Anatomy of a Complaint
by Ptr. Samson Uytanlet
Sometimes we have to complain, because complaints can be necessary. Complaints allow those in authority to take action and change what needs to be changed.
Complaints about us also allow us to see ourselves with new eyes, and change ourselves for the better.
But some complaints are unnecessary. Let us look at Numbers 11-12, and examine four types of unnecessary complaints.
1. Numbers 11:1
The people became like those who complain of adversity, as if something evil had happened to them, as if the Lord has done something to them. The Lord’s anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
In the ten preceding chapters, the people of Israel had been obedient and had followed the teachings and commands of the Lord. The way they formed their camps was in accordance with the Lord’s instructions. They also followed the Lord’s commands concerning the Levites. They likewise celebrated feasts according to the Lord’s command.
But things changed in Chapter 11; the people began to complain as if the Lord had done something evil to them, thus kindling the anger of the Lord. It was as if they had become tired of the long journey, and had forgotten the promise that the Lord had given them in Exodus 34:10-11, and had also forgotten that the journey they were on was part of the fulfillment of that promise. They had forgotten why they were on this journey in the first place.
In this instance, why did people complain? They were distracted from the purpose of the journey and had become ungrateful. We need to stay focused on what God wants us to do, and be thankful for the many blessings He has given us.
2. Numbers 11:4, 18-20
The rabble among them had greedy desires, and also the sons of Israel wept again and asked, “Who will give us meat to eat?”
This verse shows us that complaining can be contagious. This phenomenon is true in any group – at work, at school, at church. Complaining can start with a small number of people with greedy desires, and their complaints can then spread to the rest of the group.
During this journey, the Lord has provided the people of Israel with manna to eat. but the people were discontented, and the complaints of the few spread to many.
Verses 18-20 shows that the Lord responded by giving them meat for an entire month, “until it becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you.”
When we are like the rabble with greedy desires, we will never be content. Soon after we get what we want, we will find something new to complain about. We complain due to discontent.
3. Numbers 11:11-15, 23
Moses said to the Lord, “I alone am not able to carry all these people, because it is too burdensome for me. So if you are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once…”
We said earlier that complaints can be contagious. What started out as a small group of people complaining has led to Moses, the leader of the people, also complaining.
But Moses had a bigger problem. He felt he was carrying the entire burden of leadership on his own. He had previously shown an inability to delegate, and now he was once again in the same situation.
The Lord reminded Moses that there were 70 elders who could share the burden with him. And the Lord reminded Moses that the Lord is powerful (v.23 Is the Lord’s power limited?), and that the Lord can use us to do great things.
Some of us are overworked, so we complain. And we are overworked because we lack trust: we don’t trust other people to do the work with us, and we do not trust God and rely on His power.
4. Numbers 12:1-2
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married. But in reality they were complaining because God spoke through Moses, and they felt that God could speak through them as well, that they were good enough to lead.
Pride, envy, and criticism are intertwined. If we think other people are not as good as us, if we think people do not deserve that they have, what do we do? We begin to find fault, point fingers, look for mistakes… and complain.
The Lord responded by calling the three siblings together and making it clear that Moses was indeed the spokesman of the Lord.
Summary
We complain because we are distracted and ungrateful; we must refocus on what God wants us to do, and be grateful for the blessings we have received.
We complain because we are discontented, whatever we have is never enough; we must learn contentment.
We complain because of distrust, and try to carry our burdens on our own; we must trust others and trust God.
We complain because of jealousy and pride, because we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to; it’s time to learn humility.