The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” — Numbers 11:4-6
We have talked this week about bitterness, pride, apathy, and fear. Are any of these things taking up too much space on your plate?
Today we are talking about self-pity. Self-pity is defined as dwelling on one’s sorrows or misfortunes. People who struggle with self-pity are trapped in a “woe is me” frame of mind. If you ask them how they are, they share a tale of how someone has done them wrong.
Everyone has dealt with self-pity at some point. It is easy to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for yourself, especially if you are feeling tired or overwhelmed. In this passage, we meet the Israelites after they had been freed from Egypt, had crossed the Red Sea, and had been traveling for a while. They were bored, tired of walking, and hungry for anything but manna.
The rabble started to crave other food. This group of people followed the Israelites out of Egypt. Maybe they were curious about God’s blessings. Maybe they hoped for a better life than what Egypt offered. But when the going got tough, they complained. God was providing for them even though they had come along uninvited, but still they wanted more.
The Israelites were also stuck in self-pity. “Remember the food in Egypt? That would be great about now. Sure, we were enslaved and doing back-breaking work, but at least we had cucumbers.”
Do you ever get stuck in self-pity? What do you do when you realize it? Do you justify it? “If only you knew the problems I had, you would understand.” Do you pray about it? Do you give your problems over to God and trust Him?
To Think/Pray About Today
Prayer: Lord God, I repent of letting self-pity onto my plate and into my life. I repent of complaining when you do not give me what I want or think I deserve. Forgive me, cleanse me, and show me the path you want me to take. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Church Street Cookies
Cedarville United Presbyterian Church 