If you were an Israelite during this time, wouldn't you have been excited to see what God had in store for you and your family? You have been hearing about this land "flowing with milk and honey" for years. Your parents, grandparents and their parents passed down the story of how God promised Abraham He would make a great nation from his descendents.....and that is you! Wouldn't you be ready to get the journey started and be willing to withstand whatever came your way for the privilege to see the Promised Land for yourself?
Unfortunately, this was not the Israelite's attitude. We see that their unbelief, lack of faith & trust and disobedience had disastrous results. They longed for the pleasures of the past and had somehow forgotten the misery they endured as slaves. But most devastating was their constant grumbling and complaining. You may side with the Israelites and say they had good reason to complain; life was rough in the wilderness. But to be honest, without God's provisions, they never would have survived their journey. Unfortunately though, they were focused on what they didn't have and were blinded to all that God had done for them.
Do you consider complaining a sin? Do you ever think about how your complaining effects your relationship with God, the lives of others and your future? Philippians 2:14 tells us, not suggests, to "do everything without complaining, murmurings, arguing and disputings."
1) Complaining weakens your relationship with God. Through out Numbers, the people complained and God punished. They grumbled to each other instead of bringing their concerns to God. They were anxious about their future and chose not to trust God's promises. Philippians 4:4-7, reminds us to "rejoice in the Lord always. Be anxious for nothing, but instead (of grumbling and complaining) bring everything to God in prayer, with thanksgiving!" Then God affirms that His peace, which no one can comprehend, will guard your heart and mind.
God wants you to share your concerns with Him. Why not? He's the only one who can do anything about them anyway! Don't let your complaining come between God and His blessings.
2) Complaining weakens others. Have you ever been around people who just wear you out with their whining and complaining? Maybe it's a small child who won't give up. Perhaps it's a friend who has chosen you to come to instead of going to God. Or, have you ever thought it could be you who's the one wearing people down? Constant complaining can effect others emotionally, mentally and spiritually!
In Numbers 11:10-15, Moses' despair and depression is revealed as he brings his frustrations to God -" I cannot carry these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me...put me to death now." The Israelites' complaining was wearing him down and out! In Numbers 20, the people start whining about not having any water and wishing they were back in Egypt (again). I think Moses was at the end of his rope with them and out of frustration, disobeys God's instructions (8-12). I'm not justifying his disobedience, but how many times have we done or said things we shouldn't have out of frustration with others' grumbling?
3) Complaining can destroy your future. God has had enough with the Israelites' attitude, disobedience, lack of faith, trust and gratitude and bans those 20 and older from ever entering the Promised Land (Numbers 14). They are told they will wander another 40 years until they have all died in the desert.
I don't want my future to be jepordized because of my sin of complaining. God wants to bless our lives, just like He wanted to do for His people. He wants us to trust and depend on Him for our every need and to be thankful for what He does give us. But it's our choice. We have the choice of being grateful or not. We can determine our future by the things we let defeat us.
In summary, through our study of Numbers this week, I hope you will realize that: 1) God is immensely patient 2) God's love is one promise you can always count on. 3) God's forgiveness is never-ending and 4) God is merciful, listening to and answering our requests. God has not changed since Moses' day!
Online Class: 1) Don't forget to post your comments on what you've learned about who God is from each book we've studied so far. 2) Share with us how you can take a complaint and turn it into something you can give thanks for!
10 comments:
My complaint is my job. Many of you know how much I grumble about my job this time of year. It takes its toll on me physically and mentally. BUT, I am turning that around and thanking God for the opportunity to work and that I have a job in the first place :)
The first thing that comes to my mind about what I complain about the most is how I'm always cleaning my house. I have a family of six and it's never ending. After reading our lesson this week I am definetly going to be trying to turn my complaint around and be more thankful that I have a house to begin with and that I'm healthy enough to able to keep up with my family.
I complain too much about my husband when I know I should be encouraging and uplifting him. I am thankful that he does have a good heart and really does try to have a heart for the things of God. I love what God has given me and am eternally thankful.
I actually just discussed this very thing last Monday night in the class I am teaching. I have a constant reminder with me day in and day out of God’s blessing in keeping me alive through medical science. But, still, it is not an easy thing or pleasant thing…it is painful at times and frustrating; so in my own human weakness I complain. I don’t often complain to others around me because they wouldn’t understand it entirely, but I harbor the complaint. Yet, I am brought at the same time to the knowledge that this is what keeps me alive. So every day of my life here on earth simultaneously my largest complaint is also my greatest blessing from God. How can I curse God’s loving mercy and evidence that He is in control?
My many complaints seem to be with family members. Some days I feel like Moses listening to them day after day of one thing or another. Rather than dreading another phone call about what has gone wrong now....I will turn it around to be blessed that I do have family. Since I was adopted it could have been a much differnt life for me. I count my blessings every night.
I complain and grumble about things that do not go my way, in this life..
a lot!..However, God quickly reminds me that, without these "unfortunate circumstances", in my life..I would not "get on my knees" and "seek His face"...So I end up by, thanking Him for these trials, that He gives me..I could never go "through" them without His leading..He gives me His
Peace and Joy, while bringing me up "above my circumstances..He is so good to me...Praise!
What I complain about the most is the all the things that lay in my hands that I have to do. Clean, pay bills, take care of baby, dinner, shopping, on and on and on.
I need to be thankful that I have a family to do these things for and and house to do them in when I feel like complaining! :)
I need to put God first and be sure to stop the turmoil I sometimes feel and free up my hand to take His.
Better a handful with quietness than both full, together with toil and grasping for the wind Ecc 4:6
My Complaint is that I can no longer work and that we can't live the life style that I once did. BUT, I am going to try to focus on all the extra time that God has given me to serve Him. I get peace in knowing that I am where God has me and is using me for his purpose. :)
I complain and am not a happy camper when I have soooo much to do and my mind can't keep up with it all! God has given us all the ability to cope with many things, but when I take on other things God has not intended for me to do, I then become a poor witness for him.
Is 43:10 has become my verse when I get in the complaining mood.
(But you are my witness- says the Lord. I am his servant. I have been chosen to know God, believe in Him, understand that He alone is God. There is no other God, there never has been and never will be). So when we put other things ahead of him, they become our god.
I am late in leaving this comment, but The week of Thankdgiving we were going on vacation. We had a big problem with our van and we were suppose to drive it on vacation. I was very negative and complained about this. We had to take Johns truck on vacation and I was thinking less room less comfort, more $$ for gas. I need to be thankful that we were even able to take a vacation. We are so very blessed, even though things did not go as planned.
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