The Jews have a traditional song built around the story of the Exodus that they sing at Passover. The song is Dayenu ... "It Would Have Been Enough." The first recorded full text is from the 9th century, but no one knows how old it really is. And ... it is ... surprising ... and, I think ... very true
The song sings about each event of the Exodus and builds upon each event. "If He had taken us out of Egypt and not made judgements on them ..." "If He had made judgments on them and had not made [them] on their gods ..." "If He had made [them] on their gods and had not killed their firstborn ..." All the way to, "If He had brought us into the land of Israel and had not built us the ‘Chosen House’ [the Temple] ..." Each step ends with, "...[it would have been] enough for us." It's an amazing song. It builds on God's blessings to Israel, layer upon layer. Counting blessings is good ... important. But it also calls repeated attention to the fact that God is not obligated to bless us and to the reality that anything He does should be ... "enough for us." Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's answer to Nebuchadnezzar, even if He doesn't do what we hope or ask, it's enough (Dan 3:16-18).
We are so often desensitized to grace. We want. We desire. We ... "need." But God knows. He supplies us with more than we need and more than we appreciate and never seems to stop. It is enough for us. Do we recognize it? To our embarrassment and shame, we are, too often, ungrateful for His countless blessings ... which are enough, even if we don't recognize it.
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This quote from billionaire John D. Rockefeller is apropos: “How much is enough? Just a little bit more.” Humans have insatiable desire by nature, always harboring discontentedness, it seems. It must stem from an unconscious sense of entitlement--as if God is not granting us a cushy enough life. (Desire is a good thing, though, when it prompts working toward beneficial goals and improvements.)
It was nice to read that the Jews recognized God’s goodness to Israel and were not completely given over to “grumbling in the wilderness.” I too am fully cognizant that the Lord has blessed me greatly--not only in my earthly life but also (and more importantly) my spiritual life. I always appreciate when you highlight those spiritual blessings bestowed on us as children of God; that really keeps me mindful of His goodness and generous love towards me--despite my completely undeserving state (just like the Israelites of old). May I keep His grace always in view, being content with all that He has seen fit to grant me and not desire more, for I am truly rich in Christ. Any temptation to feel otherwise is from the father of lies.
During my prayers of repentance, I'm struck at just how truly gracious He is, and helps me to be reminded that He has done far more than enough, and yet continues to give more.
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