Bless the LORD Forever

After God brought His people out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, He miraculously provided them water to drink to quench their thirst.  Though God made a covenant with His people, it was not long before they murmured against Moses and Aaron, men chosen by God according to His divine purposes.  They grumbled and complained in their discontent.  They even expressed their preference to have died in Egypt, for at least there they had meat and bread to eat to the full.  In their bitterness they forgot how they cried out to God for deliverance because of the harsh bondage they suffered.  God would prove faithful to supply food for even grumbling, complaining people.

Exodus 16:6-8 says, "Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, "At evening you shall know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt. ⁷ And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD; for He hears your complaints against the LORD. But what are we, that you complain against us?" ⁸ Also Moses said, "This shall be seen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the LORD hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD."  Moses was meek before God and man.  He revealed complaints against Moses and Aaron were actually against the LORD.  The discontent of the people was fueled by their unbelief in God and exacerbated by their refusal to trust Him.  Their murmuring and complaining was more an indictment against them then an accurate gauge of the performance of Moses and Aaron.

Now were Moses and Aaron perfect leaders?  Absolutely not!  Like all men and women they had many faults, yet even their errors did not justify the complaints of the people against them.  Since God's people know God is sovereign and He rules over all, this should greatly temper our complaints against the rulers He has put in authority.  Though David had been anointed by the prophet Samuel he would not speak against Saul who he acknowledged as the "LORD's anointed."  The apostle Paul once was struck on the face and later apologised for speaking harshly towards the high priest (whose conduct was inappropriate and unlawful) in Acts 23:5:  "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'" 

In societies which have embraced democratic principles we are often free to have an opinion, to question and debate policies and platforms, and vote as we see fit.  In a culture polarised by the right and left, by Liberal and Labour, or Republican and Democrat, we can lose sight of God's sovereign role in society, government, and politics.  After God revealed a dream and interpretation, consider the words of Daniel, a Jew was made to serve King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon in Daniel 2:20-22:  "Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. ²¹ And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. ²² He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him."  Daniel was an advisor of a king who laid Israel waste, razed the Temple in Jerusalem to the ground, killed his countrymen, and took him captive in a foreign land.  When Nebuchadnezzar began to slaughter the wise men of Babylon Daniel sought the LORD so people could be saved--without a single recorded complaint against King Nebuchadnezzar.

Friend, are you one who complains and murmurs against rulers God has put in authority?  Realise when you do so your complaints are actually against God.  The same God who put Pharaoh in authority over Egypt was God who chose Moses to deliver His people from bondage.  The God who established proud, murderous Nebuchadnezzar as king of an empire divinely placed Daniel and his companions in his court as wise men to accomplish His purposes.  By all means we ought to seek to stand up for righteousness and glorify God in our words and conduct, but we cannot do this when there springs from our hearts a poisonous undercurrent of murmuring and complaining against rulers God has raised up.  No matter who "wins" an election or what party or person is seen to be "in charge" of government, God sits on the throne without rival.  It is Him we honour and serve.  Instead of complaining against a person or political party, let us bless the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His.