Complaining

“A Trappist monk was allowed to say only two words every three years. After the first three years, he said to the Brother Superior, “Bad bed.” Three years later he came back to say, “Bad food.” After three more years of silence the monk said, “No TV.” Another three years passed. This time the monk appeared with robes and sandals in hand and announced, “I quit.” The Brother Superior answered, “It’s no wonder. You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here!””*

It’s so easy to complain, isn’t it?  Sometimes it even happens when things are going well.  Take, for example, the people of God recently released from Egyptian slavery.  They had witnessed the plagues of God which brought a proud Pharoah and his nation to their knees. By the time the Lord was done with him, Pharaoh was demanding that the Hebrews leave.  After leaving Egypt, God delivered them on dry land through the heart of the Red Sea and then used the same sea to drown the Egyptian army who had chased after the freed slaves.  Surely after witnessing the awesome power of God, there could be nothing to complain about, right?

Wrong!  After singing God’s praises in Exodus 15:1-21, the attitude changes just three days later.  The Hebrews get thirsty and what do we read?  “So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink’” (Exodus 15:24).  Not too long afterwards, we read: “The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.  The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Exodus 16:2-3).

But before I think too harshly of the Hebrews, I need to recall the times I have complained even after the Lord had blessed me.  That should temper my criticism (Philippians 2:14).

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.therocketcompany.com/10-new-preaching-stories/