Reading
- Num. 10:1-34; 9:15-23; 10:35-36; 11:1-35
Devotional
Three days after the Israelites left Mount Sinai they started to complain to Moses and before GOD. When they complained, GOD was angry and He sent fire to consume them. The people cried out to Moses and Moses prayed and GOD stopped. Afterward, some within the group began to crave meat to eat.
“…Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”
(Num. 11:4-6 NKJV)
Rather than being thankful for having anything at all to eat, the people thought only about how this part of their life used to be different in Egypt. It seems that, in the moment, they had forgotten about the harsh slavery and oppression they had left behind in Egypt, and how GOD had mercy on them and delivered them from that terrible situation.
Sadly, it seems that often people just enjoy complaining. Rather than complain we should ask GOD for help. He wants us to tell Him what we are struggling with and ask for Him to bless us with our situation. We need to always remember that, no matter how bad our situation may appear, it could always be worse. When Paul was in prison he wrote these words to the Philippian Christians:
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God…”
(Phil. 2:14-15 NKJV)
And again:
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(Phil. 4:4-7 NKJV)
It is always better to think about what is good with the situation than it is to complain about what’s bad. That is much easier to say than it is to do.
