"The cure for complaining" Num 11-14

The beauty of life can be fogged by a complaining heart

11 Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lordheard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp.² Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the Lord, the fire stopped. ³ After that, the area was known as Taberah (which means “the place of burning”), because fire from the Lord had burned among them there (Num 11:1-3)
According to dictionary.com to complain means,

1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault
2. to tell of one's ailments
3. to make a formal accusation

Some synonyms to the word complain include terms like,

grumble, growl, whine which are all terms for expressing dissatisfaction or discomfort. To complain is to protest against or lament a wrong. To grumble is to utter ill-natured complaints, half to oneself: Growl may express more anger than grumble. To whine is to complain in a mean spirited way, using a nasal tone.

I will define complaining to be expressing dissatisfaction about a particular situation, mostly in a way that puts blame on another person. Most of the time when we complain we tend to distant ourselves from the problem and spend more time pointing fingers of accusation and not being a productive part of the solution. 
I think this is the kind of complaining we see in our text today in the book of Numbers.

The context of Numbers 11, comes in during the time the children of Israel  had been traveling in the  desert for a few weeks, on their way to the land of Canaan which the Lord had promised to give them as their inheritance. 

During their time in the desert, God had provided them food that literally came from the sky each morning, and on Fridays they got a double portion so that they would be able to Rest on Saturday. God had given them laws to follow to help them experience a life full of peace and joy, the kind of life they could not create for themselves. 

In the desert, God had shown His presence to them visibly by using the cloud to shade them during the day and the fire to warm them at night. The God of Israel who brought them out of Egypt with miracles beyond their imagination, did not leave His people without physical leadership, God blessed them with Moses, a man whom the bible called the most humble man that ever lived (Num 12:3). Then as if this was not enough, God made sure that non of Israel's enemies came to fight them, they were safe from all their enemies because the Lord protected them by day and by night.

So what was Israel complaining about? Why was Israel in a state of dissatisfaction with their current circumstance?...

1. Discomfort-In Numbers 11 Israel complained about their hardship because they were uncomfortable, "Soon the people began to complain about their hardship". ...they were thirsty, hungry...afraid
2. Impatience or Lack of understanding-Moses further down in this chapter complains to God wishing to die because the people's complaining and weeping was making him angry and he felt powerless to change the situation, moving him to get a bit impatient with God. He did not understand God's plan. Moses said to the Lord"¹⁴ I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. ¹⁵ If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”(Numb 11:14-15). 
3. Jealousy-Then much further in Numbers 12, Aaron and Miriam complain about Moses because he married a woman outside the tribe of Israel. They used Moses decision to marry a Cushite woman as an opportunity to question his Godly leadership. All because they were jealous of how God used Moses and they wanted to be used in the same way. They said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?”.
4. Fear-In Numbers 13, Ten of the twelve spies who were sent to scout the Land of Canaan, came back with a report masked with fear. This caused the whole congregation of Israel to complain about God's leadership. The 10 spies' report went something like this, " “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. ²⁸ However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large....“We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” ³² So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out..." Then all of Israel, except Caleb and Joshua, responded to this report by complaining "...And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!³ Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” ⁴ And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”...This outburst of ungratefulness caused this generation to wonder the desert for 40 years, many of them never entering the promised land of Canaan. 
5. Lack of trust-In all these circumstance there was a lack of trust. Because of a lack of trust in God's power and His love towards Israel, they complained, pointing the blame finger at God, at Moses at their leadership. They failed to put their current hardship in the right perspective of God's love and His desire and ability to care for them.

Isaih 43:1-3, the Lord says

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Before I jump in to judge Israel for being so slow to believe and trust in their God. I am forced to look in the mirror and see times when I have complained about big or small circumstances in my life which are not the way I would like. 


I complain about it being too hot, or too cold, things being too cheap or too expensive. We complain about being single or being married. Having children can be a cause to complain and not being able to have children causes us to complain as well. Being at home we complain and being far from home causes us to complain. Being in school causes us to complain and not having an education causes us to complain. Being rich we complain and being poor we complain as well.....the list can go on.

Our story today reminds us that complaining does not solve a situation it only makes it worst. Complaining only points fingers it does not provide solutions. Complaining promotes selfishness rather than finds ways to work as a team for the greater good. Complaining is destructive rather than creative. Looking at the ills of complaining which we all are guilty of, one time or another, what can we do to reduce our tendency to complain about life's circumstances good or bad, small or big. What can we do to transform our complaints to creative solutions or to asking the right questions?

Answer = Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks (1 Thes 5:16-18)

Rejoice!!!!, take delight in life, training your mind, by the grace of God to see things more positively, the glass half full instead of half empty. Not complaining does not mean we are ignorant about what is happening, but it simply means we choose to see another side of the coin. Enjoy the company of positive thinking people, laugh often, and motive others to see the joys of life.

Pray about everything, big or small, because we are not in control of many things in life. The one who holds our universe in His hand isYahweh God and He is able and willing to give good things to those who ask Him (Matt 7:11). He has designed this world to work in partnership with Him through our prayers and our obedience. The Devine God and Humankind working together to achieve God's perfect will on earth is the invisible hand that brings blessing to our land and our lives.

A thankful heart is the medicine to the complaining disease. We cannot give thanks for the pain and discomfort we face in this life, but we can give thanks through it all. Thanksgiving is a muscle we train, by using it constantly. This muscle has the potential to see you through the mundane times or when the tough times come and to motivate others to do the same. So find opportunities to say and show gratitude...to the waiter...the maintenance guy...your boss...I dare you to try it.

Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you...and His will is not burdensome but life giving.....now this is true comfort for the soul. Until next time, which might be several weeks from now, may you continue to seek God's loving hand through His most precious word. 

Comfortnotes, Read, share and be comforted.

....I will be going to South Sudan for leadership training, please pray Col 1:9-11 over me and pray for all the people God will give me the privilege of meeting. As much as is possible, I will be blogging still on this site...just click the page Training in South Sudan for blog updates while on this trip. For this short break, I encourage you to keep reading your bible, walking in the love of our God and catch up on any of  the earlier posts on this site. Thank you for reading Comfortnotes and for your prayers.

Blessings and Love

"His presence directs us" (Numb 9:21-23)

So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. ²² Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. ²³ At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses. (Numb 9:21-23)

God's Presence directs our lives like road signs on the street

A Writer may have a few reasons for using repetition. Some use it for emphasis, to drive a point home in the mind of their readers. While others might use repetition as a way of shouting from the end of the room the words, "I am important, pay attention". Poetry and music touch our inner soul partly because of a writer's skill for using repetition, words or ideas that become friends with our subconscious mind. Biblical literature (Hebrew Literature) like any other literature is no different. God has a skill like no other to inspire Biblical authors to major in the art of driving a point home by using repetition.

In our study of Numbers 9 we see this idea being repeated, "At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey"(Num 9:18-19). The idea of God using the cloud to direct His people Israel is being repeated six times within eight verses, shouting from the end of the room, "This is important, I want you to get this". So the valid question is, why was God directing Israel in this way and why is this important to us. The text does not give us explicit reasons but I take the liberty to make a few suggestions.

Why was God directing Israel in this way? 

His presence says, "follow me, I can be trusted"

God used the cloud as a visible sign in this case in order to communicate to Israel when to set out on their journey and when to rest using this process to teach His people how to trust Him. They were able to learn from experience that God was in control of their lives and he was the one who directed them. Through this practice He showed them how to rest on His wisdom and to trust Him to provide for their needs (Deut 8:3-5). I also believe that God desired to show Himself trustworthy, someone they could bank on in the future when they encounter fear, confusion or doubt. This trust for God would lead to comfort, security, obedience and love for God.
In other words, God's presence in the cloud over Israel spoke words of endearment, like what is recorded in Isaiah 41:1-3

He leads us where we should go

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.


Why is this Important for us today? 
As we know the bible accounts were given to enlighten us (2 Tim 3:16). God uses these word to teach us to walk with confidence in this world full of many troubles (John 16:33). The lesson of trusting God to direct and control our lives, instructing us when to move and when to rest, shouts for our reckoning. God speaks to us today through the beautiful cloud of His word, telling us the way we should go, instructing us on how to live life in this world which He has created. 

As he directed Israel through the wilderness to the promise land of Canaan, He directs you and I through the wilderness of this current life until we get to the promise land, described in the book of Revelation (Rev 21). He enables us right now in our wilderness to enjoy His presence, hear His voice as we read His word, delight in fellowship with Him when we pray and derive peace as we obey Him. In a world where truth is evasive and evil is on the increase, we all need His direction to maneuver through life. The God of all creation wants to lead us because He has a good and perfect plan for us (Jer 29:11) and lets face it, He is the only one who really knows the way. 

That is why when Jesus the savior of our world came, He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father except by me" (John 14:6). God's presence in the cloud, amongst His people Israel was not only designed to build their trust in God's ability to show them the way to life, but it pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the perfect way into the very heart of God.
Like Israel, we face the same invitation from God, through Jesus Christ. Would we dare to journey with Him on this road of life, would we believe in Jesus, the express image of God, who is the very cloud of God's presence? Lord may I march on in the direction you are leading because I am getting to understand that only by your plan and only through your direction do I experience true comfort for my soul, Amen. I leave you with Ps 128...Until next time..Read, Share and be Comforted.

Be encouraged to follow God's ways by Ps 128:1-4

Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

128 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
    who walks in his ways!
² You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
⁴ Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
    who fears the Lord.

Everything Matters (Numbers 4)

Jennifer Chuang guest writer

According to the commandment of the Lord, through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying.  Thus, they were listed by him, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Numbers 4:49)

Comfortnotes readers I will like to introduce you to my friend Jennifer Chuang. As an analyste by profession and a new believer who is passionately growing in her relationship with Jesus, she brings a fresh, non cloudy perspective to this book of Numbers. I know you will enjoy her devotional today. Blessings

Have you ever, at the end of your day, wondered – does anyone care about what I do all day long?  Is what I’m doing making any impact in the world?  What is the point of it all?  If you’re like me, you are nodding your head vigorously in agreement.  Keep reading…

In this chapter, God is assigning all the duties of the Israelites by clan.  Specifically here He is speaking to the Levites, whom He has called to stay behind in order to guard the tabernacle and to minister to the people.  Some were appointed to guard the entrance, some guarded the sanctuary, others guarded the frames.  Some would help with the services.   They would have to remember intricate details of which cloth to cover which offering, where to put this plate, that bowl, etc.  After reading all the instructions, my head was spinning.  My immediate thought was, “Thank you Jesus that I don’t have to worry about all that!”  But then again… maybe I do.  I just thought about my church.  Every Sunday, probably 10,000 people come through the doors.  There is a crazy amount of organization and detail that goes into every service to make sure things run smoothly.

Some of us are appointed to greet people at the door, some direct parking, some prepare the coffee, some run the lighting, some take care of the kids.  Is this sounding a bit familiar?  For me, I’ve been appointed to teach the children.  When I serve each week, our “clan” leader sends out an e-mail with the lesson plan each week.  Each plan has specific instructions for each activity.  Then there are other guidelines we have to know, like how to check a child in, where to put their coats, how to take them to bathroom, when to take them to story time, how to clean and put away everything for the next service, what to do in an emergency, etc.  And each week we carry these tasks out; we do our part to keep the machine going.  These tasks may seem menial, but if we ignore any one of them, it could easily throw something off or put someone in danger.  The point of all this is that EVERYthing we do is important.  And that makes us as individuals important.  We do not labor in vain. 

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

We are more than just a number.  We matter.  I matter.  God is a great and almighty God who created the HEAVENS and the EARTH and he also has His hand in the smallest, most trivial aspects of our lives.   He has left no stone unturned.  He has not forgotten anything, or anyone.  He painstakingly lays out instructions for our lives, just as he did thousands of years ago for the Israelites. 

God – thank you for answering my prayers.  Thank you for filling the ache in my heart of wanting to matter.  As it turns out, I’ve mattered all along.  It reminds me of that song, “doesn’t matter if I’m hooking up mergers, cooking up burgers… I do everything I do to the glory of the One who made me…”  Thank you Lord, that you care about everything we do.  Even when we think no one else notices, YOU do.  What an awesome revelation. 

...Thank you Jen for such wonderful comfortnotes, we all matter, so be encouraged, motivated and challenged to be you and do you (2 Cor 3:18) to bring a smile to God's face, because it all matters in the eyes of God, He has a beautiful plan for you (Jer 29:11)...until next time as we continue to explore the book of Numbers...Read, Share and be comforted.

Jen leaves you with a song from Steven Curtis Chapman, Do Everything

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