It’s so funny how a reading can call you out. The other night I was on the phone with my Mom, and I realized that the very first thing I did was start with my complaints. I know she didn’t mind hearing them because our parents are there to listen to whatever we have to say. However, I wondered how uplifting all my complaining actually was.
I thought of the people in today’s readings, grumbling against God, Moses and Aaron. I mean, these three helped all these people escape Egypt. However, the people just couldn’t see past their complaining about having no food to realize all that God had done for them. God is a loving God, who didn’t want his people to starve. The whole time He listened to them as they griped, complained, and lost trust in His ability to provide. Still, He blessed them with food.
“I have heard the grumbling of the children of Israel. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God” (Exodus 16:12).
If we go a few verses down, we understand how crippling their grumbling had actually become.
Don’t Get Stuck. See the Blessings
“On seeing it, the children of Israel asked one another, “What is this?” for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.’” (Exodus 16:15)
The people were so focused on their complaints that when God finally blessed them with what they had been asking for, they couldn’t see that it was truly Him giving them bread to eat. I thought about how often I get so stuck on something that I don’t have, that I fail to see all the other prayers God has answered for me. These people were so quick to hold on to the one thing they didn’t have, that it prevented them from seeing the continued miracles God would give them.
What complaints are holding you back? What things have you failed to see God bless you with? How can you show God thanks and praise today?
Reading this reminded me of a homily from several years ago. Father explained that when things go poorly, for example parents loose a child, they claim that it is the “will of God.” But when something good happens, such as a couple who was trying to have a baby for an extended period of time finally get pregnant, they forget all about God, unless their faith life is exceptional. It just seems to be human nature, if something goes wrong, people need an excuse, but if something goes correctly, then they were lucky. Much like the Israelites, they wanted freedom from Egypt’s yoke, but as soon as it starts getting rough, they start lamenting about “the good ole days” as slaves in Egypt.