“Gratitude Unveiled: Breaking Chains with the Children of Israel”

Nov 12

"Let's enter His presence with thanksgiving; let's shout triumphantly to Him in song."

—Psalms 95:2 (CSB)

Thankfulness in the Midst of Complaints

In the worn pages of Exodus, the struggle of not being grateful—a story about a group of people stumbling into freedom but getting tangled up with a hidden burden—the chains of not being thankful—the children of Israel.

As we tread the sandy paths where the Israelites once kicked up dust, we come across a people caught up in grumbles and ungratefulness. Despite experiencing deliverance and divine miracles time and again; the parting of the Red Sea, water flowing from rocks, and manna from heaven, gratitude remains elusive. The abundance of God's blessings gets entangled in the thorns of complaints, drowning out the symphony of thankfulness, their hearts were still tied up with complaints.

"Wouldn't it be better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness?" This complaint echoes across the desert, conflicting with the miraculous events they've just witnessed. The same mouths that saw the sea part now voice complaints, revealing hearts untouched by God's mighty hand.

I always chuckle to myself when I read this passage, because it is almost like you can picture the children of Israel with their “hands on their foreheads, making a 'dramatic and sarcastic' claim of 'is it because there were no graves in Egypt', so God had to bring us all the way out here to the wilderness to die instead."

The journey of ungratefulness begins as soon as they taste freedom. Their discontent grows louder as they argue and bicker with Moses, questioning why they were delivered. "It would have been better to stay in Egypt than to face death in this desolate place."

Standing on the brink of deliverance, the Israelites hesitate. The idea of standing still, of trusting God with their peace, seems too challenging. In their ungratefulness, they miss the chance to fully embrace God's providence.

It’s quite easy to judge them from a distance, right? We might wonder why the children of Israel couldn’t just be grateful despite God's abundant blessings. But, as we navigate our own desert-like moments, the question gets personal.

How often do we find ourselves complaining when life doesn't quite match our expectations?

In those moments when things don't quite match up to our timing?

If we look in the mirror, it reflects our human tendency to complain, to nurse a bit of ingratitude. The children of Israel act like this mirror, showing us our own struggles—falling short when things are good, and missing out on the joy of thankfulness.

Yet, during this journey, there is this nudge to navigate life’s twists and turns with a heart tuned to gratitude and joy:

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."—1 Thessalonians 5:18

Christian joy, goes beyond what's happening. It's grounded in a steady awareness of who God is and the promise of being with Christ forever. Sure, the Israelites left their mark in the sand with all their complaints, but armed with the knowledge of God's unchanging love, we can carve out a path of full-on gratitude.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children."—Revelation 21:1-7

So, inspired by the lessons we learn of the Israelites' journey, let's choose joy over complaints. By doing that, we crack ourselves open to this amazing power—the power of thankfulness that goes beyond what's happening and brings us closer to the heart of God.

Join us on this personal exploration of gratitude in our "Reclaimed" series. Let's uncover the joy and thankfulness that can turn our lives around. #GratitudeUnveiled #ReclaimedSeries #ThankfulHeart