Complain, Complain, Complain!

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

  

Complaining is so common these days it seems to be a way of life for many. Nearly everyone complains. And why shouldn’t they? There's so much to complain about: teachers, traffic, taxes and troubles of all kinds! But the pervasiveness of complaining does not make it right. The Word of God comes down heavily on the sin of complaining. The Bible teaches that complaining is wrong for Christ followers.

Case in point, Numbers 11. Here we see the complaints of the children of Israel as well as the reason behind it. Furthermore, we see the tragic consequences Israel experienced because of their complaining. In fact, Paul said of them, “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come” (1st Corinthians 10:10-11). What happened in the lives of God's people more than 3000 years ago was recorded for us in the 21st century.

The background for Numbers 11 is the journey of Israel through the wilderness. Moses, used by God, led the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt. They had been to Mount Sinai where the Ten Commandments were given, and now they were heading for the land of Canaan—where the country of Israel is today. But all along the way, complain, complain, complain. Because of it, God disciplined them severely. Many of them lost their lives! The point is crystal clear; God does not appreciate complaining, then or now. Thus we are exhorted in 1st Corinthians 10:10 not to "grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel."

The sin of complaining was one reason why Israel wandered in the wilderness forty long years. Is it possible that we are "wandering in the wilderness" of Christian living because of our complaining? Some have suggested that complaining is symptomatic of a much deeper problem—discontent. This is why the Bible so strongly condemns complaining.

The grumblings of complaint are evidence that we are dissatisfied with the way God lets life come at us. What is the solution? Here’s what we must do. Recognize that complaining is a sin. Repent and forsake it. Recognize that God knows what's best for us—even down to the problems He allows us to face. Let’s stop our complaining, shall we? I don’t know about you, but I’d hate to think that my complaining would become a case study on the subject!