Jeremiah 12:5
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan (war) ? KJV
Exodus 17 and Numbers 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 20 & 21
If you recall, God’s chosen people lost their patience in the wilderness with Moses and God, constantly complaining and accusing them as they traveled from Egypt to Canaan. God wasn’t doing this right and Moses wasn’t doing that right. A rabble had banned together, stirring up more complaints—complaints against God’s provision. Where were the leeks, melons, and garlic they enjoyed in Egypt—at no cost? Now, no water! They might as well have stayed in Egypt than die in the wilderness. What did God expect of them, anyway? Even Miriam, Moses sister, slung accusations against Moses authority, claiming equality with him.
And the complaining goes on, right up to arriving at the door of God’s promise of freedom, possessing their own land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Well, not so fast, God. They had just spent 40 years wandering around in the wilderness without proper food or water and now they had to go into this, so called, “promised land” and fight off giants? Surely, God could have done better than this for His chosen….
They had not trusted God, or His messengers, Moses and Aaron. Their lack of trust and continuous complaining and accusing finally provoked God, and it ended for them in the wilderness, costing them their inheritance of a good land with a good life. They died in the wilderness, without ever receiving their promise. Moses died with them for his disobedience when striking the rock when God instructed him to speak to the rock the second time around. Disobedience cost Moses his promise after 40 years of obedience, while the people lost their promise from years of accusing and complaining.
There were consequences…fire, snakes and plague…and for Miriam’s accusation against Moses—leprosy. When Moses cried out for God’s mercy for Miriam, God relented and healed the leprosy after seven days. Both Miriam and Aaron died in the wilderness (Num 20:1, 20:24).
Maybe you have learned not to accuse or blame God, but you have singled out persons, or groups, and go about telling all they are doing wrong, or did, wrong, and how you are suffering because of what they are doing, or did, or how others are suffering because of what they are doing or did. Maybe you even take a glance over your shoulder every once in a while, hoping to see that God has judged them for all the evil they did to you, or others you see suffering because of them. Or maybe you’re the one laying on the side of the road, bleeding, after suffering an excruciating loss and everyone passes you by without even glancing.
Let’s cut to the here-and-now and get specific: We’ll call this section Lancing The Boil…. We will use God’s word to do the cutting Hebrews 4:12. Out will ooze the stench of infection and the poison. (Prov 3:11-12 Spoken to me many times over the years!)
1. Marriage/abandonment/abuse/divorce: Malachi 2:14-17 God hates divorce. Remember, there is no marriage in heaven—no sex—we are as the angels (Matt 22:28-30), we are here to prepare for Jesus as His Bride (Rev 19:7-8). Look at the end of the article for a more complete (not exhaustive) list of scriptures.
My personal take on the subject of marriage after 50 years experience, as well as a trained lay-counselor for over twenty years: Marriage is one of our strongest and most effective character builders. If
you have quit on your marriage because it feels too difficult for you to learn the lessons or it feels like there is something better for you somewhere else—you have missed out on a tremendous opportunity for growth in your character and understanding of your relationships here on earth and with Jesus Christ, our soon coming Bridegroom. I could easily write an entire book on this subject alone.
My encouragement to you is to stick with it and consider how your situation will bring growth and development to your character, a sense of fulfillment and success to your life, as you decide to do it God’s way. Marriage is His plan for us—and between us and Jesus—so He has a pretty good idea how it all works out in the end. The end of a thing is better than the beginning—A word God spoke to me very early on, which I sincerely pondered a number of times over the years regarding my marriage (Eccl 7:8). I am so grateful I listened….
2. Workplace: Peter 2:18-19 Some rock throwing might be done under the guise of “authority”. One might think they are just setting a paid employee straight, wanting to improve production. Whether we are the boss or the servant, always do it God’s way, whether it changes others or not, it will change us. Proverbs 15:1 Talking back, gossiping, spreading rumors, trashing the boss or employees are no, nos. If you are strongly discontent with an employee, let them go and sincerely wish them well. If your work is unbearable, go somewhere you fit in. If there is complexity in either of these choices, do it God’s way. You will never regret it. 1 Peter 3:8-14 Are you getting the picture that complaining is a two-edged sword.
3. Church: Matt 12:24-31– Zech 3:1-2, I will chose pastors over you Jer 3:15, Obey those who have rule over you Heb 13:17 ; Matt 16:18 I will build My Church….
The following comments come from years of experience, attending a variety of churches when God has sent me a distance on various writing assignments. Here is what I have seen and heard over the past 46 years. God loves His Church. Jesus died for His Church. Jesus (the Bridegroom) is coming for His Church (the Bride). But He says in Revelation He has a few things against some of His family. Let Revelation speak for itself (Rev 3:1-22).
There are primarily 3 issues that are consistent wherever He sends me: gossip and slander, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit’s work and resistance against a servant of God and their vision and assignment from God. (There are many wonderful things going on in Jesus Church, but here, we are dealing with a specific issue that God is asking us to pay serious attention to. If you read my book Voices Crying in the Wilderness, A call to prophesy, you will see the amazing revelation God gave to me regarding His love for His Church, and my love for His Church also. I have never attended a church I didn’t like…it would be like telling Jesus He didn’t know what He was doing.)
4. Family/friends A friend must show himself friendly Prov 18:24; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law Luke 12:53 Familiarity breeds contempt. Definition: Idiom—extensive knowledge of or close association with someone or something leads to a loss of respect for them or it. Coined by Geoffrey Chaucer 1300s. Stay loyal, stay faithful, stay respectful, keep confidences to yourself….
5. Neighbors: Matt 22:35-40, Mark 12:31 love your neighbor as yourself, who is my neighbor? Luke 10:25-37, Exod 20:16-17, Prov 3:28
6 Government: Rom 13:1, Matt 22:15-21-render to Ceasar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which belongs to God. Governments are put in place by God Rom 13:1. God raises up kings and puts down kings Dan 2:21-22. This subject is so volatile at this point and so expansive, I will only say…if you are calling out to Jesus to come…to return for His Church…for His Bride…understand that when He returns all will not be well on the earth. Be prepared. (Rev 22:17; all of Chapter 22!)
7. Yourself: You shall have what you speak Job 3:25; You are fearfully and wonderfully made Psa 139:14. I knew you in your mother’s womb Jer 1:5; I knew you before the foundation of the world Eph 1:4-5 You did not choose Me, but I chose you John 15:16. *I loved you first 1 John 4:19-21
Speaking evil of yourself is deadly: I’m…too tall, too short, not smart, too fat, too skinny, unloved, not respected, lonely and so on. These thoughts will program and control your mind, emotions and life’s direction. Matt 12:36-37 This applies to all the above….
Don’t lose heart, now. You can do this. Don’t click the x yet. Read on. Remember your promised land. Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Don’t procrastinate, go in and possess your promise. God will help you slay your giants. Don’t look back, whether you are the accused or the accuser; whether you are the complainer or the one complained against. Let go and leave it all behind. Keep your focus on Jesus, He is always moving forward, and shut down the complaint department. Be quick to get off the merry-go-round of complaining, accusing (Rev 12:9-11) and trying to figure it all out, and give the victim mentality the boot!. Get up quickly, move ahead and leave the junk behind.
End of Part II OUCH!
Part III FALL OUT—Taking a look at the damages…
1. Marriage: Genesis 2:24, Eph 5:22-29, Matt 19:4-6, Col 3:18, 1Peter 3:7, Hebrews 13:4, Eccl 4:10, 1Cor 7:2-5, Prov 6:27, 29, Hebrews 13:4, 1Cor 6:9-10, Exodus 20:14, Proverbs 6:26, Proverbs 23:27-35, 1Cor 6:18, Matt 5:32.
(Part IV we will use His Word again to cleanse and heal the wounds, so keep looking forward! There is hope and healing in sight!)