Why do we complain?
Numbers 11:4 in the Oxford Revised English Bible reads: "A mixed company of strangers had joined the Israelites, and these people began to be greedy for better things." Despite the evidence of God's presence amongst Israel and his grace in keeping his covenant, doubts and complaints arose at the first new difficulty. Israel allowed foreign instigators to cause them to complain and act as if God hadn't just delivered them from enemies and performed so many miracles. The strangers were those Egyptians that had followed Israel out of Egypt and now into the wilderness. When Israel saw what they (Egyptians) had they were no longer satisfied with what God had already done or provided for them (i.e. the manna); they got greedy, inappreciative and complained; the manna was now insufficient for them. Sometimes we get caught up in and too focused on what others have and no longer see our current situation as sufficient. We, well I, have a tendency to compare what we have to what some else has; and that’s what we base our “needs” on. So we turn to complaining and wanting more; instead of realizing we have enough to suffice us. I come to the realization that I sometimes complain because my eyes covet for what someone else has. Israel spent almost, if not the entire, wilderness journey complaining because they were too inappreciative or doubted God’s power.
Created over 2 years ago
