If you haven't read Numbers 11 yet, I'd recommend taking a moment to read it before you continue reading this post, just for the sake of understanding where I'm coming from. You can read it online here via BibleGateway.com. OK...here goes.
I began class on Sunday by reading an excerpt from a commentary by Ray Stedman (you can read it here via Blue Letter Bible) and one of the things that stuck with me was how the first books of the Old Testament can be seen to portray the life of a person who becomes a believer. If Genesis establishes our depravity and our bondage to sin, and Exodus depicts our being freed from the bondage of sin, then Numbers illustrates our sanctification, the process by which we are shaped into the likeness of Christ by the Master Craftsman. It's a growing-up time, a time where we are refined and stretched as the Holy Spirit does its work within us that we might be made into the likeness of Christ. This is an ongoing process, one that takes time, experience, and faith. This parallel between the sanctification in the life of a believer and the sanctification of the Children of Israel in the book of Numbers is key in understanding the specific application that I am making in this article. Let's continue.
In Numbers 11 we find an account of yet another Israelite pity party. There were some among the people who, being tired of eating manna, began to complain about the lack of meat and other variety in their diet, even going so far as to reminisce of their "free" meals back in Egypt. Here is where Stedman points out a very keen and important observation: Manna was not intended to satisfy them completely, but was meant to sustain them on their journey to the Promised Land, a land that flowed with milk and honey. They were promised so much more than manna, but were not ready to take possession of the land; thus, we see that in addition to God's judgement here in Numbers 11, they also will face delay after delay as they wander in the wilderness, through their time of sanctification in preparation for taking hold of what God had promised them.
Two parallels (among many) worth mentioning here are the tendency for man to be unsatisfied with what they have and the fact that they had to grow into their spiritual readiness prior to entering the Promised Land. First, let's agree that although I'm sure manna gets old after awhile, it sure beats starvation! God provides them food miraculously with the dew each morning, enough to sustain and entire nation of more than a million people, but some have the audacity to complain? Secondly, part of the reason that they're stuck eating manna for so long is their own spiritual immaturity. God is using this time to prepare his Children to receive what he has set aside for them and yet their stubbornness, pride, and disobedience just extend the time needed to prepare them. God had a land that flowed with milk and honey waiting for them not that far away, yet before they can have a life of abundance, they must learn how live without.
So, you say, that was a great recap of what's going on, but how does that affect us today? How is this account of God's methodology for sanctification relevant for us? While I can't speak for you, I will share what I have come to realize from my own life.
Today was my 3 year anniversary at my job. I started working for my company exactly 3 years ago today (Dec 1). Starting about a year or so ago, however, I started to become frustrated and "burnt out" of doing the same thing each day and my attitude changed, seemingly overnight, from optimistic and motivated to frustrated and ungrateful. I was tired of eating manna. So each day got a little worse and a little worse until I found myself very cynical and negative about the people I'm supposed to be helping and serving each day on the other end of the phone. Every "dumb" question became an opportunity for me to criticize privately instead of showing grace publicly. I did a great job of keeping up appearances to customers, but inside I just kept sliding deeper and deeper down into the mire of negativity and cynicism. Day after day I became more and more tired of manna. I tried fixing it a different way, but let's face it: manna is manna, no matter how you dress it up. I found myself in this time really asking God (from a genuine heart, believe it or not) to allow me to have more. In my heart, I felt like that would mean either a better job opportunity with my same company, better-suited for me and my personality, or a change out of the corporate world completely and into some type of full-time ministry. I remember praying and asking God for something different...telling him that I'm so tired of manna and that I could really use a quail or two. Yet despite the occasional quail here or there, satisfaction eluded me and left an ache in my stomach for more and more of something different....just no more manna.
Then Sunday we studied Numbers 11 and after reflecting on it before and after class, I was met head-on with a sobering truth: I have been ungrateful for the manna that God has provided to sustain me on my journey. I'm an Israelite!!! In my yearning for the Promised Land of an abundant life filled with passionate pursuits in ministry, I despised the very thing that God intended to get me there. O wretched man that I am!!! (Rom 7:24) My job, no matter how much I eat of it, is still a blessing of provision from the Lord. Who am I to demand more when I have yet to give thanks for my daily manna? How can I look into the face of my Heavenly Father and say, "I'm so tired of this blessing! Can you please give me something better?" How arrogant I must be to speak so flippantly to the Sovereign God of the Universe who saw fit to show grace and mercy to me by sending manna for me to gather each day so that my family and I may survive another!!!
So, as I hope you can tell, I am right in the middle of my repentance and I have begun the work of putting to death my old habits and attitudes in exchange for a thankful heart. It is not and will not be easy...even just today I found so much gravity pulling back toward my old habits. Yet I am confident that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6). Pray for me in this, for it is a heart issue and those seem to take an extra measure of perseverance and faith to mend. Finally, I challenge you to look upon your own life through these glasses and ask yourself whether or not you're gathering your manna with a thankful heart. I hope that you will find this transparency from me as your leader motivating to pursue the holiness Christ has called you to in your own life.
Father, I see now how much like the Israelites I have been and how ungrateful I have been for the blessings of a family and a job with which to support them, for a home and for the ministry you've allowed me to shepherd. In truth, much of this would be next to impossible without the manna you've provided to sustain me through this journey of sanctification. I press onward, Lord, in faith that this work is not in vain and that you have a Promised Land ahead where I will live in abundance. And whether that abundance comes in my time on earth or not, help me to gather manna each day and to be thankful for what you've provided. Amen.
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