Some people can never be satisfied or content, no matter how much you have done for them. Give them an inch, and they demand a yard; pacify them by giving in to some of their demands, and they may try to take away more if given the slightest opportunity. Such people are impossible to please, since whatever they are given is never enough, and there may seem to be no end to their demands. Could some of us fall into the category of such people?
In today’s reading, we come across the Israelites who are classic examples of such people. The Israelites had been rescued out of Egypt by God. God had provided for them and protected them but when they discovered that the Egyptians were in pursuit of them, they began to doubt God’s sincerity, despite all He had done for them so far. The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord, and even had the gall to say to Moses:”‘Were there no graves in Egypt that you must lead us out to die in the wilderness? What good have you done us, bringing us out of Egypt? We spoke of this in Egypt, did we not? Leave us alone, we said, we would rather work for the Egyptians! Better to work for the Egyptians than die in the wilderness!” But did God get angry or fed up with these Israelites? No. He still continued to rescue them even though they were ungrateful and difficult to satisfy.
What about us? Have we been so stubborn and unsatisfied, no matter what God has done for us? Or have we so easily lost patience towards others, preferring to wash our hands off them instead of being patient and persistent towards them, just like God has been patient and persistent towards us? God did not abandon the Israelites and continued to care and provide for them. In the same way, God has not abandoned us, no matter how difficult, dire or dangerous the situation we may be in. Are we willing and humble enough to continue trusting in God and let Him care for us?