The children of Israel were certainly not a “model nation”. Whether in dealing with the struggles of life in the wilderness, their behavior in the absence of their leader, or facing their odds of survival in Canaan, the Israelites showed time and time again that they were prone to impatiently giving up when the going got tough. Their shortcomings, however, can teach us a lot about how to patiently endure.
As we look at Israel’s time in the wilderness, a recurring theme is that the Israelites complained. A LOT. They complained about a lack of food, a lack of water, and they even complained about the manna that God provided for them! You could say they were led by their stomachs. The crazy part is that the Israelites had animals like goats, sheep, and cattle they could slaughter to feed themselves and add variety to their meals. In spite of this, they still complained.
Israel also gave up way too easily. When faced with adversity, their default response was “we want to go back to Egypt.” To them, slavery was better than going hungry and thirsty and having to fight for a place in the world. They would rather go back to Egypt and be slaves than take the plunge to conquer a land filled with fortified cities and giants, but a good and fruitful land that the Lord promised to them and their children.
Israel, by all counts, seems like a good example of how to not patiently endure. However, the way to counter impatient giving up is to do the exact opposite.
Instead of complaining, practice appreciating what God has done for you. Being thankful will not make our problems go away, but it helps us to shift our focus to God and makes our problems less earth shaking.
To continue that point,
“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
Exodus 6:12
I think that part of the reason Israel kept giving up was that they forgot that God had brought them this far and that God had protected and provided for them time and time again.
When we remember what God has done, it gives us faith that God is with us and will keep working in our lives. God will not bring us this far just to bring us this far. When we remember what God has done, it gives us hope and confidence to patiently endure because we know that God is still working in and through every situation, good or bad, for our good and for His glory.