The Worst Kind of Complaining

Numbers 11:1

God hears and hates our complaining. He hears our complaints about the weather, traffic, taxes, social decline, the price of gas, our age, and whatever else we grumble and murmur about. God knows every negative thought and word. But there is one particular brand of complaining that grates most on His ears. In the terrible tale of Numbers 11, the complaining of the children of Israel infuriated God, for “the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD.” Did you catch that? The worst kind of complaining is complaining about adversity. It sounds like this: “Why me? Why must I endure this trouble when life goes smoothly for everyone else? I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. When will all this end?” How quickly we forget that we should expect adversity in this life—it’s as certain as death and taxes. Jesus reminded us, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33, ESV), and the writer of Hebrews warned, “Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves” (Hebrews 12:5–6). So why do we act surprised and indignant when troubles come? Instead of rejoicing in all the good things God has done in our lives, we complain about That One Thing, whatever it is. But it’s so hard! we might argue. True, it is hard to live with adversity, and it’s hard not to complain about it. But when we complain about our trials, we forfeit the grace that could be ours. Is it hard? Yes! This is not to belittle or make light of very real, very hard adversity. However, worse than adversity is a complaining response to it. God simply will not tolerate repeated complaints about the measured adversity in our lives.

Questions for further thought:
1. What is your measure of adversity—that one thing that’s hard to endure without complaining?
2. How have you been responding to the adversity in your life?

Challenge: Look seriously at the adversity you are facing. Ask for the Lord to show you His grace and mercy in this trying time. Ask for His strength to get you through the fire.