Sermon # 26 - Be Grateful - Don't Grumble Series

We read in Jonah 3:1-3, “Then the LORD spoke his word to Jonah a second time. He said, "Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people the message I have given you." Jonah immediately went to Nineveh as the LORD told him. Nineveh was a very large city. It took three days to walk through it.” (GW)

The word of the Lord came again to Jonah the second time. This time Jonah arose, and decided to obey God’s command, and to do as He bid. When Jonah disobeyed God the first time, he had to face so many hardships, that he realized that it was time he came in alignment to God’s plan, for his own good.

Often when we do not obey God’s word, the Lord does not shun us, but rather gives us another chance, simply because He is a loving and compassionate God. Each one of us receives so many opportunities from the Lord, and we should be wise to make best use of them. Just because God is gracious, we should not think that we can speak and act any way we like. If we have deliberately chosen the path of disobedience, and done things that are contrary to the word of God, we should repent of them, and set them right before God. The Lord will surely give us another chance if we are willing to set things in order in our lives as God desires. Every time we go against God, and decide to speak or act in defiance to His word, we can be sure that we will encounter adverse consequences, just as Jonah did.

Let me give you some examples from the bible of those who walked in rebellion to God.

The Israelites grumbled against God

We read in Numbers 11:1, “And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled,” (ESV)

The people of Israel had lived in bondage to the Egyptians, for more than four hundred years. In their misery they cried out to the Lord, who heard them, and delivered them from their cruel bondage with a mighty arm, performing astounding wonders and signs on their behalf. The kingdom of Egypt under Pharaoh was powerful and unyielding. It was impossible for anyone to prevail over Egypt, and set free those who were held captive by the Egyptians. However, God sent Moses, and used him mightily to confront Pharaoh with the ten plagues that caused intense damage to the land of Egypt. Having seen the powerful hand of God at work, Pharaoh finally gave up, and decided to let the people of Israel go free.

It was these Israelites whom Moses led through the wilderness, and God graciously provided food and water for this great multitude, all through this arduous journey. There was a special food that God provided for these Israelites every day on that wilderness journey which was called manna. This manna was the bread that God rained down from heaven, which the Israelites gathered, and ground to flour, in order to make food for themselves for forty long years. Nonetheless, the people of Israel were an unthankful lot, and it was their habit to grumble against God and against Moses, when something didn’t happen the way they wanted it to.

David’s heart of gratitude

How often we too forget the manifold blessings and goodness of God in our lives, and begin to grumble. Think about David as he stood before the giant Goliath. David never grumbled in that situation, but rather spoke words of faith. He recalled to King Saul of how he had saved his sheep from the attacks of a bear and a lion, and that God helped him to triumph over those situations. He therefore surmised that God would do the same, and deliver the huge Goliath too into his hands. This attitude of gratitude that David had, prompted him to say in

Psalm 103:1-2, Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, (ESV).

This is the kind of attitude we need to possess, when we encounter various challenges. It is truly not helpful for us to grumble or complain, when faced with any kind of hardships. We too should constantly remember, and thank God for all the good things He has bestowed upon us. Often these verses in Psalm 103:1-2 are said at the close of a prayer, and many don’t even stop to think what the words truly mean. We are reminded to not forget the good things that God has done for us, and the numerous benefits that we have received from His hands, and this should be done every day. Surely, if we have entered into the year, most of us know that it is only because of the grace, mercy and protection of God upon us.