Whine And Dine?

When someone attempts to impress another or soften them up in order to gain a favor, it is sometimes said they will "wine and dine" them. However, there was a time during Israel's journey toward the promised land that we might appropriately note as "whine and dine"!

Though the nation should have been more impressed with God's continual provision for them, they appeared hard to satisfy. Their journeying from Egypt to Sinai and then from Sinai on was sprinkled with complaining, fussing, murmuring, whining, and even wishing they were back in Egypt; almost like a child that refuses to be made happy by anything!

Apparently tired of the manna God had provided for them, they would not be satisfied until they got meat. We read. . .

"(4) Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, 'OH THAT WE HAD MEAT TO EAT! (5) We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. (6) But now our strength is dried up, and THERE IS NOTHING AT ALL BUT THIS MANNA TO LOOK AT.'" ( Numbers 11:4-6 ESV)

They whined, weeping at the door of their tents. (vs.10) And after they whined they would dine on God's provision of quail until it came out of their noses and they loathed it. (vs.20) This would be the result of their rejection of the Lord and longing for Egypt instead. (vs.21) When God provided the quail in the camp, the least gathered was "ten homers" (vs.32) [a homer being about 60 bushels or 220 liters] which would have been a lot of meat. It is as if they began to gorge themselves on it in their greed, for we read that while the meat was still between their teeth, God's anger was kindled and He brought a great plague upon them. (vs.33)

Do we ever struggle with a lack of APPRECIATION for the blessings of God. In discontentment, are we always longing for more? We have adequate provision, but cry for something else? We have sufficient means to live, but whine about wanting more and more? And when we get more, do we greedily dig in, neglecting to be APPRECIATIVE to God for His blessings? Though there is nothing wrong with being very well off -- as such can provide the ability to greatly bless others -- we must guard against the attitudes of discontentment, greed, and lack of appreciation for what God has provided.

In Paul's first letter to Timothy he wrote. . .
"(6) Now there is GREAT GAIN IN GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT, (7) for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. (8) But if we have FOOD AND CLOTHING, WITH THESE WE WILL BE CONTENT." ( 1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV)

If we LEARN CONTENTMENT, we are less likely to take God's blessings for granted. We will also better handle those blessings. May we replace any tendency to whine with genuine thanks to God for all He has graciously provided for both our physical and spiritual nourishment.

Have a great day GENUINELY GRATEFUL FOR GOD'S GRACIOUS GIFTS!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Contentment