And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness (Exodus 16:2).

Talking About the Weather

Human nature never ceases to amaze me. We are never satisfied. During the winter we complain because it is too cold and during the summer we grumble because it is too hot.

I'm currently reading through the Book of Exodus. It is the epic story of grumbling. Moses and his brother Aaron were empowered by God to lead their kinsmen, the Hebrew people, out of 430 years of slavery to the Egyptians. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, refused to let God's people go. God brought 10 plagues on Egypt, each one progressively worse until Pharaoh finally drove the Hebrews out of the land.

There were 600,000 Hebrew men counted in the Exodus, not counting women and children. Bible scholars estimate there were probably close to 2,000,000 persons who left Egypt. Also included were herds and flocks of animals. The logistics of managing all of this was an incredible Job for Moses and Aaron and could only be accomplished by God's power.

God led the people into the wilderness where He miraculously saved the Jewish people from an attack from Pharaoh and his army, drowning the Egyptian army in the Red Sea (Exodus 14:28). The people rejoiced at the power and might of God. The LORD led them further into the wilderness where the people immediately forgot about the might and power He had shown in their deliverance from the land of Egypt, not to mention His stopping the pursuit of Pharaoh's army. They complained against Moses that there was no water to drink (Exodus Chapter 15) and that they were going to starve because there was nothing to eat. God supplied quail for their meat and manna for them to eat (Exodus 16:13). He continued to meet their needs during 40 years of wandering in the desert where they continued to grumble and rebel against God and Moses.

The amazing thing to me as I read about the sojourning of Israel in the wilderness is throughout all the grumbling God continued His work with His chosen people. He did not give up on them. He was almost provoked to do so at one point because of their disobedience but Moses interceded on their behalf and God relented in His anger (Exodus 32:11).

God does not change. His love and faithfulness are eternal and never lose their power. His promises and care are holy and therefore perfect, even when we, like the Israelites, tend to grumble at what God is doing in our lives. He knows all things and in His wisdom He knows which is the best choice to lead us. He may not reveal Himself as He did with Moses and the children of Israel but His immutability means He never changes. He is mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17). Whether we grumble about the weather or what is happening in our lives He is already a step ahead of us, knowing our need even before we ask or think it. So the next time you hear someone complaining about the weather, take a moment to think of Moses and the God that sustained him and a nation through all of the storm that came their way. He remains the same to guide and weather us through any storm of life we encounter.

Ken