Grumblings

“Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused.  Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.” Numbers 11:1.

Although we are the benefactors of God’s patience, there comes a time when God draws the line in the sand, indicating that enough is enough!  He doesn’t leave us but determines that we require something different to change our attitude and focus.  God provided everything good for the Israelites going from captivity to freedom, but they lacked gratitude.  God showed them in all instances His power and sovereignty, but they lacked humility.  God continuously spoke of their promised land, but they lacked faith.  They ‘lacked’ alright, but more in the areas of their spiritual walk.  We notice the verse states that when (not if) God heard more grumbling in their circumstances, He acted. 

‘Complaining always reveals a lack of humility and plenty of self-centeredness.  Complaining doesn’t flow from a thought closet where God is central.  Our grumbles show our self-focus …God is really the one to whom we are griping.’ Me, Myself & Lies – Jennifer Rothschild.  Grumbling usually begins with statements like ‘I should…I deserve…I don’t want…I ought to be able to…’  It is human nature that we have these thoughts but it is not in our best spiritual interest that we invite them to hang around. 

“‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is beneficial.  ‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is constructive.  Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” 1 Co. 10:23. By focusing outside of ourselves we are in better posture for approaching God.  Our spiritual motives become more than our earthly desires, and our pride becomes lessened through our humility.  We are encouraged to ‘demolish…every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.’ 2 Co. 10:5.

God is the God of giving whether we require the disciplines of the flesh or the desires of the Spirit.