How Long Shall This Wicked Congregation Complain Against Me?

Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron; the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become booty; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us choose a captain, and go back to Egypt.”

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the Israelites.

Numbers 14:1-5

And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying: How long shall this wicked congregation complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites, which they complain against me.

Numbers 14:26-27

It takes about three weeks to break an old habit. Could you go that long without complaining? We are told to do all things without complaining. The ancient Israelites discovered what would happen when they complained against Moses and against God. Because of their constant complaining in the wilderness, they were judged by God and not allowed to enter the Promised Land. In order to learn how to develop a non-complaining, positive attitude we can: discipline our thoughts and meditate on Scripture to remember our blessings; confess our critical spirit and commit ourselves to obedience each time we fail; enlist God’s help and the help of others.

The Spirit will empower us as we depend on Him.

Finally, because God helps us, doing all things without complaining is not an impossible challenge.

A complaining Christian is a contradiction in terms.

Our Daily Bread – March 3, 2008