Complainer's Digest: A Meaty Affair

Hello there, my dear friends! It has been ages since I got on here!

It's for good reasons, I promise. God opened a door for me! I relocated! I'm feeling thankful and blessed. This relocation comes as a prophetic gesture from God first because He gave me His word that I would move here in 2021 and repeated it several times through His messengers. The second reason is that this move has come at a critical time. We are in a time of palpable transition, friends (can you sense it?). God is moving in powerfully, friends!

Anyway, we can talk about that another day. I wanted to talk about something that touched me deeply from my recent study of the book of Numbers.

Deep Cravings

Numbers 11:4-20 highlights one of the most basic human desires: the desire for food (which is a big deal, no lie).

In this passage, the Israelites are wandering in the wilderness. They begin to express their dissatisfaction. They grow tired of eating manna every day and start yearning for meat. They grumble about and taunt Moses. They ask why they were brought out in the wilderness to die and mention how much they miss the meat in Egypt. They even wish that they had never left Egypt at all.

Moses is upset and naturally vents to God. "Why did you choose me to lead this people? And where on earth are we going to get meat?" He asks God. But God already knew what was going on. He was hurt.

He tells Moses that he will provide them with meat to eat and that it will be so much that they will eat until they are sick. And that is what happened.

The Moment of Decision

Before we dash to attack, consider this. Every day, we have moments where we choose what to think and how to think about things. We have opportunities to complain. Most times, we take each one.

God did not take issue with the desire for meat because He understood human limitations and desires. The problem was with what the desire made the Israelites do- complain and miss a place of captivity they had cried for so long to leave.

In an instant, a desire turned into a ticking time bomb that set God's heart against His people and increased His desire to destroy them (Also see Exodus 33 in context).

The meat was never the issue; Their heart posture was.

The Power of Gratitude

This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the perils of complaining. Complaining tells God, "You made a mistake! I do not like what I see now. I'd rather have what I know and like." It bears ingratitude and lacks appreciation of the blessings at present.

Complaining sets our hearts away from the good things happening and narrows in on the negative. When you complain, there is no way you will see the positive side of things!

So, What Should I Do?

It's hard to control it, but this is where the grace of God comes in. It is of divinity to go through life with a consistent nature of gratitude. You can be honest with God about your situation. He can bear your honesty.

Ask Him to search your heart and reveal the areas of ingratitude and complaining. Ask Him to change your heart's posture from constant complaining to gratitude.

Work that gratitude muscle to a pulp! Consciously remind yourself to be thankful in all things (even when difficult). After all, no matter what, we know that ALL things (not some) are working for our good! (Romans 8:28)

Whatever you focus on grows.

Choose faith.