Harbor Presbyterian Church

Bad Attitudes Bite!

Focus: Numbers 21:4-7

"But on the way the people lost their patience and spoke against God and Moses... ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We can't stand any more of this miserable food!" Then the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many Israelites were bitten and died..."

Learn:

I see the people doing four things that angered God and brought severe judgment on themselves:

1) Ungrateful of God's Activity. They admitted God has brought them out of Egypt , but they were ungrateful of His work. God had delivered them from slavery, bondage, and abuse. They were ungrateful toward what God had already done for them.

2) Assumed God's Absence. They assumed God would let them die. Rather than faith in God's continued deliverance and provisions, they assumed the worst for them and of God.

3) Denial of God's Provisions. They said there was no food nor water. They had both food and water, but it wasn't exactly what they wanted.

4) Ungrateful of God's Provisions. The said, "We can't stand any more of this miserable food." Though they had just claimed they had not food, here they admitted they did, but just didn't like it. How ungrateful they were!

The last line of their comments reveals the root of their issue. The food wasn't miserable. The problem was that they had miserable heart, not miserable food. Their own miserable hearts made them 1) Ungrateful of God's Activity; 2) Assume God's Absence; 3) Deny God's Provisions; 4) Ungrateful of God's Provisions.

Internalize

I know sometimes I get miserable; a bad attitude. When that happens I become like these Israelites: miserable, ungrateful, assuming, and denying. God has been so overwhelmingly good to me. Even when things don't appear good or easy I must guard my heart- "for from the heart come the well springs of life." If my heart is miserable the only thing that will spring from my heart is misery. That will anger God and bring my destruction.

Pray

God please help me to have a grateful heart, and help me to love You more. Amen