Focus and Contentment

The Israelites saw so many wonders. They had witnessed the plagues and how the Lord protected the Israelites and humbled the Egyptians. They had seen the Red Sea parted and Pharaoh and his army drowned. They had seen God daily provide manna and quail. And yet, they still struggled with contentment.

 Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. ³ And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! ⁴ Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? ⁵ And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” ~ Numbers 20:2-5

Yet, aren’t we the same?

We are so very rich. We have not just one or two sets of clothing but closets heaped with shoes and accessories and clothes. We have not just enough for today’s food – we have freezers and pantries that are bursting. We do not have to walk but instead ride in cars that are even air conditioned to combat the muggy heat of summer.

And this does not even touch the spiritual riches we hold: A God who listens to our prayers, forgiveness though we do not deserve it, salvation, a spiritual family for us to be loved and to love in turn, God’s spirit to live within us, convicting and urging us.

It is all too human to repeat the mistakes of the Israelites. We focus on what we lack, instead of on what God has provided. And we generally find what we are looking for.

Do we seek out the lack? Or do we find his providence? Do we complain of what we do not have? Or do we marvel at the invisible realities he has granted us?

What shall I render to the Lord
    for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord….

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
    and call on the name of the Lord.

~ Psalm 116:12-13, 17

May we, like the Psalmist, learn to see what God is doing in our lives and thank Him for it.

Photo by Lena Taranenko on Unsplash