THE COMPLAINTS OF CHILDREN
As most people know, I grew up as the seventh out of ten children. Our house was not exactly huge, but my parents made it work. My dad worked hard, and my mom was a master of stretching a budget, so we always had what we needed. Despite this, I remember feeling disgruntled when I focused on what we did not have. We did not have some of the expensive things that our friends did. Thus, we always wanted to go over to our friends’ houses. Most days, the last place I wanted to be was in the well-stocked, comfortable, and loving space my parents had provided for us. I was a child, and the grass was always greener elsewhere.
In Numbers 11:1-15, we see a similar story with the descendants of Israel. Not for the first nor the last time, we see the people complaining, but this short passage includes a double dose of it. The first three verses are vague, indicating that they are complaining about general hardships. The next twelve verses give a more detailed story. Despite the fact that God had delivered them miraculously away from a murderous Pharaoh, and in disregard for God’s care for the children since they had entered the wilderness, they are disgruntled about Manna.
Manna was the miraculous food that God delivered to Jacob’s children each night. It is described in this passage as tasting like a pastry cooked with the finest oil. I don’t know about you but that sounds like cake to me. It is hard to think of people getting cake, fresh from God’s bakery and being unhappy about it. I know that 10-year-old me would have been so happy with that idea. However, I also know that 10-year-old me, in typical childish fashion would have done much the same thing eventually and started wanting something else. That is what children do; out of boredom, selfishness, greed, and more boredom, they ignore the blessing of being provided for, and they cry for more… different… something… anything else.
As Moses wandered about, listening to the complaints about no meat, he felt the pain of every babysitter who is left in charge of rowdy, spoiled terrors, wondering why he took this job. As you keep reading, there is much to learn from how God responds, but I think this one point is sufficient for me today: There is so much I can complain about, and I could spend all day wishing to live somewhere else or wanting things to go back to the way they were before. But that is what a child would do. Children whine and complain. Adults get over the things that are tough, and keep moving forward, remembering how undeservedly generous God has already been, and counting on the promises He has given us for what is to come. The point is: Let’s not be children who whine. Let’s be mature believers who uplift, remind, and encourage one another.
In Numbers 11:1-15, we see a similar story with the descendants of Israel. Not for the first nor the last time, we see the people complaining, but this short passage includes a double dose of it. The first three verses are vague, indicating that they are complaining about general hardships. The next twelve verses give a more detailed story. Despite the fact that God had delivered them miraculously away from a murderous Pharaoh, and in disregard for God’s care for the children since they had entered the wilderness, they are disgruntled about Manna.
Manna was the miraculous food that God delivered to Jacob’s children each night. It is described in this passage as tasting like a pastry cooked with the finest oil. I don’t know about you but that sounds like cake to me. It is hard to think of people getting cake, fresh from God’s bakery and being unhappy about it. I know that 10-year-old me would have been so happy with that idea. However, I also know that 10-year-old me, in typical childish fashion would have done much the same thing eventually and started wanting something else. That is what children do; out of boredom, selfishness, greed, and more boredom, they ignore the blessing of being provided for, and they cry for more… different… something… anything else.
As Moses wandered about, listening to the complaints about no meat, he felt the pain of every babysitter who is left in charge of rowdy, spoiled terrors, wondering why he took this job. As you keep reading, there is much to learn from how God responds, but I think this one point is sufficient for me today: There is so much I can complain about, and I could spend all day wishing to live somewhere else or wanting things to go back to the way they were before. But that is what a child would do. Children whine and complain. Adults get over the things that are tough, and keep moving forward, remembering how undeservedly generous God has already been, and counting on the promises He has given us for what is to come. The point is: Let’s not be children who whine. Let’s be mature believers who uplift, remind, and encourage one another.
by Ben Urban, Student Ministries Pastor
Type your new text here.
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
April
OUR GOD IS HOLY AND JUSTA CAUSE FOR OBEDIENCETELL THE COMING GENERATIONTHE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOLSHINE YOUR FACE UPON USLISTEN UP!CHECK WITH GOD FIRST - HE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DOPSALM 86THAT IS ENOUGH SAIDDO YOU REMEMBER?TRANSITIONSSERVE ONE ANOTHERPROVERBS“Insignificant Does Not Equal Insignificant” (Judges 6)
May
JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!FINISHING WELLARE YOU THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS?FORGETTING GOD IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTHREPENTANCE BRINGS MERCYGOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHTWHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?A GODLY FATHERJESUS CARES FOR US - HE'S OUR SHEPHERDWHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?CARELESS SPEECHCONTINUE TO SERVE GODUNDIGNIFIED, HUMILIATED, AND GLORIFYING GOD!CLEAR PROMISESMEPHIBOSHETH AND THE KINGTRUST IN GOD'S LEADINGJESUS DOES THE FATHER'S WILL DEMONSTRATING LOVE FOR HIS MOTHER AND WAS GIVEN A KING'S BURIAL
June
2022
January
No Comments