My mumbling and grumbling

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

            I have been studying the Book of Numbers. My first insight from this book was… “Man, these people complain a lot.” God had delivered the Israelites out of slavery. He had told them he was going to lead them to a promised land. Things were going to be better there than were in Egypt. He had provided everything they needed. As I read, I wondered how could they keep complaining, when God had blessed them in so many ways…. But then I realized there are many times in my life when I am just like the Israelites.  I complain and complain and complain… then I complain some more.

“We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost. Also, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, and garlic, But now we have lost out appetites. We never see anything, but this manna.” Numbers 11: 4-5”

The people wanted what they did not have.

            They looked back and wanted to eat the food they used to. They forgot that God had their best interests at heart. They forgot that with the free leeks, cucumbers, and melons came hardships, bondage, and slavery. Like the Israelites, I sometimes focus on what I don’t have. It is so easy to look at what others have, and think that they are better off than me. Then the ifs begin… If only I had a better house, a better car, more money, lived in a better neighborhood…. Then the ifs turn to complaining about what I don’t have. This kind of complaining is dangerous, because if I focus on what I do not have I forget all that God has blessed me with.

God does not like complaining and he will not bless this kind of attitude.

“And the Lord spoke to Moses. ‘Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you make an end to the grumbling lest they die.” Numbers 17:10.

            God shows his dislike for complaining by calling the complainers “rebels.” Webster’s dictionary defines a rebel as “a person who opposes or fights against authority or government. Reading this made me remember all of the times I have rebelled against God by complaining. Furthermore, God used the budding staff as a reminder that he does not like complaining and he will not tolerate it.

“Not one of them will see the land I promised an oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.” Numbers 14:23.

            The people did not get to see the land that was promised to them because of their complaining. They missed out on the blessings God intended for them, because of their complaining and negative attitude. I wonder how many of God’s blessings I have not seen come to pass, because of my mumbling and grumbling.    

            This study of Numbers has really caused me to reevaluate my attitude and words. I am trying to eliminate the complaining and murmuring in my life by shifting my focus from what I don’t have to what I do have. One of the ways I am doing this is by teaching my son what it means to be thankful. Everyday this month my husband and I have been telling my son one thing we are thankful for. I have also been asking my son to tell me one thing he is glad God gave him, and I have been writing these answers on my son’s chalkboard. (In case you are wondering what a toddler is thankful for the answers range from God to food to spiders to maw-maw-and paw-paw to pottys and poop.) I have been realizing how blessed I am these past few days, and I look forward to hearing my son and husband’s responses .

            Are you a complainer? I encourage you to take and inventory of your words, and to work on stopping the grumbling. Consider taking the next few days to do like I did and make a list of the things you are greatful for. What are some of the things in your life that you are greatful God has blessed you with.