The Egyptian bodies were still warm. The Red Sea with its fish reclining horizontally again. You could still hear the jingles of Miriam’s tambourine and the women out of breath dancing to #1 hit, The Song of Moses “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15)
And like “a black pen leaking in the pocket of a white shirt” is grumbling on the lips of the saints.
Cloud by day, and fire by night. Not enough. Egyptian gold in Jewish pockets. Not enough. Nature bending backwards. Not enough. Jewish sandals walking on seabed at the pace of children and cattle. Not enough. A leader with the education of a prince, and the heart of a shepherd. Not enough.
Always entitled to more. And more. And more. And more. Dehydration excuse today. Boredom with same food tomorrow. Dissatisfaction with the leaders the next.
What have you done for me lately, Lord?
The Hebrew word in Exodus 15 and 16 translated “grumble” is lun. It means lodge, reside, stay overnight, abide. We marinate our grumbles overnight, then spew them out like a bothersome gargle.
“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” James 3:10 ESV
A deja-vu scene occurs about 2,000 years later, when the crowds that crown Jesus are the same that crucify Him. At the beginning of the week Jesus is hailed as king, and by the weekend he is nailed as criminal. Did miracles stop stacking? Jesus didn’t benefit them anymore? The blind could see, and lame could walk. Was it not enough?
What have you done for me lately, Lord?
Tozer’s words still haunt me days later while reading The Dangers of Shallow Faith “If God never answered another prayer for me as long as I live, I still want God to know that I want to serve Him until I die. If He never did another thing for me from this day on, if He withdrew His hand and let me go to pieces physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and every other way, I would still want Him to know I want to serve Him just because He is God.”
Could I though?
Or would I get startled like Peter by the crowing of a rooster denying God’s goodness every time I feel like suffering is not distributed evenly to mankind? …
What have you done for me lately, Lord?
Oh Lord, is your body broken for me like the sacrificial lamb cut to pieces not enough? Your flesh curling up into ribbons from whiplashes, not enough? Soldiers saliva drooping on the body of their Maker, not enough? Your face so disfigured that would make one heave, not enough? Your closest pretending not knowing you, not enough? Sweating blood, not enough? Dying my death, not enough?
“Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—” Isaiah 52:14
Consider this incredible quote from H.G. Wells, “I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
Jesus can not be ignored. He split history in two (Before Christ, Anu Domini). The Russian communists referred to resurrection every time they said the word “Sunday” “воскресенье” (meaning resurrection). The popular name Anastasia comes from the Greek ἀνάστασις, meaning resurrection.
7th century historian Philip Schaff sums it best. (From an article posted by Allendale Baptist Church)
“Jesus Changes Everything.
This Jesus of Nazareth,
without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammad, and Napoleon;
without science and learning, shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined;
without the eloquence of schools, He spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet;
without writing a single line, He set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times. Jesus is not someone you can ignore.”
Before we pick up the first stone to judge the dehydrated Israelites wondering “What have you done for me lately, Lord?” May we repent of our grumbles, and pray to have Tozer’s conviction.
“If God never answered another prayer for me as long as I live … I would still want Him to know I want to serve Him just because He is God.”
Renew my zeal for you this Easter.