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“And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” – Numbers 11:1
“Oh no, it’s raining today!” “We’re having this for dinner again?” “Traffic is terrible!”
Sound familiar? Among the human race, there is never a shortage of complaints. No one enjoys hearing others gripe, and we certainly would never want to be considered a “complainer,” yet sometimes it can be so easy to grumble about the things that do not go just right.
Some might chuckle about their tendency to complain, thinking that whining is normal and not something to worry about. However, in Numbers 11, we get a different perspective on what God thinks about complainers. Although we do not know exactly what bothered the Israelites on this occasion, we read that at times they complained about the food God provided—it was just plain old manna. And later they bemoaned the fact that there were no figs, no vines, and no water in the wilderness; they told Moses it would have been better for them to have died in Egypt than to live with such hardships! In our focus verse, we read that God was displeased with their attitude and consumed them with fire.
Those who complain may think their displeasure is aimed at circumstances and other people, but in effect, their comments are expressing disapproval of God Himself, who has allowed these factors in their lives. Moreover, they show a lack of appreciation for the blessings God has given. Indeed, complaining has little to do with the actual events in our day and more to do with our own attitudes. Are we focused on the important things God has done for us—given us salvation, met our material needs, and put people in our lives who love us—or are we distracted by the little things that do not go perfectly? As Christians who sincerely wish to please God in everything we do and say, we should be very careful to avoid complaining and remember to always appreciate what God has done for us.
Everything in life will not go exactly as we might wish, and we know God will allow some adversity in our lives to strengthen and prepare us for His use. Even so, murmuring and complaining will not exist in a thankful heart. Do what the song says: “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Try to make a list of the ten best things God has done in your life—you may find it difficult to stop at just ten!
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