The Grass is Greener On God’s Side | Morning Routine Daily Devotional for January 13

Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” — Numbers 11:4-6 ESV

In the book of Numbers, after leaving Mt. Sinai, God’s people quickly forgot what the Lord had done for them in delivering them from Egyptian slavery. As we’re all prone to do from time to time, they began comparing their present circumstances to the past, and suddenly slavery didn’t sound so bad. 

In Numbers 11, the people are complaining that they don’t have meat to eat. They recall the various vegetables and meats they ate while in Egypt. They say, “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.” But now? Now their strength is gone and they’re stuck with manna. Manna… you know, God’s miraculous provision so they wouldn’t starve—bread from heaven! But never mind that.  

We know the saying: “The grass is always greener on the other side.” We want what we don’t have, only to find out that it didn’t make us as happy as we thought. Here’s what we need to remember: The grass is always green when we’re on God’s side! This isn’t to say that everything is always comfortable or easy, but even the hard times are manageable with God. So today, don’t allow discontentment to rule your life, wishing that you were back in a time that seemed easier. Instead, thank the Lord for your present and trust Him for your future. Commit to follow Him, from the wilderness to the Promise Land! And let this sense of calling and faith in God encourage you as you lead others along the way!