One Year Bible Reading Plan and Devotional
Today’s Bible Reading: February 24
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How does God Feel about Complaining?
In regions of Mexico, hot springs and cold springs are found side by side, and because of the convenience of this natural phenomenon the women often bring their laundry to the springs. They boil their clothes in hot springs, and then rinse them in the cold springs. A tourist watching this procedure commented to his Mexican guide: “They must think Mother Nature is generous to freely supply such ample, clean hot and cold water.” The guide replied, “No, senor, there is much grumbling and complaining because she supplies no soap.”
Complaining has become a way of life
Isn’t that the way of life? We constantly are blessed by God for what he provides but all we see is what He doesn’t supply – and we grumble and complain – and who likes being around people that complain all the time about everything? And yet, complaining is so common that for many it is a way of life. Right now you can probably think about someone you avoid being around because of how much they complain. We complain about teachers, minimum wage rates, bosses, traffic, taxes, people in government offices, our pastors and church leaders, spouses, children, home repairs, health, finances, bills, and troubles of all kinds. No matter how common complaining has become in our world, doesn’t make it right.
Complaining is a sin
The Bible makes it clear that complaining is a sin in the life of His people. In Numbers 11, we find the nation of Israel complaining and the tragic consequences that follow. First, they complain about the hardships and misfortunes. Almost every time they complain to Moses that say, “Why did you take us out of Egypt?” They had been in Egypt for 400 years. They came as a company of 70 people and now they are an entire nation. All they knew was life in Egypt. Could they have been complaining about what they left behind? One would think not, since they were slaves with hard taskmasters. Yet, we see them complaining about not having meat like they did in Egypt, not having food like they did in Egypt, not having water like they did in Egypt.
Complaining against God
The ESV says they complained “in the hearing of the Lord.” Some commentaries feel that this particular complaint in Numbers 11:1 was directly against God. They wanted to separate from Him and return to the life they knew in Egypt. As a result, God became angry. So far, the people had seen the plagues God brought on Egypt, God’s deliverance from Pharaoh’s army, the parting of the Red Sea, and God’s provision when He sent them manna. Rather than being thankful, they grumbled and complained within their spirit. This is what God sent a consuming fire in the outskirts of the camp. Perhaps the fire came from the pillar of cloud and fire, or lightning from heaven, or fiery blasting winds which are known to occur in that area. We do not know, since the Bible doesn’t tell us. What we know is the result: some of the people on the outskirts of the camp were consumed.
Israel’s Complaining is An Example for us
But does this apply to Christians today? 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us that these things happened to them as an example and they were written down for our instruction. Philippians 2:14 tell us that we are to “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” So let’s look at Numbers 11 and find out what Israel had to complain about.
What was Israel complaining about?
The nation of Israel was on their journey through the wilderness after God brought them out of slavery in Egypt. They had already had the stop at Mt Sinai where God gave them the Ten Commandments and they had been there for about a year. They are now moving towards the land of Canaan, the land God had promised to them. One would think they were excited and full of expectation. But instead, all along the way they grumbled and complained.
By the time we get to Numbers 11, the people were just complaining about the general problems of the journey. There wasn’t any big problem going on here. It was more like the child in the back seat who asks every five minutes on the family vacation, “Are we there yet?” Perhaps they were complaining about having to lug around their tents, or the same scenery day in and day out – sand, sand, sand. Maybe they complained about how hot it was out there in the wilderness. Or maybe it was the sand getting in their sandals.
In this specific verse, we are not told what they were complaining about and there is no specific distress stated. However, after a year of hanging out at Mt Saini, they probably grew tired of the march quickly. There were also a lot of unknowns ahead of them that probably gave them anxiety. But rather than trusting God to bring them to the land He promised them, they complained.
God is sick and tired of complaining
God (and probably Moses too!) is just sick and tired of their complaining. As a result God disciplines them severely with some of them actually losing their life. The very first verse of Numbers 11 makes it very clear about how God feels about complaining – it angers Him. But like them, we are just as guilty of complaining. We complain about the teacher who grades unfairly, the boss who scored unfairly on the annual review, the amount of work dumped on us at work, the irritating habits of your spouse, or not having anything to wear as you gaze into a closet full of clothes, the people who don’t appreciate you, the lack of money in the bank, the luxury car you don’t have even though you have a new car. Even if our complaints are due to a true hardship, we shouldn’t complain. Instead, we should trust God and thank Him for how He provides for our needs each and every day.
Don’t hang out with the complainers
As we read Numbers 11, we find that God directs his anger to “some in the outskirts of the camp.” Why those people? The Bible doesn’t say why God directed his anger towards those in the outskirts. Were they they only one complaining? Did God just start there and intend to work through the camp, but the people cried out to Moses, who prayed to God, so God relented? Perhaps it was because of God’s mercy and hoping this nation would learn to trust Him that He chose to consume those on the outskirts rather than in their midst. Or perhaps, we could look at human nature and find a possible reason.
If you think about where the complainers hang out, it’s rarely in the midst. Instead they hang out at the copier or water cooler. Or maybe the supply room or behind the office building. It is very likely that the complainers were out of formation and hanging out together in the outskirts together and feeding off each others’ complaints. The loudest complainers are usually hanging out together on the sidelines refusing to be compliant and they mouth-off at every opportunity. Regardless, of why God consumed the people in the outskirts, what we can know is that it is not a good idea to hand out with the complainers.
Why does complaining anger God?
So what is it about our complaining that angers God? Complaining demonstrates our unthankfulness for the gifts God gives us as well as our inability to trust Him. So when we find ourselves complaining, we need to stop and ask ourselves, “Am I content with what God has provided for me?”
Complaining again
Did they learn their lesson? Apparently not. Right after this incident, the people are complaining again. This time, it is because they are sick of the manna. God had provided for the nation of Israel manna to help sustain them in the journey through the wilderness. It had all the nutrients they would need. But anyone would agree that manna flakes for breakfast, manna sandwiches for lunch and manna burgers for dinner can get old really quick. It would be like having scrambled eggs for breakfast, egg salad sandwich for lunch, and omelets for dinner – every day. How long would it take before you never wanted to see another egg again? But if eggs is what God has provided, then we should be thankful that God has provided food for us to eat and we are not starving.
Am I Satisfied with Jesus?
Not only is there a physical application to learn from, but there is also a spiritual application. In John 6, Jesus said that He is the true Bread of Life. Manna provided the physical and life-sustaining nourishment they needed, but Jesus provides the spiritual and eternal life we need. So when we find ourselves complaining, we need to also ask ourselves, “Am I satisfied with Christ?” Often our complaints are evidence that we are not. The Bible teaches us that our joy is full in Christ. However, many times, we long for the things of the world and fall for Satan’s lie that money, relationships, careers, becoming a parent, or having name-brand possessions will make us happy. Any time, we begin to long for things of this world, then we’ve taken our eyes of Christ and are looking back to the life from which Christ rescued us. As a result, we lose sight of all that we have in Him. Where are your eyes focused – things of this world, or on Christ and things that are spiritual?
Be careful what you complain about
In responding to Israel’s complaints about the manna and not having meat to eat, God gave them exactly what they had complained about not having. In fact, He gave it in such an over-abundant amount that it would “come out of their noses” and become “loathsome” to them. So be careful about complaining because you may just get your wish and more than you can stand. Psalm 106:4-15 tells us, “They lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls.”
Complaining is a surface symptom of a deeper problem
So the next time you find yourself complaining, remember that our complaints are merely a surface symptom of a much deeper problem: the sin of discontent. Whenever we complain, we provide verbal evidence of our dissatisfaction with God’s provision and our lack of trust in Him. As soon as you realize you are complaining, stop right then and confess your sin to God. Acknowledge that He always knows what’s best for us and accept the fact that He has given us everything we need. Ask him to help you be content and look for how He is providing for your every need. Turn your complaining into thankfulness.
#ReadYourBible #Leviticus #Mark #Goddoesgreatthings #goandtell
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