God’s Contempt Of Complaint
Text: Num.11: 1-3
Intro: Complaining is an activity all of us have participated in at one time or another. Most of us utter complaints without even thinking about it. It seems almost natural to vocalize our displeasure when things don’t quite turn out as we think they should.
To watch the evening news gives one the idea that complaint has become the national pastime. It seems that the largest portion of the news is devoted to the discussion of who is upset with whom or what. The reason the newscaster has to throw in a story with a happy ending at the end of the newscast is to avert nationwide depression, due to all the negative news.
The Bible has much to say about the practice of complaining. The Scriptures tell us not only what people complain about, but also how it affects others, and how God responds to it. We may not take our complaining seriously, but God does.
Numbers chapter 11 gives us a good idea of just how serious is the sin of complaining. When it is all boiled down, complaining is an accusation against God. Complaining accuses God of unjust treatment.
It is my prayer today that we might become sensitive to this sin in our lives, and begin to practice the exhortation of First Thessalonians 5: 18, which says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” If not dealt with, complaining can become a spiritual toxin in our Christian life. “One of the adversary’s most useful schemes is to keep Christians focusing on their problems rather than on God’s provision” (John R. Cionca, The Victors: Overcoming Toxins That Poison the Believer, published by Accent Publications, Inc., Denver, Colorado; pg. 33).
Theme: God has contempt for complaint because:
I. IT REVEALS INGRATITUDE FOR GOD’S CARE
Num.11: 1 “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.”
NOTE: [1] The type of complaining we’re dealing with here isn’t merely the recognition of obvious problems. Cionca explains:
The Hebrew word for complained, anan means, “to mourn.” Their complaining was a whining that stemmed from self-pity (Ibid, pg. 34).
[2] The Israelites’ complaining “displeased the Lord.” The idea there is that God was exceedingly grieved and hurt by the complaints of the people. Our complaining grieves and hurts the heart of God.
[3] Another thought found in this word is that of sadness, sorrow, or being troubled.
[4] Yet another idea involved in the word “displeased” is that of evil favoredness. In other words, complaining stirs God’s righteous indignation.
A. The People Complained About What They Didn’t Have.
Num.11: 4b “…and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?”
B. The People Complained About What They Used To Have.
Num.11: 5 “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:”
NOTE: [1] Egypt is a type of the lost condition of the sinner. These Israelites were complaining that the old life was better than what they had now. Some Christians, when finding themselves under pressure, sometimes make the statement, “I never had this many problems before I got saved!”
[2] The Israelites’ choice of words, when describing what they used to eat in Egypt, seems a little ironic. They said, “…we did eat in Egypt freely…” (v. 5b). They seemed to have conveniently forgotten about the fact that they were in bondage in Egypt. It’s hard to imagine these people actually regretting having left a state of bondage simply because it meant a little self-denial on their part.
C. The People Complained About What They Had.
Num.11: 6 “But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.”
NOTE: [1] One translation of this verse puts it this way: “But now our appetites are gone, and day after day we have nothing to eat but this manna” (NLT). Wasn’t it a crying shame? All they had to eat was the heavenly food sent down to them from the very hand of God. But God’s supply was old hat now. They wanted something new and exciting. This is often the same idea expressed by Christians of our day. Church isn’t exciting enough. The Word of God isn’t enough. They want to be entertained as well.
[2] The statement that “there is nothing at all, besides this manna” was a gross exaggeration (v. 6). Though the Israelites could not have used their flocks brought out of Egypt on a daily basis without depleting them, they did get to eat meat at special religious ceremonies.
[3] What terrible ingrates we must appear to God, when we complain about all that we do not have rather than thanking Him for what He has graciously given us. Just like Israel, we sometimes have an attitude of ingratitude.
Andrew Carnegie, the multimillionaire, left $1 million for one of his relatives, who in return cursed Carnegie thoroughly because he had left $365 million to public charities and had cut him off with just one measly million.
Samuel Leibowitz, criminal lawyer and judge, saved 78 men from the electric chair. Not one ever did bother to thank him.
Many years ago, as the story is told, a devout king was disturbed by the ingratitude of his royal court. He prepared a large banquet for them. When the king and his royal guests were seated, by prearrangement, a beggar shuffled into the hall, sat down at the king’s table, and gorged himself with food. Without saying a word, he then left the room.
The guests were furious and asked permission to seize the tramp and tear him limb from limb for his ingratitude. The king replied, “That beggar has done only once to an earthly king what each of you does three times each day to God. You sit there at the table and eat until you area satisfied. Then you walk away without recognizing God, or expressing one word of thanks to Him.”
Ingratitude denotes spiritual immaturity. Infants do not always appreciate what parents do for them. They have short memories. Their concern is not what you did for me yesterday, but what are you doing for me today. The past is meaningless and so is the future. They live for the present. Those who are mature are deeply appreciative of those who labored in the past. They recognize those who labor during the present and provide for those who will be laboring in the future.
Homemade, December 1984.
II. ITS RESULTS ARE CONTAGIOUS
A. The Mixed Multitude Began To Mutter.
Num.11: 4a “And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting…”
NOTE: [1] The mixed multitude mentioned here consisted of some of the Egyptians that had followed the Israelites out of Egypt.
[2] The word “lusting” means, “a longing” (James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, published by MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, Virginia; #8378 of the Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, pg. 122).
[3] The idea here is simply that the mixed multitude began to vocalize their desires for what they left behind in Egypt, and their displeasure with what they were doing without in the desert.
B. The Children Of Israel Began To Mourn.
Num.11: 4b “…and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?”
NOTE: [1] Here is the first link in the awful chain of complaint. Let one person start complaining to others about what’s wrong with the church or the preacher, and pretty soon others will link up with the complainers. Complaining is always contagious. Mark Twain once said, “Don’t complain and talk about all your problems—80 percent of people don’t care; the other 20 percent will think you deserve them” (Mark Twain).
[2] Isn’t it strange how we Christians can complain about things like God doesn’t care about us, when He’s done so much to show us otherwise? Someone has written:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen.
He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem?
Not to mention that Friday at Calvary.
Face it; He’s crazy about you.
Taken from an e-mail from Raleigh J. Brown, December 7, 2000.
C. Moses Began To Moan.
1. Moses began to complain to God about the complications.
Num.11: 10 “And Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
11 And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their father?
13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.”
2. Moses was now complaining about the people’s complaining.
Num.11: 14 “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.”
NOTE: [1] Moses seems to have forgotten that he was talking to the same God that had delivered Israel from the Egyptians by opening the Red Sea, guided them through the desert by a pillar of cloud and fire, and gave them water from a rock. God had never intended for Moses to bear the full load of this people. However, though Moses complained to God, we never read once that he ever complained before the people or spread his malcontent.
[2] Complainers not only accuse God of unjust treatment, but they demonstrate their lack of faith in God by their complaint.
3. Moses’ had become so negative he doubted even God could handle these circumstances.
Num.11: 21 “And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.
22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?
23 And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.”
III. IT REQUIRES GOD’S CHASTISEMENT
A. The People Became Sickened.
Num.11: 18 “And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
20 But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?”
B. The People Were Smitten.
Num.11: 33 “And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.
34 And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.”
Theme: God has contempt for complaint because:
I. IT REVEALS INGRATITUDE FOR GOD’S CARE
II. ITS RESULTS ARE CONTAGIOUS
III. IT REQUIRES GOD’S CHASTISEMENT
