The dangers and consequences of complaining

The events of chapter 11 took place in perhaps their second year of wandering in the wilderness.

How can it be that a nation so blessed can still complain? God had done so much in and for Israel, yet they still murmur against Him.

Our complaining hearts displease God's so little gratitude for what He has done in the past and faith for what He can do now.

Complaining is looking at God and saying everything He’s given me isn’t good enough. And complaining can cause bitterness to creep into our lives very quickly. Complaining, grumbling, and murmuring won’t get us anywhere. If at all anything, they cause more damage than good.

Israel had valued the fire of God as the emblem of His presence at night, but now, that fire and the presence of God have become somewhat of a two-edged sword - the presence of God was there to deal with sin and comfort Israel.

After hearing their complaints, it’s as if the Lord gave His people something to complain about through the fire which broke out in their midst.

In the first three verses, some Israelites complain about how hard their life was, and a fire broke out within the camp. Then, in verses 4 through 6, we have a new group that has started complaining. This group is called the "rabble". The King James version of the Bible (and a few others) calls this group the "mixed multitude."

Verse 4 indicates that this dissatisfaction on the part of Israel was stimulated by “the foreigners who were among them.” Apparently, some Egyptians or, possibly, some other foreign peoples had likewise been under Egyptian subjugation, attached themselves to Israel at the time of the Exodus (note Exodus 12:38; “Many other people went up with them” out of Egypt). These people now begin to yearn for what they had in Egypt, and they stimulate Israel to adopt a spirit of self-pity and complaint: “The children of Israel wept again” (verse 4). Scripture cautions us that Christian people can be incited to self-pity and complaint by observing the world around us (note Psalm 73:2-6,12-13)

Complaining makes us exaggerate our present problems.

God expected them to walk through the wilderness with endurance, to be thankful they had been set free from oppression and slavery in Egypt, and that He had provided miraculously for them by bringing water to quench their thirst and manna to sustain them on the way.

Hardships have shipwrecked the faith of many people. God wants us to endure. This is a troubled world filled with hardships. Don’t allow your faith to be wrecked. Instead, strengthen your faith in the storm and know that God will use these things in your life.

Paul writes in Philippians 2:14, "Do all things without complaining and disputing."

It is only when we discover that His Presence is enough, when the joy of the Lord becomes our strength, that we learn to go through the hardships of life.

Application Questions:

1. How is our lack of contentment a reflection of our failure to appreciate the sufficiency of the very person of Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him?

2. Do you tend to catch the contagion of complaining from others or halt its advance by urging others to meditate upon the attributes of God?

Quote:

“The apprehension of this blessed truth (God’s faithfulness) will check our murmurings. The Lord knows what is best for each of us, and one effect of resting on this truth will be the silencing of our petulant complainings. God is greatly honoured when, under trial and chastening, we have good thoughts of Him, vindicate His wisdom and justice, and recognise His love in His very rebukes.” - Arthur W Pink.

Prayer:

Lord, when I think of all your goodness and faithfulness in my life, help me never to complain. Please help me not to be affected by the complaints of others as well, but continue to be content in your presence in my life. Amen.