When things got rough, their immediate response was always much the same: “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt!”And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt, or would God we had died in this wilderness! (Numbers 14:2)

The murmuring and complaining of the children of Israel seemed to never stop. When things got rough, their immediate response was always much the same: “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt!”

Don’t be too shocked.
We’re not much different.

No different than the grumbling and complaining children of Israel, our lack of appreciation for all God has done for us can be a stumbling block in our spiritual growth.

It’s easy to get caught up in a victim mentality, thinking life would have been so much easier if only I didn't have children, or I didn't get married, or I lived in a nicer house, etc. The list of things we might regret is nearly endless. We’ve all been there at one time or another.

Sadly, many of our regrets began as amazing and even miraculous answers to prayers and blessings from God, not at all unlike Israel's freedom from Egypt.

When we consider all the Lord has given us, the blood of the Spotless Lamb to cleanse us and make us whole, guaranteeing our victory in the face of our enemy, how can we not be full of praise and gratefulness?

When we think of the way He made provision for us to be reconciled to Him even while we were yet dead in sin, how can we not fall on our faces in total surrender to His awesome plan?

When we reflect on all the times He made a way for us where there seemed to be no way, when His presence was with us even when we weren’t expecting it, when we made bad choices yet His love never failed –when we contemplate all His goodness, His mercy, His total provision... how can we not be overwhelmed by His faithfulness, His mercy, His constant and abiding love?

We are given examples of the Israelites’ dissatisfaction and longing for the good old days as an admonition to find another way to respond to all the changes that occur in our lives.

We are challenged to echo the Psalmist during those times: “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:1-4)

Those good old days when life seemed easy often tempt us to be dissatisfied. We need to learn to resist looking back and press on, extolling the Lord at all times with His praise on our lips.

Press on, my friends… press on!

Prayer:
Father, I repent for all the times I showed dissatisfaction rather than praise, when I exhibited poor responses to Your hand at work in my life, when I failed to see Your will being done as opposed to answering my prayers in a way I thought You should have. Lord, forgive me. Amen.

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.” (Psalm 146:1-2)

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© 2026 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

“Sit often under the influence of God’s Word.”🌻
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