Complaining and Murmuring

Num. 11:1

And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.

How many times does complaining consume a person? It seems such a simple thing that happens so often. Normally, as soon as people are dissatisfied with their plight or their treatment or even their health, the complaining begins. But in this case, the people were not complaining against a neighbor or a boss but against the Lord God. In the first instance fired rained down on the people, and Moses had to intercede for the people to get it to stop. But immediately in the next verse, the people began complaining again. This time for meat! In fact, it was called a strong craving! Weeping, complaining, and craving, they cried out, Oh that we had meat! They remembered what they used to eat in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic, and they disdained the manna, God's provision. They preferred to remember their years of slavery as opposed to God's deliverance and  provision for them. How sad! How insulting to the great miracles God had done on their behalf.

Moses heard the people weeping at their tent doors, and not only was he displeased, but the anger of the Lord was blazing hotly. As he immediately took the heavy burden of this people to God, he prayed. What was he to do? This complaining, dissatisfied people were about to do him in! God organized and ordained elders to help Moses with the burden of the people, and then He was sending them meat. Not just a little meat but meat for a month, meat that would come out of their nostrils and become loathsome to them. Why would God do this? He would do this because they had rejected  the Lord who was among them! How sad! His last words to Moses were, Now you will see whether my words will come true for you or not!

After the elders were chosen and ordained and even prophesying, a wind came up bring the quail from the sea. They fell right beside the camp about a day's journey around the camp. The people gathered the quail all day, night, and the following day. While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was even consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled. Burning hot! How would it be evidenced? A plague struck down many of the people. This place became known as Kibroth-hattavah, because it was here they buried the people who had the craving. What is the lesson? God does not tolerate murmuring and grumbling. It is an attack against His sovereign will and purpose. He does not condone sin in any form! He did answer their prayer, but it brought leanness to their souls and judgment to their lives. His glory and provision can never be compared to the leeks and garlic of Egypt! We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyed. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instructions, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.  There is my application and my warning. I need to take heed. Check my heart. Is there any root of grumbling or dissatisfaction with my life? Am I realizing and living in the reality of my sovereign God?

Father,

Keep my heart tender toward You. Send Your Spirit in a mighty way to open my eyes so that I might take heed!

In Jesus name,

Amen