17 October Numbers 11

A lack of faith leads to complaining.

Numbers 11:1-3 (AMP) “Now the people became like those who complain and whine about their hardships, and the Lord heard it; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp. So the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire died out. He named that place Taberah (the place of burning), because the fire of the Lord burned among them”.

Only a few days after starting their journey to the Promised Land, the people began to complain. Before this, God had already freed them from slavery by sending ten plagues on the Egyptians. He helped them cross the Red Sea safely and destroyed the Egyptian army. At Marah, He made the bitter water drinkable. God also gave them a pillar of light they could see during the day and at night. He even kept their feet from swelling as they walked.

A lack of faith can lead to complaining. No matter how often God provided for them, they failed to trust Him with each new challenge. Exodus 16:8 (AMP) “Moses said, “This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning [enough] bread to be fully satisfied, because the Lord has heard your murmurings against Him; for what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.” This is again confirmed in Hebrews 11:6 (AMP) “But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him”.

Most of us destroy our faith primarily by murmuring and complaining as Chuck Pierce posits: “The greatest snare in the wilderness is murmuring and complaining over your present position before you reach the place God has for you.”

Murmuring and complaining is the repeated voicing of your dissatisfaction over the situation God has placed you in. No complaint rises from a heart of faith! Whenever there is complaining, we can be sure that faith is no longer present. Philippians 2:14-16 (AMP) “Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness], holding out and offering to everyone the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to rejoice greatly because I did not run [my race] in vain nor labour without result”.

Complaining reduces one's vision for the future and causes one to doubt God’s goodness in the present. Every time you complain, you water your unbelief. What is the alternative to complaining? Praise!

Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV) ”To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified”.

In conclusion, the story of the Israelites in the wilderness teaches us that a lack of faith often leads to complaining. Despite God's countless miracles and provisions, the people still struggled to trust Him when faced with new challenges. This repeated murmuring reflected their unbelief and displeased God, as seen in Numbers 11 and other scriptures. When we complain, we focus on our hardships and forget God's goodness and faithfulness.

However, there is a better way: choosing to praise rather than complain. Praise shifts our focus from the moment's challenges to God's unchanging character and promises for the future. As Isaiah 61:3 reminds us, God offers us "a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." When we replace complaints with gratitude and praise, we strengthen our faith, honour God, and shine as lights in a dark world. Let us, therefore, choose faith over doubt and praise over complaint, trusting that God is always at work for our good.