Numbers 11:10-35

Moses’ Complaints

In this passage Moses refers to himself over fifteen times.

Faith looks to God but unbelief focuses on ourselves.

Moses had turned inward and was not focused on God. He was exhausted. He felt the burden of the people. Moses had forgotten that God was involved. He had forgotten what God told him (Exodus 6. God speaks to Moses and tells Moses that the burden is on Him (God)).

Complaining results when we forget God’s promises.

God did not criticize Moses. Moses had cried out to God and brought his complaints directly to God.

The only thing to do with a complaint is to carry it to God in prayer.

What do I do with complaints? Do I vent to others, talk to others? Or do I take my complaints to the LORD? Do I cry out to God in prayer? Processing can still be a form of complaining. We need to take our dissatisfactions directly to God.

God answers the people with meat — lots of meat (till they were sick). And a plague (some died). Sometimes God’s judgment comes in the form of what we ask for. Be careful what you ask for.