I think most of us have hear this phrase or at least a some derivative of it. The idea that unless we are doing something, striving to some goal, putting our hands to good use, in other words good ol' fashion work we will get in trouble. Society as a whole has this idea that if people are lazy and aren't working well then they are up to no good and will just cause trouble. Books all the time talk about how a man cannot be man unless he is working. In the beginning of mankind we can see how this is somewhat true. God placed Adam in the Garden and told him to basically get to work, to cultivate. Ever since then it seems that deep down mankind must be working in some way.I have even heard (though have not done the study) that men without work are more likely to suffer from depression and have a crises of identity. Though I may be wrong in thinking this, I believe there is a lot of truth to this idea. As I was reading through Exodus this idea even was shown with the life of the Hebrews after their freedom from Egypt.
If you know anything about the Hebrew nation in the Old Testament it is that they were always complaining. It was a constant thing. It seemed like no matter what God did they were never satisfied. Just in Exodus alone, after being released, they complained before the crossed the Red Sea, then they complained because they were hungry so God provides for them Quail and Mana from Heaven, then they are thirsty so God provides for the water. Even despite of all of God's provisions for them, the complain yet again when Moses goes to talk with God on Mt. Sinai and receive the commandments they complain yet again that Moses was taking too long and needed a god. So they build the Golden Calf. It is a common thing. Yet one thing really struck me as odd. The only time that it seemed no one complained was when they were building the tabernacle. As I was reading this and getting all the specifics of how the Tabernacle should be built along with the altars and the ark and the other instruments, I was realizing how this was going to be a lot of work. Very gruesome. Yet the Hebrew people take the challenge full on. They were told to give and they gave, and gave, and gave, gave so much that they were eventual told to stop giving. Then they set out to work. And they work and work, building the tabernacle, shaping the altars and the other instruments, never once do you read they complained. I began to ask myself why is this? Why do they not complain when that have some a hard task before them? They complained over every little thing it seems but not for the big thing. And I believe they didn't complain because they were busy doing something, but not just anything. It was something productive and something tangible.
Before this the Hebrews just walked. They were set out for a destination and they were going to it. But let's be honest. How boring can traveling be sometimes?Yes traveling can be productive, but if you have ever been on a long road trip, whether with family or what, or flying overseas, you can somewhat sympathize with the Hebrews. All they were doing was walking. Day after day, mile after mile. Eventual they would become complacent and want something more. This is what we know as the "are we there yet?" syndrome. With the building of the tabernacle, they could take a small break from the wares of traveling and actually work. They could build and construct. The women could weave and sow. They were all finally able to be productive with something tangible.
With my small understanding of the Old Testament and the history of Israel and the Hebrew people I find that this is a common trend. Every time in their history whenever they become complacent bad things happen and they begin to complain. They take it upon themselves to try and be productive. Yet when they aren't complaining is when they are working in some way. I believe this is true today. That whenever we are not being productive in someway that is when trouble comes to us. And like the Hebrews we begin to complain to God. And I think when this happens God addresses us like He did the Hebrew people in Exodus 14. When Moses goes before God before crossing the Red Sea, God asks Moses why are they just standing around. But move. I firmly believe that a lot of problems would be solved in personal lives if, whenever things become complacent or stagnant, we should move. Let us being to do and work for God.
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