Changed Appetites (2002)

Exodus 15

The Lord took the Israelites out of Egypt, He made them free from the slavery, but their minds had to be changed. Their bodies were full of disease and they were kept bondage by their habits. Egypt needed to be destroyed in them. They needed cleansing, healing and renewal of spirit, soul and body. I read the book called "A Way through the Wilderness" by Jamie Buckingham and realized that it also is true in my life.

God gave them bitter water at Marah that would cleanse their systems from the parasites and disease from the Nyle. They refused it, and received sweetened water instead - without the cleansing and healing qualities. Next their diet needed change form the spicy food of Egypt to the heavenly diet of mannah. Boring perhaps, but enough to sustain and keep them healthy for their wilderness trip.

God did the same in my life the past few years. I became a child of God. He gave me life in Jesus and freed me from slavery - death, but my appetite needed change. We went through a tremendous hard time, but it was for our good. I could have saved myself a lot of hardship, if I listened to His voice from the beginning, but just as the Israelites, I murmured. I sinned against God. His mercy is forever. I wasn't punished, but taught His ways.

At one stage dear friends gave their microwave to us. It was a double blessing, since when I received it, I realized God provides at the right time. But even more so, when I realized that I no longer needed it. By His grace I could now see that it is a nice to have, not a necessity, and when the time came that they would once again need it, I was glad to be able to give it back as a blessing. Not only did the Lord change my longing for comfort to being content with what I have, but He also used this period to change my appetite for material things.

Once upon a time, I looked at cars as an extension of my personality, now I know that even though they differ in size and beauty, they are practical means to get from place A to B in a certain manner. No longer does the colour matter or the name, but the safety and practicality. I murmured at not having a four bedroom house any more, until I learnt to be thankful for having a washing line.

God also knew that the television media was a source of bad influence and He changed that too. We realized that it is a nice to have, not a necessity. We used the time to read, to pray and to spend time together as a family and as such always have time also for new friends. I am not saying that other persons should now throw away their TV sets, only that this was something that kept us in bondage, and God changed that. When I was in a position to have it, I no longer saw the need for it. These are but a few examples of how God changed us through the wilderness.

Not everyone goes through the same experience, but each one of us do at one time experience hardship in some form. The message is, that by murmuring, we loose the blessing. We should not seek to understand, but learn to trust that God knows what is best for us and that He is able to provide far above our expectations and we therefore have no need to worry about earthly things. As we learn to be thankful even for the things that do not seem to be a blessing, we will learn to trust God and know His ways better.

Permission is granted for the reprint of the above article as long as the following words appear with it: Permission for reprint has been given by Glory2Jesus. Author : Isebell Gauche. No part of the content may be replaced or changed without permission of the author. Visit http://www.Glory2Jesus.co.za for more Christian reading material.