Numbers 11:1-3

Complaining has no place in the life of the

Christian. • Neither murmur ye, as some of them also

murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer” (1

Cor 10:10).

• “Do all things without murmurings and disputings”

(Phil 2:14).

God blesses and blesses. • In context, God had provided “big” blessings for

the Israelites.

• God gives us so very much.

“He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,

and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt

5:45).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is

no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (Js 1:17).

God will forgive when people come back

to Him. • “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the

unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return

unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Is

55:7).

I wish the Israelites had learned their

lesson. • “Who shall give us flesh to eat?” (v 4).

• The people complained when the spies brought

back their report (Num 14:1-5).

• Over and over and over, we find the people

complaining.

Sometimes we complain about things we

cannot control. • You can’t change someone else’s behavior, but you

can change how you respond.

“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if

he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap

coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward

thee” (Prov 25:21-22).

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”

(Rom 12:21).

We need to remember that God is ultimately in control: “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Rev 19:6).

We can pray to Him: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pet 5:7).

We can remember the multitude of blessings God gives: • God “left not himself without witness, in that he did good,

and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17).

• “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1 Cor 16:2).

Put it in a place where you can see it and be

reminded of God’s great blessings.

Sometimes we complain because our

behavior needs to be changed. • Examine your life to see what needs to be changed

and work at changing it!

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove

your own selves” (2 Cor 13:5).

We absolutely must get rid of complaining. • “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest

you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing

at the door!” (Js 5:9, NKJV).

• “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after

their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great

swelling words, having men's persons in

admiration because of advantage” (Jude 16).