The Ungrateful Heart

The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 430 years (Exodus 12:40-41) and although they had been delivered out of Egypt, they had ungrateful hearts. They complained and whined when difficult or unwanted situations arose. Instead of trusting the Lord, Who had just delivered them, they complained. However, despite their whining the Lord continued blessing them.

The word ungrateful means to fail to acknowledge or value what has been given. This describes the Israelites well. God delivered them out of Egypt. He sent an angel in a pillar of cloud to guide them by day and a pillar of fire to guide them by night (Exodus 13:21-22). Then he provided safe passage away from Pharoah and his men by putting a barrier between Pharoah, his men, and the Israelites (Exodus 14:19- 20), parted the Red Sea, and completely eliminated the threat (Exodus 14:21-29). This was God’s protection. However, when they saw Pharoah and his men, they said it would have been better for them to just stay in captivity. This lack of trust in the Lord is a sign of ungratefulness. Nonetheless, the Lord continued to bless them. When they complained of hunger, He provided food from heaven (manna) and when they complained that the bread from heaven wasn’t enough and that they had pots of meat in Egypt, God gave them quail (Exodus 16). Despite these blessings the Israelites continued to complain. The Israelites had ungrateful hearts.

Sadly, believers also are like the Israelites. They have the same poor focus. Often focusing on problems instead of blessings. Think about people who complain about their homes not being big enough or nice enough while there are people living on the street eating out of trash cans. Have you been guilty of murmuring; complaining about God’s blessings amid a negative situation? Don’t be like the Israelites seeing what you don’t have instead of appreciating what you do have and missing blessings because of an ungrateful heart.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us for being ungrateful. Forgive us for having poor focus; focusing on not having a parking space instead of appreciating that we have something to park. Forgive us for seeing what we lack instead of appreciating what we have. Thank You, Lord for blessing us despite our complaining. Thank You, Lord, for Your continued protection, provision, and guidance even when we murmur about that protection, provision, and guidance.  Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your grace, Your mercy, and Your Son Jesus the Christ who died for our sins. In the matchless name of Jesus, I pray.
By Sis. Patricia Towns