A Day-by-day devotional

May 27, 2023

Complaints, complaints

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Song of Solomon 1-8

Scripture of the Day: Numbers 11:11-25

You went out to dine with a group of friends while on vacation. You have been looking forward to try out the traditional food of the place. So, you ordered what you had planned and prepared to eat even before departing from your country. The food was served. You were rather excited to finally taste it. Huge disappointment. It was cold!

Triggered, you called the waiter and told about your dilemma. However, it was just shrugged off. At that point, you have asked to talk to the manager.

Usually, when we have complaints, we try to settle it first within those closely involved. If it is not resolved, we take it up to the manager, and finally, the owner of the establishment.

With the state that the Israelites were in – unlimited supply of manna (Exodus 16:31), freedom from Egypt, and the 24/7 presence of Yahweh as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22), giving them guidance and comfort – one would think they no longer have reason to complain. Yet, they did. They craved for meat. They murmured and complained to Moses about their lack of food. They reminisced the foods they used to eat in Egypt. The desire of their flesh for meat drove them to murmur and forget how God has been sustaining them.

Moses, finally fed up of all the complaining, was no longer able to contain it and took the problem to God. The complaints of the people drove him to bring it up to the Master. He told God that he was not able to meet all the needs of the people. He even stressed out that he was not the one who bore them to the world. Why would he be given such a responsibility to care for all their needs?

At this point in time, it was not only the people who were complaining. The people complained to Moses about their situation. Moses complained to God about His people. Due to the burden he was facing, with no solution readily available, he was left without a choice but to complain himself. The burden of leadership weighed him down.

Therefore, God provided a solution. Moses need not be alone in solving problems for the people. Seventy elders were chosen to help him lead. The Spirit of the Lord was also poured out to them so that they were able to lead the same way that Moses did. Furthermore, God promised to provide meat for Israel. This later came in the form of quails (Exodus 16:11).

It might come to pass that although God provides for all our needs, our desires will get in the way and still insist on God to give us also what we want. Even though they are wants, we consider them needs due to our longings. When we are not able to receive, we complain that the Lord does not care about us. Just like the Israelites, we also often have bouts of complaining. We murmur and complain, forgetting how far the Lord has already brought and sustained us, away from our slavery and bondage.

Reflection: What have you last complained to God about? Have you examined the reasons for your complaints?

Prayer: Father, please help me to always look back to where you have taken me from. Thank you for freeing me from my Egypt. May I never complain of the sweet-tasting manna that you constantly provide. Help me to always be grateful. Amen.