content and contentment

Reading (or listening) through the book of Numbers you see that the people of Israel fail to grasp the most important thing.  The picture from within the camps is of a stubborn and dissatisfied people who just cannot seem to faithfully obey the Lord.  Time after time God provides for them: miraculous food appears on a daily basis, water pours from a rock in the desert, enemies are kept at bay...But the people have short memories and when times get tough they forget all this.  I think the problem is that they are fixated on their circumstances rather than on the One who is bigger than circumstance.  Ultimately, when they hunger or thirst or grow weary in the demanding wilderness and desert they allow their perception of life to be shaped by that discomfort.  They haven't moved beyond the physical to appreciate the spiritual reality that God is with them, God is for them and God goes before them.  I am reminded that, in my life, I can overemphasize the material and natural circumstances and begin to think that the quality of life is measured by the satisfaction that is experienced in natural ways.  I need to look past and look beyond and remember the One who is greater than circumstance and who soars over time and nature.  When my contentment doesn't come from the content but from the Creator of life I am no longer ruled by the ups and downs of circumstance!

Numbers 20:2 There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people blamed Moses and said, "If only we had died in the Lord's presence with our brothers!

Numbers 20:8 "You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock."

blessings,

Rob Smith