A Strong Craving

Introduction

This week in connection groups, you continued reading about the Israelites, and how they were not content with what God was providing for them. They complained that God was giving them Mana, instead of meat. God was providing for them everything they needed. Food, water, and all necessities. But this wasn’t enough for the Israel.

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Throughout the many years that the Israelites were in the wilderness, they complained and complained.

Nothing was ever enough for them.

God provided for every need, but they wanted God to provide for every want and desire. It was never enough.

Although they complained, and although nothing was ever enough for them, God still took care of them, and nurtured them, despite their open rebellion and murmuring against Him.

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Tonight, we are going to be looking over how God takes care of our needs, and blesses us, even when we are undeserving.

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Ephesians 2:4–5 NLT

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

Have you ever had something happen to you, and your response to it was “This isn’t fair?” Maybe your friend cheated on a video game, and beat you, and you are angry because it wasn’t fair. Whatever the case may be, ultimately it wasn’t fair.

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When the Israelites were going through the wilderness, they complained a lot. Nothing was able to satisfy their wants. They complained because they didn’t have water, so God gave them plenty. They complained they didn’t have food, so God gave them plenty. They complained that the food wasn’t what they wanted, so they complained, and God gave them meat. The Israelites complained, to the point where they said they would rather of been in Egypt. Can anyone tell me what was happening to the Israelites in Egypt? ——— Slavery, firstborn males killed, starvation, etc…

They would have rather had this? They forgot how bad Egypt was, and although every need they had was being met, they still rejected God. In Exodus, God spoke directly to the Israelites, and gave them the 10 commandments, and they were so scared of God, they didn’t want to be in His presence out of respect of Him. But when Moses spent time with the Lord on Mount Sinai, the people said: “ This Moses is taking a long time, Aaron, make for us a God to worship.” So Aaron did, and they made the golden calf. They just heard God speak to them, and now they dropped Him, and worshipped the creation, rather than the Creator.

These Israelites felt like what was happening to them was unfair, and they did not appreciate, or take into account all God had done for them. They selfishly looked at their own desires, rather than what God desired for them.

But despite this opposition to God, He still gave them their needs.

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How does this apply to us thousands of years later? Our hearts and flesh still reject God. Even to this day we push against Him. If you’re a believer and Christ follower, you have days where you sin against God. God can give us so many blessings, but oftentimes we forget those and dwell on the other things in our lives going on. Sometimes we callout to God and say that what is happening in our life is unfair. God how could this be happening? I alway go to Church. This isn’t fair! Friends the most unfair thing I can think of, is an innocent person dying on behalf of a non-innocent person. Ephesians 2:4-5

Ephesians 2:4–5 NLT

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

God is so rich in His mercy, and He loves us so much, that He doesn’t give us what we deserve. He blesses us, and He sent Christ, to bleed and die on a cross for us. You want to talk about unfair? God stepped down from Heaven, do be beaten, and crucified for our sins. He was innocent, but He died for the non-innocent. We were dead in our sins, we were haters of God, but He still showed us mercy.

Today, people live their lives openly mocking and rebelling against God. Celebrities openly mock Christ, write music that is anti-Christian. Hollywood dismantles Christianity, by openly supporting sin such as homosexuality and adding santanism into their music.

Despite this, God still died for them. And they can repent and be forgiven.

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Titus 3:4–5 NLT

4 But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

Despite our rejection of God when we were unsaved. Despite our rejection of Him now that we are saved. God still shows us mercy. ——— We haven’t done anything to deserve salvation. We deserve the death penalty for our sins. But God still did the unfair thing, which is show us mercy.

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God did so many things for the Israelites God does so many things for us But just like the Israelites, its never enough. Our complaining reveals our heart. We desire more than just God. WE SHOULD GET TO A PLACE SPIRITUALLY, THAT ALL WE NEED IS GOD.

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Our faith should not be based on what God does for us. If God blesses us, praise Him. If God sends us through persecution, Praise Him. If our lives are turned upside down, and not “fair”. Praise Him. ———— The Book of Job is a perfect example. Despite all Job went through, he never lost faith in God. He lost everything.

But he remained faithful to God.

His friends tried to have him curse God, but Job refused. ————

Our relationship with God should not be based on the goody goodies He provides us. The Israelites only followed God when He showed His power in a situation. But then they would immediately turn away when times got tough.

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**CLOSING**

We live in a broken and messed up world. Sin has left this place in such a horrible state. Life is unfair. Children get cancer, people are assaulted in different ways. Our lives can seem so broken, and so many terrible things can be going on in our lives.

But God promises you that your needs will be met. You can find salvation in Him. Our ultimate need is salvation, and God offers it to you. He sent Jesus to be beaten and torn and killed for our sins. Friends God wants to be in a relationship with you. He wants to guide and lead you.

I see so many of you here, I don’t know where you are spiritually. But I know that you, or those around you are holding you back. Stop putting off the decision to be saved, or to grow closer to Christ.