So, it was I awoke Monday morning with a bitter spirit. At first, I didn’t really recognize it. Afterall I had gotten up, studied my Bible, begun to think of the lesson for next week’s class, and prepare for a new week at work. Lunch boxes and breakfast were ready. Then I got the grandchildren up to get ready for school and realized the trash needed taking out, there were clothes to fold, and the kitty litter needed cleaning. Suddenly, there it was! I began to grumble, “Why am I the only one to clean the kitty litter, it isn’t even my cat?” “No one else folds clothes, goes to the grocery store and now no one is taking out the trash and I have to!” Have you ever done that? But can a bitter spirit lead to devastating loss?
Of course, a bitter spirit only leads to loss ultimately. Just like the lesson I was preparing for my next Sunday School class. Then, it really it me. So, far every week my own heart plummets into the area where I will be teaching. Last week we talked about trusting God in the wilderness, just as suddenly a wilderness experience entered my own life. While in that place of not knowing, when the future looks so uncertain you cannot imagine which direction is right; one must fully rely on God for provision and direction. Any other option is gone. Well, now this week, I awoke with a bitter spirit and I would need to employ the same tactics as I planned to teach. What an amazing God of Grace I serve! He knows how imperfect is my own heart; yet, gives the grace to allow me to learn and teach of Him all at the same time.
A BITTER SPIRIT
So, it was the Israeli nation while traveling through the wilderness were often plagued with a bitter spirit of discontent. They murmured at the Red Sea right before God parted the sea for them to cross. Then, they murmured as they marched toward Mount Sinai, where they worshipped God then turned their backs on Him, building a golden calf. Along the path from Mount Sinai to the edges of the promised land, their bitter spirit continued. They murmured about the food. Then, they murmured about their leaders. Anger and bitterness remained on their lips often, despite God’s just moments of punishment and His acts of saving grace. No one seemed to learn a lesson. Never did they consider the cost before them for their bitter spirit, for they were about to suffer devastating loss. Yet, they were too blind to see.
Moses grew weary of these grumbling people and even asked God, why? He even said, “Did I conceive all these people? Did I give birth to them, that you would say to me, ‘Carry them at the breast, as a nurse carries an unweaned child,’ to the fertile land that you promised their ancestors? (Numbers 11:12)
God sent Moses helpers to deal with the people. Still, whenever God said, “enough! I will destroy these people and start a new family with you, Moses”, Moses would instead pray on their behalf for God’s grace to cover them. He was always willing to sacrifice himself for them. What a picture of Christ! Although Moses was not perfect as Christ, for Moses was not the Messiah. But he did point the way to the Messiah. God does that. He takes our flailing, sin filled hearts and transforms them so others can see Jesus through our lives.
Devastating Loss
So, it was their bitter spirit blinded them to the truth of the promised land. God had said, “9 When you go to war in your land against an enemy who is attacking you, you will blow short blasts with the trumpets so that you may be remembered by the Lord your God and be saved from your enemies.”
God had promised them the land and the victory over all their enemies. Yet, so filled with a bitter spirit, they murmured against God instead of accepting the truth. He had performed miracle after miracle before them. His Glory resided in their presence; yet they were so blinded by their bitter spirit they could not see. Therefore, before them lay the promised land and all they obtained was devastating loss. But didn’t even then God give them what they asked for?
Numbers 14: 1The entire community raised their voice and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites criticized Moses and Aaron. The entire community said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt or if only, we had died in this desert!
And so, that generation did just that. All died, never seeing the promised except for Caleb and Joshua who “had a different spirit”. Their spirit was one of praise, hope and faith.
LESSONS FOR US:
- There are Consequence of faithless choices. In this case, God brought them to the edge of magnificent things—a bitter spirit caused their devastating loss.
- Their faithless choices led to Unnecessary detours where a group of people with an open door of opportunity and missed it
But isn’t that you and I? Wasn’t that what I let into my heart last Monday? Thanks be to God for letting me see and deal with my own heart before I lost the most precious things I have—God and the family He graciously gave me.
Keys to Overcoming a Bitter Spirit
- First recognize the Sovereignty of God in our lives. When I realize everything comes from Him, then I realize my bitter spirit is against Him. My grumbling is against God. When obedience to the will of God becomes conditional upon personal levels of comfort, we treat Him with contempt—our purpose is to enjoy the gifts; but not the Giver of the gifts.
So, remember all His promises and all that He has so graciously done over the years.
- We must remain clear, remembering our calling: We must recognize our call is unconditional obedience and surrender to His will where the personal price of surrender is unknown. We must take up our cross and follow Him.
- Then we must keep our eyes upon our destiny.
That is what I did and then I sat the grandchildren down the next morning and explained all of this and the story of the Israelites, using myself as an example as well.
Scriptures to Remember When Facing A Bitter Spirit.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12: 1-3
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
When we focus our eyes on all that is good and right. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, then our hearts remain filled with joy, hope and faith. No bitter spirit can survive God’s grace in our hearts. Instead of devastating loss we will face eternal joy, for in His presence is joy everlasting.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
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