Finding a Treasure. Radical Grace from the Book of Romans (9:20-21)

"Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn't talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, 'Why did you shape me like this?' Isn't it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans?" Romans 9:20-21 (MSG)

In 1957, a farmer was leisurely plowing in the Catillan in Grouville, Jersey when he hit something. "It must be a stone," he concluded. Instead of a stone, he found a treasure containing 2,500 coins and pieces of jewelry.

What would we do if we found such a treasure? Would we rebury it and forget the entire incident?

Sadly, many bury the treasures of our Heavenly Father deep down, so that they will never again be seen. Take, for example, the Israelites who were freed from the bondage of Egypt. Were they grateful? No, mostly they were complaining. And not once or twice either. They complained continually! "But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, 'Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?'" Exodus 17:3 (MSG)

Were their complaints to our Heavenly Father necessary? Wasn't He already providing them with everything they needed, including heavenly manna, quails (See Exodus 16:13) and water? Wasn't He already guiding them night and day? "GOD went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus, they could travel both day and night." Exodus 13:21 (MSG). And what about their clothing? Clothes can wear out quite quickly in a dessert, but not for the Israelites: "I took you through the wilderness for forty years and through all that time the clothes on your backs didn't wear out, the sandals on your feet didn't wear out." Deuteronomy 29:5 (MSG).

Nonetheless, they continued to complain: "The Israelites said, 'Why didn't GOD let us die in comfort in Egypt where we had lamb stew and all the bread we could eat? You've brought us out into this wilderness to starve us to death, the whole company of Israel!'" Exodus 16:3 (MSG)

They missed the opportunity to experience our Heavenly Father fully, and the only result of their complaining was dissatisfaction and ungratefulness. With their focus only on themselves, they buried the promises of God deep in the dark recesses of their hearts. It is so sad: "We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn't do them a bit of good because they didn't receive the promises with faith." Hebrews 4:2 (MSG)

While complaints only lead to dissatisfaction, gratefulness and praise open the door to unrivaled treasures: "Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20 (GW) "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)

Praising the Lord is way more rewarding than complaining. One leads to treasures, the other to dissatisfaction. Which one will you choose?

Rob Chaffart 
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