A few years ago, while attending the Willow Creek Leadership Summit, I heard Jeff Manion preach a sermon called "The Land Between." He was preaching out of the Numbers 11, where the Israelites have been walking in the desert between Egypt and the promise land of Canna for two years. In these verses we read how quickly they have forgotten what God has brought them out of and the providence He has shown them.
Having grown up in the church, I can't even count high enough the times I have read that story. Each time, I find myself judging the Israelites for being selfish and short sighted. How could they complain to God after all he had done for them to free them from slavery? If only they knew what was in store at the end of their journey, had a little faith, then all this added time in the desert wouldn't be necessary.
It's easy to judge them and think how differently I would have been. I'd like to think I would have been the poster child Israelite, the one God would have told Moses to tell everyone else to act like. However, the truth is, I am no better then them, if not worse. I say worse, because I've seen how their story ends and have them as an example, yet I still find myself complaining, whining, and showing a great lack of faith towards God.
I have been at my church for over four years now, beating the statistics for a production staffer in a church. As someone who has served in the church/ministry most of his life, I think I have somehow convinced myself sub consciously that I am entitled to an easier life. I mean I gave up a better paying career in the “real world” to work in the church. That choice should gain me a few free passes right?
The interesting thing with God is he provides our needs according to what we really need. The Israelites looked at the manna they received from God and said, “We're sick of it.” They were sick of God's provisions in their life because it wasn't what they wanted. How many times have I looked at my circumstances and complained to God for not blessing me enough? As a tech guy, I often find myself envious of what my fellow techs have at their churches causing me to miss the many blessings that I continually receive. I'm sure I'm the only one that has ever felt this way though.
Taking a step back from the church side and just looking at my personal life. Over the past few weeks, I have started to feel that that I am wandering in this land between. Having dealt with a death in my family, walking beside a family member waiting to hear news of cancer, and a surprise financial challenge just to list a few. As these things mount I keep feeling myself being pulled into a self pity mindset, asking God if he really thinks I can bear all this right now.
In Numbers 11:5-6 the Israelites begin to complain, “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” They were speaking to God out of frustration through the way he was blessing them. Being so short sighted, they were ready to give up freedom and return to slavery for food.
I am truly trying to acknowledge this temptation to slip back into complaining and miss the blessings that come from God. It makes me wonder how quickly could I throw in the towel on all God has done for me? I forget that we're not an experiment, God isn't trying something out just to see how we will react. He knows our needs. He knows my reactions.
I challenge each of us to watch out for and be on guard for these times when we walk in the Land Between. As Jeff Manion said in his sermon, this land is fertile soil for complaint to grow. It is also fertile soil for our faith to flourish. It's our choice, God isn't going to micromanage that aspect. As a kid we used to sing this song, “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” I think that is something I am going to start doing daily.
