Complaining in the Wilderness
“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you.” (Philippians 2:14, NLT)
Do you enjoy waking up early? I don’t. I emphasize with the psalmist when he writes: “I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.” (Psalm 119:147, NLT)
It’s not that I’m lazy, I’m just not a “morning person”. That’s why I need to continually turn away from the temptation to complain.
Just after the Exodus, when Moses had miraculously led the Israelites out of Egypt, the Israelites sung a song of praise to the Lord for their deliverance. (See Exodus 15.) But just a few days later they encountered hardship and quickly changed their tune. The title of the next section after the Israelite’s song of praise reads “Complaining in the Wilderness,” in my Bible, which is a poignant example the way our hearts can often be fickle.
How can we guard against becoming “complainers in the wilderness”?
Think about the end of Psalm 119:147: “I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.” Throughout the Bible we are constantly reminded to remember what God has done for us. All history is truly “His story” … the story of God’s mighty acts. When we are faced with difficult times, we can reflect upon what God has already done for us, and His promises for the future which we find in His Word, because we know that God is faithful and will fulfill all that He has promised to us, including our own resurrections to eternal life in fellowship with God Himself.
I’m still not a morning person. But I try to remember that when I wake up early, that groggy feeling lasts only a few fleeting moments, and then the rest of the divinely gifted day awaits me. It’s hard to complain about a free gift, and a promise of the ultimate free gift to come.
Question: What has been bothering you lately that you need to bring to God in prayer?
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What is on my mind is deception of others, as my pastor talked aobut it in his sermon on the last days and things that are taking place in the world is in the Bible. I am one that dsoe not complain, becasue my mother hated complaining of the food we ate and that she fixed for us.I do papreciate all that god has and is doing for me now that he is my Parent. I know that i go through things in life an want God to help me with them. So! I do not complain.
Question: What has been bothering you lately that you need to bring to God in prayer?
Many things come to mind with this question. First of all, we need to always be grateful for each and everything in our lives. Many things I am praying for in my life are sexual purity as a single man at 40. I am also praying for God’s help to guard my heart against things which cause me to stumble. Those include many things: too much time on the Internet, anger, frustration and sometimes bitterness. I know I have a long way to go but am so grateful for all God has brought me through and is with me each and every day. So I am praying for each part of my life to honor God with all of my actions and words.