Being unhappy is an age old problem. I understand the Israelites' desire to go back to Egypt more than I would like. Yes, they were enslaved and had to work hard, but there was a set routine and they always knew what was coming. There was always a home to go to at the end of the day and food on the table, no matter how meager. But I imagine they did not spend a lot of time thinking about the positive side of the situation until they were out in the desert. In the midst of their enslavement, they were probably consumed with the difficulty of accomplishing the work they were required to do and enduring the harsh treatment of their captors. They longed to escape from their torment. But when they were finally free, they found the desert to be a new set of difficulties. Yes, they were no longer stuck doing back-breaking labor, but now they were in the midst of uncertainty about where they were going and how they would survive. And yet God was right there with them, leading them and feeding them.

For me, Egypt is the full-time, high paying job I left behind. Yes, I grumbled incessantly about the long, boring hours and the daily drive through heavy traffic. I longed to spend more time with my family and to be able to finish my schooling without having to feel over-scheduled and neglectful of my home and children. But there was comfort in the routine, and the regular paycheck and health insurance were just a few of the blessings I took for granted and miss so much now.

So now God has put me right where I asked to be. I am in school full-time and have no job demanding time I don't want to give. I am home when my kids get home from school and although I am frequently studying, I see them much more than I did before. But I find myself longing for Egypt's benefits.

Is it that as humans we are inherently weak and short-sighted? Why are we so good at finding things to complain about and so bad at finding reasons to be thankful? Just as God was frustrated with the Israelites, I'm certain He must get tired of hearing us whine. The Israelites would never have survived without Moses to intercede on their behalf. He talked God out of wiping them out several times. (See Exodus 32.) Thankfully, we have Jesus to do the same for us. I wonder if he's sitting there on the right hand of God saying, "Hold on there, Almighty. What will people think of you if you kill him/her now?" How much of the wrath of God can Jesus head off?

The Bible tells us that

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