Cloud, craving, complaining

Saturday, November 10, 2007: Psalm 58; Numbers 9-12; John 17

We're getting through both the Pentateuch or Torah (the first five books) and through John! These two stories inform and form our story as followers of Jesus.

The Scripture says four times in Numbers 11 - 12 that the anger of the LORD was kindled, or blazed hotly. What's amazing (again) is that we have these accounts of the cloud (or presence of the LORD), interspersed with the hot anger of the LORD.

And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.
(10:34)

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied.
(11:25)

And in the midst of this the people complained about their misfortunes (11:1), wept about not having meat to eat (11:4), apparently complained or were unsatisfied and unbelieving with regard to the meat (11:33; Ps. 78:30-31), and Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moses (12:1f).

How often we need an attitude adjustment! And how deceitful our cravings are. The craving may be for material/physical comfort or pleasure, or it may be related to jealousy and pride, or as Psalm 78 clarifies for us as it reflects on this story, it may be basic unbelief, distrust, the unwillingness or inability to to satisfied with God, his presence, his leading, his protection, his provision.

What we don't recognize is that our deepest hunger and thirst and longing is for God. "Our hearts are restless, O God, until they find their rest in thee." (Augustine) This is how we were made. All these other cravings never satisfy, never fulfill, never heal or give peace and security.

I trust that most of us reading this have known the peace of God that surpasses understanding, have put our trust in the Lord and known that deep, true sense of security and significance rooted in the steadfast love of the Lord. We have also known what it is like to sit in church, or kneel at the altar, and yet be driven to complaining by our cravings. We have sat with an open Bible, or in a group with his Spirit-filled people, and yet been filled with jealousy and pride.

The manna is really enough. His Spirit upon and within us really is enough. His presence in our midst is enough. Jesus entrusted himself to his Father's will, giving his body and blood to be real food and drink. (This is John's story about Jesus). So that those who entrust themselves to him will have abundant and eternal life, in any wilderness, in spite of trouble, in the face of evil, and even through death itself.