They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Psalm 106:13-15.
Whenever their appetite was restricted, the Israelites were dissatisfied, and murmured and complained against Moses and Aaron, and against God.
God gave the people that which was not for their highest good, because they persisted in desiring it; they would not be satisfied with those things that would prove a benefit to them. Their rebellious desires were gratified, but they were left to suffer the result. They feasted without restraint, and their excesses were speedily punished…. Large numbers were cut down by burning fevers, while the most guilty among them were smitten as soon as they tasted the food for which they had lusted.
God might as easily have provided them with flesh as with manna, but a restriction was placed upon them for their good. It was His purpose to supply them with food better suited to their wants than the feverish diet to which many had become accustomed in Egypt. The perverted appetite was to be brought into a more healthy state, that they might enjoy the food originally provided for man—the fruits of the earth, which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden. It was for this reason that the Israelites had been deprived, in a great measure, of animal food.
Satan tempted them to regard this restriction as unjust and cruel. He caused them to lust after forbidden things, because he saw that the unrestrained indulgence of appetite would tend to produce sensuality, and by this means the people could be more easily brought under his control. The author of disease and misery will assail men where he can have the greatest success. Through temptations addressed to the appetite he has, to a large extent, led men into sin from the time when he induced Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. It was by this same means that he led Israel to murmur against God. Intemperance in eating and drinking, leading as it does to the indulgence of the lower passions, prepares the way for men to disregard all moral obligations. When assailed by temptation, they have little power of resistance..
Conflict and Courage p. 103
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Eileen. She almost fell Friday night and is very sore. Pray that she didn’t do anything to mess up her newly repaired back. Rose
—– I had have several tests and now going in on Wednesday for a biopsy. Please join me in my prayer that they find NOTHING and can’t figure out why I was referred to them! Shiloh
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Dear Friends,
When I was seven, on one of those rare times when my mother didn’t take me shopping or something and I got to go to the small brick church with my grandparents about two blocks from our house. While there, I learned that Jesus was coming very soon. The lady at church had told us that at first the cloud would look very small in the distance and then as it got closer to earth it would look bigger and bigger until it would fill the whole sky. There would be billions of angels and we would see Jesus sitting right in the middle of them all. She stressed the importance of being ready for His coming as He would take only those people who love and obey Him to Heaven. That really impressed me.
Later that afternoon, my friend, Janie, came over to play. I did not feel like playing. I was still thinking about what the teacher had said. I shared with her what I had learned. Janie was also amazed. She had never heard such a thing before. We sat on the back steps and looked at the sky. It was almost sundown and the clouds were tinged with yellow and pink. Our eyes searched each cloud. We thought maybe one of those clouds would be the special one.
Ah! The faith of a little child! It is a trusting, believing faith. It is an expectant faith. It is the faith that each of us should have. This believing, trusting, “take God at His word” kind of faith is so important to Jesus that He declared, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:3 Of course, our Dear Saviour was speaking of the wonderful qualities of an unspoiled child, not the kind we so often see today. The trust, the humility, the unconditional love that a little one has is what He wants us to have in Him.
How important that we trust in the One Who loves us so. David admonishes, “Trust in the LORD, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him” Ps 37:3-7 The wise man adds, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Prov 3:5-7
Those with a trusting, humble, obedient spirit are of great value in God’s sight. He promises to dwell with them both now and eternally. What a blessing! What a privilege! “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa 57:15 Jesus taught, “he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matt 23:11,12
How vital that we be watchful and waiting for Jesus to come. How critical that we be alert and not settle down to a do-nothing state, going about our daily routine, having few thoughts Heavenward. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming, And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matt 24:42-51
May we trust our Redeemer as a little child, full of confidence and faith in the promise of His soon return. May we share the Good News of Salvation with all around us. May we and they receive of His grace and mercy so when He does come in the clouds to take His own to His Heavenly Kingdom, we can look up and say, “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
Rose
Undernourished Souls