Growing Older but not Growing Up Again.

As mentioned before, age is no respecter of spiritual growth. You can grow older but necessarily grow up. Have you ever been around children? How about spoiled ones? It is easy to tell apart spoiled children from those who aren't. Spoiled children are used to getting what they want whenever they want it. They are used to whining and complaining to get their way. Parents unwittingly reward this behavior and teach their kids that they can get what they want by whining and complaining. They do this by giving in to their unreasonable demands when children us sulking, emotional bribery as a means to get what they desire.

It is even sadder when grown ups do this and it happens. In Numbers 14, we have our dear friends Moses and Aaron dealing with people who have grown older but have not grown up. They have raised their voices and complained against Moses and Aaron for leading them out of slavery and in the desert on the way to the promised land flowing with milk and honey. The people don't seem to have the patience to see God fulfill His promise to them. They don't seem to want to make the journey. They want gratification and they want it now!

But I love God's reaction. He doesn't give in to their demands taking them back to Egypt. He doensn't even take a vote and see's what the majority wants. He doesn't try to bargain with their immature attitudes. He forgives them but stands firm and gives the right consequence to their behavior stating,

"....I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times- not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it." (Numbers 14:20-23).

If only more parents would do this with their children. If only more spiritual leaders would to this with over fed flocks. If only more older people would stop whining and complaining. If only... Let's imitate God's example and not reward spoiled attitudes of complaining and whining.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing..."(Philippians 2:14)