Moses said, “This will happen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the LORD hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.” Deuteronomy 16:8.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
You are always asking Me if I am pleased with you and worry about whether you have done the right things to have lived a life pleasing to Me, but you never really tell Me that you are pleased with Me.
You are concerned only about My opinion of you but you never give thought to your opinion of Me. You see Me as the authority over your life, but are you pleased with Me?
I had to ask Simon Peter three times if he loved me before he really thought about it seriously. He assumed because he believed that was enough for Me to know he loved Me. But you can have faith and yet not value Me for anything but your reward.
People pull at Me and petition Me, but they never really just enjoy Me and show forth a good opinion of Me from their heart. Most people, even believers, never take pleasure in Me, never are caught up in wonder at who I am. If they have not seen immediate answers to their prayers, they turn their backs to Me, not their faces. They whine and question Me.
Love is sought but not returned.
Now, may I ask YOU a question? But you, who do you say that I am? Are you pleased with Me? Or are you running about in fear, shame, blame, offense, stress, regret, and agitation—hating your life, your job, your family? These indicate that you are not pleased with Me for I created you for such a time and place as this. You can rejoice in My goodness and it will take you to that goodness.
When the Israelites I had redeemed from slavery by mighty works, awesome works that had never been done on behalf of any nation before, and I was leading them (walking with them) in a journey through the wilderness to a land flowing with milk and honey that I had prepared for them, including beautiful cities, homes, and vineyards that they would take as their own with no payment or work for them, they did not find pleasure in anything. They did not like the journey and they did not look forward to the destiny I promised. So they grumbled and complained against their leaders, Moses and Aaron, for bringing them out of slavery in My answer to their own prayers and cries. But I told Moses, they are not grumbling against you but Me. I had called Moses and he was following My direction to save his people. I took their dissatisfaction personally and it grieved Me. And I had brought them out laden with silver and gold and other fine things and not a feeble one among them. But they did not rejoice with Me and enjoy My company. They just found fault with everything and hated their lives, and yet they professed belief in Me and that they were My people. Their words and behavior kept them out of the beautiful land I had promised them. They limited Me.
They took no pleasure in Me. Nothing I had done pleased them. And yet they wanted to be pleasing to Me and willingly brought their sacrifices to My altar. They wanted favor but they did not give Me any, even the manna I showered down every morning on the dew fall that kept them healthy and strong for over forty years with no work for it on their behalf other than gathering it, they complained about and said it did not suit their taste.
The Israelites went after Moses as the one who caused their problems but that was not how I saw it. When they went against him, they went against Me, and they sealed just how it would be. And the result for them was not the good plan I had prepared in advance for their lives. They never enjoyed the journey with Me though I dwelt among them and let them all see My glory.
Look at your life. Have you ever rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and looked up to Me with radiant face and exclaimed, “You are my beloved Father in whom I am well pleased!” If instead you are looking up with a sad face and declaring what you don’t like about your life, be careful with this kind of behavior. You have opened the door to that ancient serpent who delights to divide us and ruin your relationship with Me. If he steals that you are easy prey to be taken captive to do his will in the earth.
Are you pleased with Me or are you grumbling about your life? You will find the Bible is full of grumblers, but they are not the ones who have the promises come to pass in their lives. They are not the ones who do extraordinary wonders that bless all people. They are not the ones who have signs, wonders and miracles follow them. They are not the ones that My BLESSING pursues and overwhelms. They prefer to stay in the darkness then to come into My marvelous light.
My people shall rejoice in My goodness.
Do you ever rejoice in Jesus? Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice! You are redeemed, you are sanctified, you are washed clean, you have eternal life and eye has not seen, ear has not heard, and the mind of man has not even come close to conceiving what I have prepared for those who love Me, who delight in Me, who take pleasure in My company and long for My coming. My servant Paul tells you I give a crown to those who look forward with longing to My appearing.
My prophet Micah heard My heart and he counseled the Israelites, who had turned away from Me to worship idols, to hear what I was saying, “My people, what have I done to you, and how have I wearied you? Answer Me. Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt and ransomed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember now.” Micah 1-5. I asked them to return and be pleased to stay with Me as their God. But they hardened their hearts. And yet, “When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. The more I called them, the more they went from Me. They kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols. Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; but they did not know that I was their healer. I led them with human cords, with bonds of love, and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; and I bent down and fed them.” Hosea 11:1-4. I led you by embracing your humanity in Jesus and sending Him as My love to you, I lifted the burden from you and put My Word in your mouth and My Spirit in your heart. Do you not know that I am your healer? Your provider? Your Father forever?
I have told you what is good; and what I seek of you, to do justice, to love compassion, grace, kindness, and mercy, and to walk humbly with Me, your very own God. Micah 6:8.
I love you. Do you love Me? Fall in love with Me and your life will become wonderful. Delight yourself in Me and I give you the desires of your heart. And the desires I give are the ones that will fill your soul with joy, for they are especially made just for you. My plans for you are too many for you to count for they are for eternity and beyond. I love you beyond love. But a one sided relationship is not complete. My banner over you is love, what is your banner over Me?