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Exodus 16 – Praying through the Bible #30 – A Prayer that is Not a Prayer
A prayer that is not a prayer? Patience, and we all might learn an alarming but needed lesson, especially for those days when our “cup of complaints runneth over.”
On the 15th day of the 2nd month after being powerfully freed from bondage, Israel impatiently complains to Moses (Ex 16.1-3). Running low or completely out of their Egyptian food provisions, they lose faith. Their food and faith cupboard is bare. Israel’s argumentativeness reaches irrational levels. No longer seeing their past pain honestly, as barbarous; they see only a warped version of reality. First, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt (16.3).” Their craving for food makes them crave death, and destroys their faith in the future. Second, they long for days “when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted” (16.3). Memories can become false. These ungrateful morons make slavery sound like a vacation! Instead of Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death,” Israel whimpers, “Give me bread and I’ll give you my freedom.” Third, “Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!” (16.3). Their belligerent behavior blames Moses for what they asked for! They make their rescue sound like a kidnapping!
Why “a prayer that is not a prayer?” Defined simply, a prayer is talking to God, and God hearing. Although Israel is talking to Moses, please notice: God hears their complaint (16.7,8,9,11); God hears their complaint about Him (16.7,8); God answers their complaint (16.4,8). This marks the beginning of Yahweh graciously providing manna for these ingrates for the next 40 years (16.35). Every day they witness miracles, and still God can’t do enough, or do it right enough, or soon enough for them. Although Israel verbally gripes to Moses, and not God; Moses considers it a protest against God: “Who are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD” (16.8). Israel is guilty of “prayer transference,” verbally redirecting ill feelings about God to another.
Here are three lessons for us. First, God hears even when I am not technically praying. I already knew that, but reminders are necessary. Wisdom dictates reconsidering my ill-tempered, non-praying words as prayers – and then maybe I will hold my tongue. Second, complaining and grumbling are signs of distrust and dissatisfaction in God. That is an uncomfortable thought. Third, complaining against God’s servants is complaining against God. How we treat others, God considers how we us treat Him. How often during the day are our lips saying things we would never pray? Are we guilty of “prayer transference?”
Prayer Challenge: Try to remember times we’ve complained within the last 24 hours; whether about not finding our favorite snack, about our health, about others, or whatever seems to preoccupy our minds. Pray for contentment and honesty; pray for people God has put into our lives, that we will not wrongfully accuse them; and pray that we will appreciate our spiritual freedom as worth more than any of our complaints.
Thanks for the timely message.