Have you ever caught yourself complaining about something or someone who wronged you? Maybe you found yourself in the worst financial dilemma of your life and you could no longer see beyond the storm. You wished things were back the way they were before you had all that trouble! Or maybe you believed God was going to do something great with your life, but He has let one too many bad things come into your world. Instead of praising God in the storm, you hurled complaints. You no longer trusted God but question His goodness. After all, why would a good God let so many difficult circumstances befall you?
The Israelites had similar questions and complained against God when He was trying to bring them out of Egypt into the Promise Land! God told Pharaoh, “Let My people go!” When Pharaoh refused to obey God’s command, Pharaoh hardened his heart and told the Israelites they had to make the same amount of bricks despite not having straw. Upon such a ridiculous request, the Israelites complained against Moses and God. They questioned God because of their hardship. Again, they complained against God and Moses when they had their backs up against the Red Sea and Pharaoh and his army came after them. They complained in the wilderness when they were thirsty. They complained in the wilderness when they were hungry. They complained a second time when they were thirsty and again when they got sick and tired of eating manna from Heaven. Are you catching a theme going on here? Yet, despite all their complaining, God showed them mercy and met all their needs and wanted so badly to bring them into the Promise Land. God even sent 12 spies to scout out the land He swore to give their forefathers. Ten of them refused to believe God would help them overcome their enemies! Eventually the Israelites did not enter the land that God promised to give them because they refused to trust God by faith and believe Him!
Numbers 14:1-11
Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle. And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?
Numbers 14:26-32
Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “How long must I put up with this wicked community and its complaints about me? Yes, I have heard the complaints the Israelites are making against me. Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. “‘You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised. But as for you, you will drop dead in this wilderness. And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness.”
God desperately wanted the Israelites to experience His goodness, but they would not trust Him to bring them safely through the challenges they faced. God was with them to succeed; they just needed to trust God by faith and not their carnal reasoning.
The same is true for you and me today. God is with us to fulfill the dreams He has placed in our hearts. He is faithful to bring them to pass, but we must play our part in trusting God by faith and not complain and remain in unbelief! The Bible says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NASB). The Israelites could not see that God was trying to bring them out of slavery into an abundant life…just like they asked! God proved His faithfulness over and over again by being their Provider, Protector, Comforter, Deliver, Shelter, Shepherd and so much more. In the same way God was with the Israelites, God promises to be with you and me. He promises to lead and guide us. He promises to protect us and be with us through every storm. It does not mean that we will not go through storms, but He will be with us and prove Himself faithful in them! When we complain, we show a lack of trust in God and His purpose for our lives. God moves on our behalf when we trust Him despite our circumstances.
Do you believe that God loves you? Do you believe that He is your provider and way maker?
The Apostle Paul and Silas were put in prison for something they did not do. In the midnight hour, they were praying and singing hymns to God and the prison shook and their chains fell off (Acts 16:16-40). God moved on their behalf because they had an attitude of thanksgiving instead of a complaining spirit! The Bible says, “Thank
