Complaining
A reading for Wednesday, October 5, 2016: Exodus 16:1-8.
Moses pointed out that when the people of God complained about not having enough to eat, even though they were voicing their complaint to Moses and Aaron, they were actually complaining that God was not providing for them. We that are God's people have always had a propensity for complaining it seems...
Someone told me a long time ago that when people complain to church leaders, 80% of what they say has nothing to do with the leader him/herself. This does not mean we don't listen or take such complaining seriously. Every church leader I know does, perhaps even too much. But the truth is most complaining in church is of a reflection of someone's personal expectations about life, faith and religion. Even though a person voices their complaint to the leader, it is likely they are just unhappy in general with how things are going compared to how they wish they were going. Especially now, when our churches are struggling, church leaders are under a lot of pressure.
The good news of the story of Moses is that even at such times, God hears the complaints and offers salvation. Especially when the leader does not have the capacity to deliver the people, God takes on the burden. God feeds the people in the wilderness with manna from heaven. God offers us hope and transformation in our lives too. God even hears our complaining and provides!
"In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord."
Moses pointed out that when the people of God complained about not having enough to eat, even though they were voicing their complaint to Moses and Aaron, they were actually complaining that God was not providing for them. We that are God's people have always had a propensity for complaining it seems...
Someone told me a long time ago that when people complain to church leaders, 80% of what they say has nothing to do with the leader him/herself. This does not mean we don't listen or take such complaining seriously. Every church leader I know does, perhaps even too much. But the truth is most complaining in church is of a reflection of someone's personal expectations about life, faith and religion. Even though a person voices their complaint to the leader, it is likely they are just unhappy in general with how things are going compared to how they wish they were going. Especially now, when our churches are struggling, church leaders are under a lot of pressure.
The good news of the story of Moses is that even at such times, God hears the complaints and offers salvation. Especially when the leader does not have the capacity to deliver the people, God takes on the burden. God feeds the people in the wilderness with manna from heaven. God offers us hope and transformation in our lives too. God even hears our complaining and provides!
"In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord."
Comments
Post a Comment