Do you ever find yourself complaining about an issue in front of you even though Abba has delivered you from much greater problems in times past?
When Israel came out of Egypt, they had a spirit of slavery upon them and Abba needed them to break that off. Despite witnessing miracle after miracle, they seemed to immediately move right back into a response of grumbling and complaining when their safety and provision was challenged.
Why is that?
In parashah B’shallach (After he had let go -- Exodus 13:17–17:16), we watch Israel struggle with an issue right before them even though it pales in comparison to something that happened not long before.
Let’s look at some of the things they complained about in this parashah to try and find the underlying motivation:
Complaint: We are going to die in war!
Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Isra’el looked up and saw the Egyptians right there, coming after them. In great fear the people of Isra’el cried out to Adonai 11 and said to Moshe, “Was it because there weren’t enough graves in Egypt that you brought us out to die in the desert? Why have you done this to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you in Egypt to let us alone, we’ll just go on being slaves for the Egyptians? It would be better for us to be the Egyptians’ slaves than to die in the desert!”
Result: But Abba is victorious
Exodus 14:30 On that day, Adonai saved Isra’el from the Egyptians; Isra’el saw the Egyptians dead on the shore. 31 When Isra’el saw the mighty deed that Adonai had performed against the Egyptians, the people feared Adonai, and they believed in Adonai and in his servant Moshe.
Complaint: After 3 days, they get thirsty
Exodus 15:22 Moshe led Isra’el onward from the Sea of Suf. They went out into the Shur Desert; but after traveling three days in the desert, they had found no water. 23 They arrived at Marah but couldn’t drink the water there, because it was bitter. This is why they called it Marah [bitterness]. 24 The people grumbled against Moshe and asked, “What are we to drink?”
Had Abba made the water bitter on purpose?
Result: But Abba gives them water
Exodus 15:25 Moshe cried to Adonai; and Adonai showed him a certain piece of wood, which, when he threw it into the water, made the water taste good.
Didn't he know they were thirsty?
Of course He did, but He’s testing them
Exodus 15:25 … There Adonai made laws and rules of life for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, “If you will listen intently to the voice of Adonai your God, do what he considers right, pay attention to his mitzvot and observe his laws, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians; because I am Adonai your healer.”
Complaint: After 30 days, they get hungry
Exodus 16:1 They traveled on from Eilim, and the whole community of the people of Isra’el arrived at the Seen Desert, between Eilim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after leaving the land of Egypt. 2 There in the desert the whole community of the people of Isra’el grumbled against Moshe and Aharon. 3 The people of Isra’el said to them, “We wish Adonai had used his own hand to kill us off in Egypt! There we used to sit around the pots with the meat boiling, and we had as much food as we wanted. But you have taken us out into this desert to let this whole assembly starve to death!”
Result: Abba gives them food
Exodus 16:10 As Aharon spoke to the whole community of the people of Isra’el, they looked toward the desert; and there before them the glory of Adonai appeared in the cloud; 11 and Adonai said to Moshe, 12 “I have heard the grumblings of the people of Isra’el. Say to them: ‘At dusk you will be eating meat, and in the morning you will have your fill of bread. Then you will realize that I am Adonai your God.’”
Complaint: They get thirsty again
Exodus 17:2 The people quarreled with Moshe, demanding, “Give us water to drink!” But Moshe replied, “Why pick a fight with me? Why are you testing Adonai?” 3 However, the people were thirsty for water there and grumbled against Moshe, “For what did you bring us up from Egypt? To kill us, our children and our livestock with thirst?”
Result: And Abba gives them water again
Exodus 17:5 Adonai answered Moshe, “Go on ahead of the people, and bring with you the leaders of Isra’el. Take your staff in your hand, the one you used to strike the river; and go. 6 I will stand in front of you there on the rock in Horev. You are to strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so the people can drink.”
Although not a complaint, they have war again:
Exodus 17:8 Then ‘Amalek came and fought with Isra’el at Refidim.
Atbash/Chiasm
An atbash (or chiasm in Greek) is a method of writing that has progressive sequence of ideas then repeats these ideas in reverse order. In this parashah, we have the following:
War - Moshe holds up his hands and Abba caused the sea to split
Israel gets thirsty - bitter water becomes good
Israel gets hungry - Manna and quails
Israel gets thirsty - water comes from the rock
War - Moshe holds his hands up and causes Israel to be victorious
We see that this all points to the Manna. It is His miraculous provision that sustains us. We’re going to table this point for now but keep it in the back of your head as we move forward.
So what is it that causes Israel to appear so fickle?
They have clearly seen miracles and they feared Abba.
Then they get thirsty.
He miraculously gives them water.
Then they get hungry.
He miraculously gives them food.
Then they get thirsty again.
Then they get attacked.
Then they get miraculously delivered from their enemy again.
What causes such shortsightedness?
Let’s try to view their lives through our own lives and see if we can make sense of this behavior.
Would you have forgotten in 3 days time what happened when the waters divided?
So much so that you wish you were back in Egypt?
Would you have forgotten in 30 days time?
So much so that you wish you were back in Egypt?
Would you complain about something He's proven He can already do?
So much so that you wish you were back in Egypt?
So what is it that causes us to behave like this?
Do you pray for provision when you have all you want (for now)?
Do you pray for healing when you are healthy?
Do you pray for favor when you aren’t in a place of needing it?
Not usually, but when these areas are challenged we immediately enter into desperate prayer.
It turns out these are all markers of a slave mentality:
- Request for Provision
- Request for Comfort/Health/Identity
- Request for Authority/Favor
Slaves only want their needs covered -- or the needs of someone they know.
Slaves only seek deliverance -- for themselves and others.
Slaves make petitions for favor -- on their behalf or others’ behalf.
Wait, but isn’t it good to pray for other people?
Yes, but how did Yeshua say to pray?
In Matthew 6, Yeshua (Jesus) told us how we should pray. Interestingly, the things we typically pray for aren’t clearly included in the prayer. We do see a touch of provision appear but it is in the context of our needs for TODAY only.
Our Father in heaven! May your Name be kept holy.
You come as a son, not as a slave, and exalt His character.
May your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.
You ask for His ways to come into the earth. Not our interpretation of His ways.
Give us the food we need today.
You ask only for what you need TODAY -- Manna is the lesson.
Forgive us what we have done wrong, as we too have forgiven those who have wronged us.
Ask for forgiveness in the same way you have forgiven others. Notice the order.
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
And do not lead us into hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.
Protect me from the Adversary’s testing: provision, comfort, authority.
For kingship, power and glory are yours forever.
You recognize all authority, power, and glory belong to Him.
Amen
So be it -- I stand in support of this declaration.
I was always unclear on what “The Lord’s Prayer” actually had to do with everyday life. It seemed so vague and roundabout that I couldn’t get deep into this in my everyday life.
But then I realized I am motivated as a slave. Petitions are all that I understood in the context of prayer. Asking for things. No relationship, conversation, or general interests shared. Just petitions.
Then I entered into sonship.
There I realized that coming with a laundry list of things I want was one of the most selfish things I could do. Even if it were on behalf of someone else.
So you may be asking:
Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, don’t babble on and on like the pagans, who think God will hear them better if they talk a lot. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
He knows what provision you need and will provide it.
He knows you need some level of comfort and which is why He sent His Spirit.
He knows when you need favor and will grant it when it is time.
Abba tested them at Marah in order to break the spirit of slavery:
Exodus 15:25 … There Adonai made laws and rules of life for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, “If you will listen intently to the voice of Adonai your God, do what he considers right, pay attention to his mitzvot and observe his laws, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians; because I am Adonai your healer.”
Prayer is good. We just don’t want to come and speak to our Abba as though we are slaves -- only asking for these three needs (temptations) to be met.
Ask Abba to test you so you can know what is in your heart so you can be set free from the spirit of slavery..
Psalm 26:2 Examine me, Adonai, test me, search my mind and heart. 3 For your grace is there before my eyes, and I live my life by your truth.
Yeshua Himself was tested in these very things by the Adversary:
Provision
Matthew 4:1 Then the Spirit led Yeshua up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Adversary. 2 After Yeshua had fasted forty days and nights, he was hungry. 3 The Tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, order these stones to become bread.” 4 But he answered, “The Tanakh says,
‘Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of Adonai’”
Comfort/Health/Identity
5 Then the Adversary took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the Temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “jump! For the Tanakh says,
‘He will order his angels to be responsible for you. . . .
They will support you with their hands,
so that you will not hurt your feet on the stones.’”
7 Yeshua replied to him, “But it also says, ‘Do not put Adonai your God to the test.’”
Authority
8 Once more, the Adversary took him up to the summit of a very high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory, 9 and said to him, “All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 “Away with you, Satan!” Yeshua told him, “For the Tanakh says,
‘Worship Adonai your God, and serve only him.’”
11 Then the Adversary let him alone, and angels came and took care of him.
It is likely your testing will come in much the same way.
Here are a few questions to help you sort out whether it is a test:
How many decisions do you make based on keeping or increasing provision?
How many decisions do you make based on keeping or improving comfort?
How many decisions do you make based on keeping or improving authority?
The following require wisdom because they go against everything that makes sense. This is a hard teaching -- understanding the responses requires wisdom and understanding.
Do you know how to respond when presented with the offer of increased provision?
‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of Adonai’
Do you know how to respond when presented with the offer of increased comfort?
‘Do not put Adonai your God to the test.’
Do you know how to respond when presented with the offer of increased authority?
“Away with you, Satan!” Yeshua told him, “For the Tanakh says, ‘Worship Adonai your God, and serve only him.’”
So does that mean you should avoid these things altogether?
Yes!
Why?
It is time to break off the spirit of slavery.
Our great concern for ourselves is happiness, not holiness.
Abba’s greatest concern for us is holiness, not happiness.
As Martyn Lloyd-Jones pointed out, “In His great love for us, He is determined to bring us to holiness, and He employs many strategies to get us there.”
Therefore, make decisions that move you towards holiness more so than happiness.
You can stop chasing happiness so you can find true joy.
So when you pray, pray like this:
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, my Abba, whose Name is far above all principalities, power, might and dominion.
I ask that Your Ways come mightily into the earth.
Please give me all that I need just for today.
I have forgiven so please forgive me.
Keep me from being tempted by provision, comfort, authority.
All power, authority, and glory are Yours.
I stand in full support of who You are.