A common problem in ancient Israel was complaining. Times haven’t really changed.
“Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1 NLT)
Beware of ingratitude. Israel’s desire for meat instead of manna, revealed that they had actually rejected God.
“You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?’ ” (Numbers 11:19-20 NKJV)
Sometimes the greatest critics can be family members like Miriam and Aaron, who criticized their brother Moses.
“Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’ And the Lord heard it… So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them ...” (Numbers 12:1-2, 9 NKJV)
Some Christians still criticize interracial marriages today. There is no such thing. We are all members of the human race. The only thing the Bible bans is interfaith marriage and business partnerships.
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV)
God punished Miriam perhaps because she was the instigator and Aaron just followed along like Adam with the forbidden fruit. Paul had learned a lesson that the Israelites had not.
“I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have.” (Philippians 4:11 CEV)
What’s wrong with a little complaining? God described Israel’s grumbling as wickedness with serious consequences.
“How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.’ ” (Numbers 14:27-30 ESV)
Fault finders will eventually also criticize church leadership.
“All the Israelites criticized Moses and Aaron. The entire community said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt or if only we had died in this desert!” (Numbers 14:2 CEB)
If God’s reign on earth were a democracy, they would have probably voted Moses out at this point, but it was not. Ten out of twelve scouts were grumblers who chose to undermine God’s vision for the future with negative reports. This can happen in Christian churches.
“So the men Moses sent to scout out the land, and who returned and incited the entire community to complain about him by spreading a negative report about the land—those men who spread the negative report about the land were struck down by the Lord.” (Numbers 14:36-37 HCSB)
Israel tested God ten times, disrespected Him and refused to listen. So, what was God’s decision about most of that generation?
“none of the men who saw my glory and the signs I did in Egypt and in the desert, but tested me these ten times and haven’t listened to my voice, will see the land I promised to their ancestors. All who disrespected me won’t see it. But I’ll bring my servant Caleb into the land that he explored, and his descendants will possess it because he has a different spirit, and he has remained true to me.” (Numbers 14:22-24 CEB)
When people criticize leaders that God put in charge, they may not be aware that they are also acting against God. Congregational decisions are sometimes helpful, when a public reputation is needed.
“And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.” (Acts 6:3 NLT)
Or those with a reputation for honesty must handle finances.
“When I arrive, whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem” (1 Corinthians 16:3 NASB)
Congregational church polity in every decision often fails in other areas.
“For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?” (Numbers 16:11 KJV)
God sometimes makes it quite plain who His chosen leaders are by miraculous events.
“The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites… The Lord said to Moses, ‘Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.’ ” (Numbers 17:5, 10 NIV)
All these events are lessons for the New Testament church.
“Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.” (1 Corinthians 10:6-10 NKJV)
Complaining causes people to criticize us.
“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” (Philippians 2:14-15 NLT)
Ungodly people have wormed their way into our churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. They tend to murmur and complain, and are consumed by pride.
“These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.” (Jude 1:16 WEB)
No church member agrees with everything, but for the sake of peace, we keep quiet unless there is a serious sin. An undercurrent of criticizing or complaining only destroys. Normally, God expects us to hold up our elders’ hands like Aaron and Hur. How are you contributing to church unity? You decide!
