Numbers 11:1 THE PEOPLE COMPLAIN 1 And t the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, u his anger was kindled, and v the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Context: Numbers Chapter 11 It was probably a good move when department stores changed the name of their “complaint department” to “customer service center.” Imagine spending every day listening to complaints, trying to resolve issues for dissatisfied people, and constantly repeating company policy. Horrible! God wants to hear something other than our complaints. True, we find “Psalms of Complaint” in scripture, but those were written by people who chose to trust God regardless of their situation. Israel in the wilderness, however, threatened to withdraw their trust from God because of their situation. Frequently, we snivel and whine because our perspective on our circumstances is skewed or short-sighted (cf., Genesis 42:36). Complaining is never our only option. Confusion, frustration, or being at a loss for direction are precisely the times when God means for our faith to kick in. There is a serious downside to complaining: It causes doors to slam in our faces. Praise, however, is a door-opener. “Thank You” is the password at God’s gates to gain access into His courts (Psalm 100:4). Complaining all the time blinds us to many God-given opportunities. Complaining prevented Israel from entering the promised land! An experiment: For the next two days, first thing when we wake up, let’s find five reasons to be thankful. Next, let’s ask God to make us aware of every complaint that enters our minds. Then, instead of complaining, let’s give thanks. The goal: To see if praise and thanksgiving opens our eyes to more good in our everyday world. At the very least, we will become a source of joy to God and others.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 14:01:25 +0000
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