Exodus Chapter 14 (And Beyond): Post-Miracle Murmurings

Exodus Chapter 14 (And Beyond): Post-Miracle Murmurings

 In Exodus 14, God keeps His promise and makes a way for the Israelites to be set free from slavery.  However, almost as soon as Pharaoh agrees to release them, he quickly changes his mind about letting them go. As soon as they reach the formidable Red Sea, they quickly begin to panic and fear they are about to be recaptured. 

(Exodus 14:10-14) And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness... For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."

And Moses said unto the people, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

God helps the Israelites escape the Egyptians through His miraculous parting of the Red Sea and they are able to escape through the middle by walking through it! Pharoah has already begun his pursuit, and his armies are taking full advantage of the dry seabed.  Yet, as soon as they are all in the middle of the sea, God causes the water to return to its natural state, and the entire army is drowned! 

In Exodus 14:30-31 it says, "Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses."

Even after God performed one of the mightiest miracles in the Bible for them by parting the Red Sea, it was not enough.  They were already dissatisfied and complaining.  I am sure that there were plenty of grateful people among them, as God always has a remnant of True followers of Him but notice how quickly the majority of the Israelites forget how mighty the hand of God is. Beginning with the above passage from verses 10-14 and continuing throughout the entire story of Moses (and well beyond), the Israelites were constantly murmuring against God.  There are too many passages to list them all!  Just one example:

(Exodus 16:2-3) And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, "Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Already they are failing to believe that God will continue to take care of them.  No matter what God does for them, they grumble.  God sends miraculous manna from heaven to feed them, they murmur.  So God sends them quail (Numbers Chapter 11).  But he also sends a plague as punishment for their hateful attitudes.  This is a repeated pattern.  Moses has to frequently intercede for them so that God is not as angry.  This continues until Moses' death and continues beyond throughout the Old Testament.  Actually, post-miracle murmurings continue still today with almost everyone that has ever lived! 

I can speculate that their murmurings were more than just a passing whine-a-thon that we all go through but were fueled by anger and willful rebellion.  God knows how deep our complaints go.  Whether it's just a shallow, "I wish I didn't feel so sick," kind of thought to a much deeper and darker, "How dare you allow such a thing to happen God!"  We refuse to see God's mighty hand is always with us and focus on our own vanity and pride.   

I can easily admit that I can be just as ungrateful and disrespectful to the Holy of Holies.  Instead of focusing on what God has done to show His love, I focus on present circumstances.  God had graciously been teaching me more and more to be focus more on His love and not on my own flesh.  The more I do so, the more and more I love and trust Him!  His love alone is miracle enough to keep me satisfied! 

Dear Jesus, please forgive me for all of my murmurings and may I remember to be grateful for your love alone!