Reading through Exodus and Numbers this time I saw a pattern of the people of Israel: they complained against the Lord many times.
Through the Torah we see that the people of Israel would complain often. As the Scriptures say “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” We see this play out here. The children of Israel did not trust the Lord and therefore were often complaining against the Lord, saying that He brought them there to die. This is a direct hit against the character of the Lord.
Complaining
The Lord was angered by this behavior. This is the first time that it became clearer to me: the people of Israel did not trust the Lord and worse yet they accused God of wrongdoing against them.
In Exodus 14 the people of Israel were being delivered from Egypt. As they were in the process of deliverance they began to lament. They were so afraid that they would die and so regretted having escaped Egypt. They basically said “It would have been better for us to be captives and slaves of Egypt then risk dying in the wilderness.”
It is understandable that the people of Israel were afraid because they were following a God they did not know. God was a stranger to them and they did not trust Him.
Moses reassured them, “Do not be afraid. The Lord will fight for you and you will keep silent.”
The Lord then protected them and defeated their enemies. Thus He kept His promise proving that He is trustworthy and faithful.
Through Exodus 15 & 16 I see a merciful God, who is patient and understanding that the people of Israel needed proof of trustworthiness. Israel complained about the bitter water at Marrah and their hunger, making known their desire to be back in Egypt.
The Lord graciously provides them with fresh sweet water and bread from heaven ( manna).
📋Note. I want to point out that the children of Israel did not seek the Lord to consult Him regarding their struggles, needs, or wants. They weren’t asking the Lord for water or meat or whatever they wanted. They accused God of having ill will against them to the extent that they preferred to be slaves in Egypt. This is a slap in the face to God.
The Lord clearly saved them from their captivity in Egypt using supernatural means. Furthermore, the Lord was supplying their needs. Yet the people of Israel had hardened hearts towards the Lord.
To me, it seems clear that it is more challenging to obey when there is no trust. It is also difficult to be able to trust a clearly trustworthy God when the heart is hardened and corrupt with pride and idolatry.
The reason for this is that the heart belongs to an idol. You cannot serve two masters.
In Exodus 17, the people of Israel accused Moses of bringing them out of Egypt to die. They tested the Lord by questioning whether He was present. I think the reason it was wrong to question this way is because God told them that He is with them. So, by questioning the Word of God they are calling the Lord a liar.
This is the age old question from the serpent (Satan), “did God really say?”
Unfortunately, Israel did not stop complaining. Numbers 11 demonstrates this. They complained because they didn’t have meat to eat and missed being in Egypt.
How many of us have looked back instead of looking to the Lord with gratitude and worship?
People are often swayed by what appears good and get distracted from the ways of the Lord. What looks unappealing isn’t always bad or wrong. Sometimes it’s the Lord walking us through a time to test and prune us. This is with the purpose that the altars of idolatry in our hearts and souls will fall, and He can bless us. (Deuteronomy 8:2).
📋Note. It’s important to empathize that the Lord clearly does not like people to complain:
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; and the LORD heard it: and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. Numbers 11: 1
Sometimes the Lord gives people what they ask for to teach a lesson, test their faith, or simply to grant them their desire. Often He attaches conditions or instructions to it.
In Numbers 11:18-20 the Lord gives instructions attached to the provision:
"Say to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, and you will eat meat; for you have wept in the ear of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt." Therefore, the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat.
You will not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils, and it is loathsome to you; because you have rejected the LORD who is amongst you, and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we come out of Egypt?"
What I notice is that the Lord sees Israel’s ungratefulness and that they take their freedom from slavery for granted. Truthfully, the Lord desired to bless them immensely. He was looking for Israel to trust, obey and follow Him as their God and Lord.
I believe the Lord would rather cherish His people and delight His people with good things.
Unfortunately, the people of the Lord often lean on their own understanding and make the wrong decisions and choices. Then they end up with nothing but broken and corrupted souls >> dead souls instead of “dead flesh” (Galatians 5:24).
As with everything in life there are consequences that the people of Israel faced. Numbers 11: 31-34 says that the Lord gave them the meat they complained for. The people of Israel lusted, strongly desired, and craved the meat and ate so much of it. Therefore, the Lord struck them with a plague that killed them.
In Numbers 20:2–5, the people of Israel complained again against the Lord saying, “We wish we died before. Why did you bring us out of Egypt and into this evil place?” They were craving specific foods and water. This time, the Lord supplied their desire for water.
In the following chapter, Numbers 21:4–5 the people were discouraged (impatient, vexed, grieved) and spoke against the Lord and Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no food and water and we abhor this bread.”
Truthfully, I think most of us wouldn’t be better or do better.
I think the main issue is not that they wanted meat or water. It was that instead of asking for this they complained against the Lord. They accused the Lord of wanting to kill them in the wilderness and desired to be slaves in Egypt instead of trusting the Lord.
Asking
The Lord doesn’t mind us telling Him our needs, in fact He encourages it.
Throughout the Scriptures we are told to call on the Lord, ask Him and it will be given to us. Of course, as with anything there are boundaries.
Psalm 37:3-4 tells us to:
- Trust the Lord & Do Good –> we will enjoy safety in the land we live in
- Delight in the Lord —> He will give us the desires of our hearts
Matthew 21:22 tells us that we will receive whatever we ask for in prayer, IF we believe.
In Scripture, we’re taught that if we ask, then we’ll receive, but we must have faith. If we doubt, we’re not getting anything because this means we are unstable, and unstable people cannot be trusted (James 1:6-8). If we have the wrong motives, we will not receive what we ask for because we will sin, and sinners cannot be trusted (James 4:3).
So, instead of complaining about our situation or circumstances, be grateful for the blessings the Lord has graciously given us. Then ask for what we desire with faith and the right motive (not selfish & sinful motives).
This topic of complaining vs asking reminds me of my children.
My kids will often whine about wanting something. We remind them to use words (or at least try) to ask for what they want because whining will not get them anything.
Growing up, my siblings and I were taught to eat everything served to us. We’re teaching our kids the same, and to be grateful that we have food to eat in the first place.
If our kids whine & complain about the food we worked hard to buy and cook, we’re not likely to reward them with a treat. It’s childish behavior and definitely not the type of behavior we want to encourage or enable. We don’t want to raise bratty kids, which will lead to bratty and unpleasant adults.
Just as parents expect their kids to obey them and ask, not whine/complain, God does too. Although I think that we are this way because God is. It is the order that creates decent, respectful people.
Consider the fact that God is the creator of the universe, and He deserves the highest reverence. There is no way we have high standards for our children’s behavior, and God won’t have it for us.
Call-to-Action
I was convicted by the Lord as I read through Exodus and Numbers. There have been many situations and circumstances in most recent years that have been particularly and specifically difficult. It has been easy to feel dread and unhappiness living in these seasons. Therefore, I have complained many times.
I made the decision to seek the Lord for comfort and consult Him regarding my needs and desires. What I definitely do want to do is complain or accuse the Lord of anything. There is much I do not understand in the grand scheme of things, so I cannot make definitive conclusions without consulting the Lord.
I urge you to make the decision today to refrain from complaining and instead seek the Lord regarding the matter that is bothering you. ASK Him for what you desire. His Word says that we will receive if we ask in faith and with the right motives. Ultimately, if it aligns with the Word of the Lord, then it is fair game.
Bendiciones <3
