August 5, 2018

The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 
The Israelites said to them,
“Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! 
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!” (Exodus 16:2-4)

Talk about a ‘what-have-you-done-for-me-lately?’ attitude! God had just teamed with Moses to part the Red Sea and save the Israelites from certain death at the hands of the Egyptian army. Now here they are complaining about being hungry. Apparently they would rather be full and dead than alive and hungry.

We look at the Israelites and wonder, how could they be so unappreciative, so short-sighted?

Perhaps we should look in the mirror. Are we guilty of the same thing?

Do we give God His due? Chances are we do not. We get lazy and seem to forget all of the blessings in our lives. We are quick to complain when things are not going our way; we are demanding and self-serving.

We need to be deliberate in showing our appreciation.

Suggestions:

• Begin each prayer with, “Thank you for the gift of this day.”
• Offer at least three “Thank you’s” for every one “I need”
• Find “silver linings” in clouds and see glasses “half full”
• Live a life in service to God and others

We honor God when we adopt an attitude of gratitude.