Scapegoats (II)

 

Last week we saw how the children of Israel continued an absolutely mind-blowing  murmuring against the Lord in spite of all His chastisements and we were left to ponder over the different lessons that we could draw from all those events.

 

1) Signs and wonders are not always enough to change hearts.

If it was possible for people to change their hearts forever, fear God and fear the authority just because of signs and wonders, then the children of Israel would have never needed anything more after the death of the Egyptian firstborns or their crossing of the Red Sea. But inasmuch as the ten plagues of Egypt could not compel Pharaoh and his people to fear God, so were the multiple wounds of the Israelites in the desert incapable of converting them. That’s why Jesus said to the crowd: “You are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (Jn 6:26) People only care about their stomach.

This should be a serious warning to us. Indeed, if the children of Israel could forget signs such as those they witnessed in Egypt and in the wilderness, then what about us and all the ''small'' miracles that God daily does in our lives? If we are not careful, they will just slide away like water on duck feathers and we will surprise ourselves murmuring at the first test, just like the children of Israel.

 

2) Pay heed to the authority and beware of rebellion

Men want to do as they please. We don’t like having ‘conscience rectifiers’ or ‘direction pointers’ around us. More than Moses and Aaron, it was God Himself that the people were rejecting here. Moses understood it very well when he asked Korah: “What is Aaron that you grumble against him?” (Nu 16:11) Things became obvious a few centuries later when the people demanded a king to Samuel’s great displeasure; but God told him: "they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them" (1Sam 8:7b) Indeed, there is NO authority except from God (Rom 13:1); NONE: i.e. both the good and the bad ones. And the Scriptures ask us to conduct ourselves vis-à-vis them, not according to the fact that they are good or bad (1Pe 2:18), but according to the fact that they represent GOD’s choice and that divine choices are not disputable. It may not be the Leader, the chief or the President that we would have chosen, but he is the one that God, the Master of times and circumstances has established in His wisdom. And if we don’t want to suffer in one way or the other, He tells us:

· Submit yourself (unless you are asked to do something that is clearly contrary to Scriptures). Eph 6:5-6, Col 3:22, Titus 3:1, 1Pe 2:18

· Pray for your authorities. 1Tim 2:1-3

· Do not speak evil of a ruler of your people (Ac 23:5); you will be actually ill-speaking of God whom, according to you, is particularly nut/insane to leave such a person at such a place.

 

3) There is a need for the sense of responsibility.

Whether out of pride, cowardice, fear, forgetfulness or something else, we don’t like to recognize our mistakes and take our responsibilities. We like to believe that we are perfect and project this image outside; thus, as soon as we are in trouble, instead of first looking at ourselves, we often tend to point the finger at others. We are always looking for scapegoats and Christians have an excellent one: "The devil made me do ..." It's never us; we cannot be that bad, can we? We cannot be so vicious, right? We can’t be this deceitful; can we? It is obviously X, Y or Satan who has made us behave that way; isn’t it? Someone said: never forget that when you point the second finger on others, three other fingers are turned against you and point in your direction.

I hope and pray that the misfortunes of the Hebrews in the desert really serve as lessons to us. I had already drawn our attention to these things with the posting: ‘‘Beware, danger.’’ But today, I would particularly like to encourage us to watch over our hearts more than anything else, because therefrom flow the springs of life (Prov 4:23). Let us ask the Lord to change everything that may still be stony in our hearts into flesh (Ez 11:19 & 36:26). Let’s ask Him to give us docile and humble hearts; hearts that love His Word and His commandments (Ez 11:20 & 36:27); hearts that trust Him and believe that His ways are safe, sound and right, hearts that know He only desires their utmost good and welfare.

 

Have a wonderblessed week!