Num
20:1-5 (NIV) In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the
Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2 Now
there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to
Moses and Aaron. 3 They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had
died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! 4 Why did you bring the
Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? 5
Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or
figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
NOTE: While the main
issue is water, there is more to it than that and to a certain extent resembles
the meat issue. In verse 5, the people add to the complaint that there is no
grain, figs, grapevines, or pomegranates. So there really is a problem of discontent
with the circumstances. They are looking for a more exciting palate, and the
desert does not provide their wishes. Although the reason they are in the
desert is because they did not want to go into the Land when God told them to
go. At that time they were afraid of giants, now they are tired of monotony.
And wishing to be dead, with God's judgment already standing upon you, is not a
good argument. We really are a lot like Israel. We are never satisfied with our
lot in life, always wanting what we don't have. We look back on the old times
with jaded vision, as if they were really better, when in fact we were
complaining back then as well. A believer with a lifestyle that is
characterized by contentment is a rare gem indeed. On that one point alone, we
could revolutionize our witness.
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