross. I can just imagine the high fives going around as everyone joined in the song of praise. They recognized who provided the victory as they sang, “ I will sing unto the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea.” (vs. 1) What a great celebration…everyone happy…everyone rejoicing…everyone thanking the LORD for His gracious deliverance!
Fast forward three days. Perhaps the echo of the song of celebration is still in the air, but no longer in the hearts of the people. Same people, same leaders, same God…different circumstances. “And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, ‘ What shall we drink?’” (vss.23-24) How soon we can forget! Was it not just three days ago they were singing praises to God? In three days, the focus shifted from His gracious provision to their grumbling petition! We are thirsty! And to whom did they go? Moses! Where is the LORD in this picture? Could not the One who parted the waters of the Red Sea provide water for them?
I must humbly acknowledge that had I been part of the group, I might have been at the forefront…shouting out and shaking my fist at Moses. How soon we forget…what a difference three days make. It is easier for us to complain than be contentedly satisfied in what God provides for us. Circumstances can and will change, but our God never does! We can trust Him to provide for our needs in His perfect timing! Are you like the grandma in the following little story?
A grandmother was watching her grandchild playing on the beach when a huge wave comes and takes him out to sea. She pleads, “Please God, save my only grandson. I beg of you, bring him back.” And a big wave comes and washes the boy back onto the beach, good as new. She looks up to heaven and says: “He had a hat!” Can you imagine that?? God does so much for us each day…and we spend more time complaining than being contentedly satisfied in His provisions. His provisions far outweigh the things for which we could complain!
