Stupid Israelites = Me

I hate reading about the Israelites in the wilderness. I hate how God proves Himself to them time and time again, but still they always find something to whine about even if it is the same thing over and over again. They took every single thing that God did for them for granted. They spit at and rejected God’s acts of love. They forgot every bit of what God had done for them as soon as something didn’t go their way. I hate reading about them and the way they treated God. I hate how when God punishes them, they come running back to be healed because I know that they go back to doing the exact same thing again. They never learn their lesson. They never change. Yet God in His mighty strength and love forgives them and provides a way for salvation every time. They don’t deserve that! They’ll just go back to whining and complaining and not trusting!

Then I realize… I am just like them.

How many times have I given up something to God and then just days later I take it right back and spit in God’s face with my lack of trust. I don’t really have a solution to this problem or something wise and spiritual to say about this issue. It’s just a fact; it’s just the truth. I am a messy, messy Christian. I am always going to mess up. But just as Moses lifted up the snake to save the Israelites in the wilderness, so God has lifted up the savior of the world on a cross. As long as I keep my focus on Him, even through my mess, He will be my salvation.