-February 25, 2024-
Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,
“Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.”
(Numbers 11:1).
What struck me about this verse is that the Lord heard their complaints and was displeased and angry. The Israelites were chronic complainers. They complained against God and against Moses and Aaron. Nothing seemed to please them.
The Lord did so much for them in delivering them from their bondage in Egypt, parted the Red Sea so they could pass through on dry ground, and killing Pharaoh and his entire army. He provided water to drink from the rock, manna and quail to eat. Still they complained, and complained, and complained some more.
We are no different, in fact we have more to be thankful for, and we have the whole Bible and we should know better. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without complaining or disputing.” The word complaining can be rendered grumbling, and the word disputing can be translated arguing.
God hears us when we complain. He even hears the thoughts of our hearts. Instead of complaining we should be thanking the Lord and trusting Him in everything. The Lord sometimes tests us to see how we handle difficulty, hardship, sorrow, pain, and disappointment.
Being around a chronic complainer is both odious and obnoxious. Worse yet being a chronic complainer ourselves. If we could just listen to a recording of our thoughts and words would be eye opening and shocking.
Let us then be cognizant of our own complaints and turn them into praise to God instead. Have a blessed and thankful day without complaint.
Thanking God proactively prevents complaining reactively,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 