Quarreling with God

And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Ex. 17:7 ESV)

When things go wrong, do you find yourself quarreling with God? Have you tested the Lord’s patience by complaining?

Let me sheepishly raise my hand and admit I’ve done that.

When my family moved into our newly built home, the backyard was basically a fenced-in field of weeds. In summer, the sun and humidity transformed the yard into a sweltering sauna that demanded frequent attention from the lawnmower. So my husband undertook the project of converting the yard into a shady oasis.

Early on, we purchased a couple of southern red oak trees. They were little more than sticks, about three feet tall, but they were supposed to be fast growing. We nicknamed them Massah (meaning “testing”) and Meribah (which means “quarreling”). We chose those names because we tested each other’s patience as we quarreled over how far apart and how deep to plant the trees.

My backyard wasn’t the way I wanted it, and truthfully, life wasn’t as I envisioned it should be at the time. So I wasn’t exactly a paragon of patience.

Massah and Meribah are now twenty feet tall, and around their trunks, my husband has planted hostas, caladiums, and cast iron plants. On a windy day, I like to sit on our deck and watch the leaves sway in the breeze. As an occasional gust of wind rustles through the trees, the sound they make resembles applause. Rather than quarreling and testing, Massah and Meribah seem to be clapping for their Creator.

I wonder why I so often fail to applaud the Creator. Why am I so prone to complaining and quarreling with God?

Sometimes grumbling proceeds from an ungrateful or covetous heart. But sometimes complaining rumbles out of a heart that doubts. When things go wrong, I’m like the Israelites, wondering, “Is the Lord with me or not?” I doubt he’ll give me strength for the battles I’m facing. When I’m thirsty for justice or hungry to see righteousness prevail—or even when I’m just plain “hangry”—I wonder if God will actually provide for my needs.

When Moses led the people out of Egypt, they sang God’s praises. But a few days after crossing the Red Sea, they got thirsty. The only water they found was bitter, so they grumbled, and God gave Moses directions for making the water sweet. But two months later, the people became hungry. They were out of food, and slavery in Egypt was looking better and better. Once again, despite their bad attitude, God provided manna and quail.

You’d think they’d have learned to trust him for the next time they got thirsty. But no. Once again, they grumbled. Don’t we sometimes do the same thing? It’s almost as if we shake our fists at him and say, “Yes, I know you’ve been faithful in the past. But what have you done for me today?”

When I’m discontented, I need to ask myself:

Have I prayed about the problem? Have I asked God for what I need?
Do I believe he will answer?
Will I wait for his perfect timing?
Will I trust him to give me strength and courage in the meantime?
If his answer doesn’t mesh with my expectations, will I trust him to work all things together for my good?

Recently I was planning an outdoor event. As the Big Day approached, weather forecasters predicted a 100 percent chance of rain—all week. My first inclination was to gripe about the weather, then grudgingly try to come up with Plan B. But in the middle of a few frantic emails, I stopped and prayed. The forecast didn’t call for incessant rain. So I decided to trust God to hold back the rain for a few hours so we could enjoy our outdoor party.

And you know what? He did. The sun even peeked out between the clouds that morning. He is Jehovah Jireh, the God Who Provides—in weighty, life-and-death matters as well as in little, less-critical issues.

Later that afternoon, when I returned home, I heard the wind whooshing through the trees as the rain resumed. I wonder if Massah and Meribah were again applauding the Creator, who is able to answer even the smallest of prayers. Or maybe they were clapping for me because I finally remembered to replace my questioning and quarreling with praying and praising.

Father, forgive me for testing you and doubting your provision. Help me remember that you are able to do abundantly beyond all I ask or think. When I’m tempted to complain, help me remember to pray instead, and to trust you to do what’s best. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 ESV)

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing,that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Phil. 2: 14-15 ESV)

Reach for More

Think back on the past week and recall the times you were tempted to complain. Examine each situation. What did you need in order to improve the situation? Ask God to provide for those needs, or, in situations that can’t be changed, ask him to give you with the strength to persevere.

Margaret Kemp spends most days teaching a classroom full of lively five-and six-year-olds. She’s attracted to be fragrance of vanilla, the printed word, and all things blue and white. She delights in spending time with her husband and family, singing praises with her church choir peeps, and traveling. Her heart’s desire is to know God better and learn to trust him more. You can read more of her writing at MargaretKemp.com.