I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites.
Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat,
and in the morning you will be filled with bread.
Then you will know that I am the Lord your God. Exodus 16:12 NIV
The Grumbling Israelites vexed both Moses and The Lord God of Israel
Attitude can be difficult to keep in check
Attitude towards God or circumstances
It can be a challenge
Paul said, I have learned in all things to be content.
I wonder about these people who always see the glass half-full
When you complain to them,
they come back with a positive about the situation
Whatever you say, they have a come-back
That is not in my personality
I find it annoying, actually
I wonder if they really think that as a way to get out of their circumstances
or thought process or if they are just trying to be positive
Is that what Is meant when we are to look at our blessings?
God has a right to do that, to point out the positive
The way He does it is not annoying, it’s matter-of-fact
He doesn’t just point out the positive,
but helps us see things through His eyes
When Jonah was complaining to God
about Him turning His anger away
because Jonah felt like a fool
because after his prophecy didn’t come to pass,
God didn’t correct him or tell him to stop being a sour puss
or just tell him to look at the positive,
God showed Jonah how He saw things,
how much He cared about the people and the animals
Jonah got it, finally
When the Israelites were complaining,
that vexed Moses
And Moses said unto the Lord,
Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?
and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight,
that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
Have I conceived all this people?
have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me,
Carry them in thy bosom,
as a nursing father beareth the sucking child,
unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? Numbers 11:11-12
God was displeased with the people as well,
not sure that is considered complaining when God does it
Even what God said could be considered complaining in some ways
Complaining is complaining and we are, after all,
are made in God’s image and likeness,
so we have the same emotions God has
And the Lord said unto Moses,
Go, get thee down; for thy people,
which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt,
have corrupted themselves:: Exodus 32:7
Quite amusing that God called them Moses’ people
when He was annoyed with them
Moses and God commiserated about them
and that kind of complaining was just honest, it wasn’t excessive
Complaining just because, always looking at the negative,
is what I believe the scriptures are referring to when they say:
Look at the beautiful, lovely things
Complaining just to complain is not the same as being honest
or trying to figure out a situation so you can get through it the best way
The most offensive complaining to God is blaming God for circumstances
Maybe God is responsible for the circumstances
If that is the case, He is always looking out for our best interests
which is why He allows certain circumstances in our lives
God wants us to be honest to Him and not to pretend
Some of that has to do with humility
The Israelites were led from Egypt and released from bondage,
but they wanted to go back to it
Similarly to Lot’s wife
They were not appreciating God’s release from their captivity
They wanted their worly comforts
Job complained, but not against God
Thou He slay me, yet will I trust Him
I think that is an important consideration
Job was scraping his boils with a potsherd
God said Job never sinned with his lips
Be honest with God and if you don’t understand your circumstances,
remain humble and ask Him to help you through them
Complain but not against God,
not blaming Him for the circumstances,
but accepting them and making the best of them,
and as always, looking for the blessings from Him
Sriptural References:
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Philippians 4:11
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:
but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Job 13:15
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal;
and he sat down among the ashes.
Job 2:8
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job 1:22
And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job,
the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite,
My wrath is kindled against thee,
and against thy two friends: for ye have
not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
Job 42:7