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THE DANGERS OF INGRATITUDE
THE DANGERS OF INGRATITUDE
Today I want to pick an important subject out of the journey from Egypt to Israel. We learn how ingratitude is not only inhibiting but also dangerous in our journey, it can in fact be fatal and terminate the journey to our promise or promised land; or even worse to eternity as it can lead to sin.
In our reading, Moses sends out spies from Kadesh in the wilderness to scout the promised land. You will know from Moses’s account in his epilogue that this was originally not God’s idea but the people initiative (Deuteronomy 1:22). The scout come back with a mixed report. While all bring a great report of a land truly flowing with “milk and honey”, (with the evidence of fruits it produces which they carry along), the majority or 10 also report of the terror of the people living in the land, among them giants (Anakim). It is this negative report that brings fear and great distress to the people. The people complain, weeping and crying, wishing they had remained and died in slavery in Egypt or that they could die right there in the desert. Note that in the people’s complaint, they are also unhappy with the current leadership (mainly Moses from previous accounts), which is not unusual. Joshua and Caleb take a contrary stand encouraging, Israel to move forward and take the land, for the Lord is with them. The majority view carries the day and this angers God causing all people, the age of twenty and above to perish in the desert, except Caleb and Joshua. The events and the aftermath have great lessons on how God sees ingratitude and the dangers thereof.
Reading Numbers 14:1-12 (NLT)
Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. 3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. 6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.[a] 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? 12 I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!”
What are the lessons?
i. A lack of gratitude and complaint treats God with contempt Romans 1:21; Psalm 106:13, 21)
ii. Ingratitude fails to recognise the great things God has done—salvation, above anything else! (Romans 1:21)
iii. Ingratitude is a show of discontent and dissatisfaction, both of which are contra to faith and God’s love for us (Philippians 4:11–12; 1 Timothy 6:6–8; Hebrews 13:5; Proverbs 30:8–9)
iv. Gratitude is a
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By MelphonTHE DANGERS OF INGRATITUDE
Today I want to pick an important subject out of the journey from Egypt to Israel. We learn how ingratitude is not only inhibiting but also dangerous in our journey, it can in fact be fatal and terminate the journey to our promise or promised land; or even worse to eternity as it can lead to sin.
In our reading, Moses sends out spies from Kadesh in the wilderness to scout the promised land. You will know from Moses’s account in his epilogue that this was originally not God’s idea but the people initiative (Deuteronomy 1:22). The scout come back with a mixed report. While all bring a great report of a land truly flowing with “milk and honey”, (with the evidence of fruits it produces which they carry along), the majority or 10 also report of the terror of the people living in the land, among them giants (Anakim). It is this negative report that brings fear and great distress to the people. The people complain, weeping and crying, wishing they had remained and died in slavery in Egypt or that they could die right there in the desert. Note that in the people’s complaint, they are also unhappy with the current leadership (mainly Moses from previous accounts), which is not unusual. Joshua and Caleb take a contrary stand encouraging, Israel to move forward and take the land, for the Lord is with them. The majority view carries the day and this angers God causing all people, the age of twenty and above to perish in the desert, except Caleb and Joshua. The events and the aftermath have great lessons on how God sees ingratitude and the dangers thereof.
Reading Numbers 14:1-12 (NLT)
Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. 3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. 6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.[a] 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? 12 I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!”
What are the lessons?
i. A lack of gratitude and complaint treats God with contempt Romans 1:21; Psalm 106:13, 21)
ii. Ingratitude fails to recognise the great things God has done—salvation, above anything else! (Romans 1:21)
iii. Ingratitude is a show of discontent and dissatisfaction, both of which are contra to faith and God’s love for us (Philippians 4:11–12; 1 Timothy 6:6–8; Hebrews 13:5; Proverbs 30:8–9)
iv. Gratitude is a