Chapter 17 – “Someone do it for me; I don’t want to take the responsibility.”

Wilderness Mentality #2

I am remembering a Sunday School lesson from a few units back. We learned that the Israelites grumbled, Moses prayed and the Lord provided. If something went wrong, the Israelites found someone to blame. They complained about Moses. They complained about Aaron. They complained about Joshua and Caleb. They complained about their food. They complained about their water. They complained about their circumstances. Were they ever happy? Content? Satisfied?

Moses went to the Lord. He took their complaints to the Lord. He took their sins to the Lord. God provided by giving Moses the solution.

The Israelites needed a mediator. They couldn’t operate without a supervisor. They needed someone to tell them what to do and where to go. They were helpless on their own. They couldn’t even follow directions.

We aren’t much different today. When something isn’t the way we want it or like it, we complain. When someone does something that isn’t the way we want it or like it, we complain. We are judgmental, critical and suspicious. Sound familiar?

How many people actually offer a solution? How many people offer themselves to do the hard work? How many people are willing to be on the receiving end of the complaining and still push onward and forward? How many people are up to the challenge?

Responsibility doesn’t stop at your career or calling. You are required to take care of the blessings you are given. You are required to take responsibility for your money and how you use it. You are required to take responsibility for the care of your house and car. If you are too lazy to maintain your vehicle, perhaps you should not have it.

We have a responsibility to care for our children and raise them up in God’s Love and Word. How many of us leave the important stuff to the teachers and Sunday School teachers, trusting that someone else will give them the tools to find Salvation?

If people took more responsibility for their lives, families and possessions, could it be a better world? We say, Build the Home, Change the World. Are we building? Or are we watching others build for us? And then complaining about how they are doing it?

Of course, on the other side of the coin, are the people who wish to do it all and do it their own way and no one else can possibly do it better … “It’s all MY responsibility.” Not only can I do it, but I can do it better.

The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin – but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”
Exodus 32:30-32 (ESV)