Character Revealed in Hardship

 Character Revealed in Hardship

Exodus 17: Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. ² Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.”

 

So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?”

 

³ And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

 

⁴ So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!”

 

⁵ And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. ⁶ Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”

 

And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. ⁷ So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

 

============

 

After GOD provided manna and quail for everyone to eat, the children of Israel were satisfied. GOD then told them to go into a part of the wilderness where there was no water. The people complained so much, that they were ready to stone Moses.

 

My Observations:

• GOD sent the children of Israel to a waterless place, possibly to address their disbelief in HIS power.
• When times got hard, the people turned against Moses and questioned whether the LORD was among them or not.
• GOD told Moses to strike the rock and water will come out.

 

During hard times, humans show their belief in GOD and their character comes out. In this instance, GOD sent them to a waterless place on purpose. The children of Israel were furious when humility was needed. They were ready to used stones as weapons to kill Moses. Instead, GOD told Moses to strike the very weapon they would use to kill him, to bring life preserving water.

 

When times get difficult, our character is tested. GOD gives us opportunities to grow during difficult times. Our character can be adjusted when we realize that GOD is taking us through something to make us more like HIM. Unfortunately, we don’t always make the best use of the difficult time when we complain. GOD still provided, but the people were not thankful.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the complaint from the children of Israel regarding the waterless place?
• Have you ever complained about your situation?
• Have you asked GOD to show you how to respond to your difficult situations?

Complaint Heard

Complaint Heard

Exodus 16: ⁶ Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening you shall know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt. ⁷ And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord; for He hears your complaints against the Lord. But what are we, that you complain against us?” ⁸ Also Moses said, “This shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”

 

⁹ Then Moses spoke to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for He has heard your complaints.’ ” ¹⁰ Now it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

 

============

 

Weeks into the journey to the promised land, the children of Israel began to complain about Moses and Aaron. Moses replied to them by sending Aaron to be the spokesperson. The message was, “Come near before the LORD, for HE has heard your complaints.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s hearing of the complaints was not a good thing.
• Moses was given authority by GOD to send Aaron out to speak on his behalf.
• Moses clarified that any complaint against him and Aaron was a complaint against GOD.

 

A complaint is different than a request. It signifies disappointment or a breach of a promise. The children of Israel complained about how they thought things should be going. We do the same with GOD when we complain about HIS timing, or amounts or HIS plan.

 

Every complaint against Moses and Aaron was heard by GOD. And, in usual fashion, HE gracefully allowed the complaints. The children of Israel may have thought they were getting their way when they heard they would get bread and meat. Unfortunately, they were not aligning to GOD’s heart. GOD seems to despise complaints against HIS servants and against HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the complaints from the children of Israel?
• Have you ever thought that GOD is not doing things the way it “should” be done?
• What complaint have you said to GOD that needs HIS forgiveness?

Addressing Internal Struggles – Manna from Heaven

Addressing Internal Struggles – Manna from Heaven

Exodus 16: And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt. ² Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. ³ And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

 

⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. ⁵ And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

 

============

 

A couple of weeks into the journey, the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron about the lack of food. GOD heard their complaint and told Moses that HE would supply bread from heaven that was supposed to be collected within specified intervals.

 

My Observations:

• The children of Israel cried out to GOD when they were being mistreated by the Egyptians.
• The children of Israel cried out to GOD when they were freed, but pursued by the Egyptian army.
• The children of Israel complained shortly after seeing the Egyptian army destroyed and after having water provided for them.

 

Unfortunately for the children of Israel, GOD was using the same tactic that HE used on the Egyptians, only worse. The spirit of complaining would lead the children of Israel to think they could do this and get their way. When GOD said HE would give them bread from heaven, HE said it in a way that HE knew the complaint was a problem.

 

GOD was gracious to those who complained, but one day HE would stop listening to their complaints. Like the Egyptians, GOD allowed the mindset to prevail. The Egyptians thought they were gods, and GOD allowed it. The children of Israel thought they could complain and GOD allowed it. GOD fed the children of Israel with special bread from heaven, but noted their complaint.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the complaint of the children of Israel?
• Have you ever complained to GOD about the way HE was doing things?
• Is it time to ask GOD if your mindset needs to be aligned to HIS, so HE can guide you away from complaints?

 

Sticks and Water to Change a Mindset

Sticks and Water to Change a Mindset

Exodus 15: ²² So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. ²³ Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. ²⁴ And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” ²⁵ So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.

 

There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, ²⁶ and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

 

²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.

 

============

 

After leaving Egypt, the children of Israel camped overnight at the Red Sea. The next morning, they crossed on dry land. GOD closed up the sea and they sang songs from Moses and Miriam. But now they were on their own. They went three days from the crossing, only to find salty, undrinkable water.

 

My Observations:

• The children of Israel were not accustomed to being on their own and expected everything to go as it was when they were slaves.
• The children of Israel complained at the first sign of trouble.
• GOD used a stick to heal the salty, bitter water.

 

Moses seemed to have a lot of encounters with water. His name means he was saved from the water or drawn from the water that his mother place him on in an ark. GOD turned the Egyptian water to blood as the first plague. Frogs came from the water in another plague. Then the children of Israel were led by the preincarnate JESUS to the Red Sea where GOD destroyed the Egyptian army.

 

But now this water was different. The expectation of the children of Israel was that they would leave Egypt and immediately enter the promised land without needing to change their mindset. They were pleased with seeing the Egyptians suffer and die, but immediately murmured when they ran into a problem. GOD had Moses take a piece of the tree and toss it into the water to make it sweet.

 

This miracle was done to preserve the children of Israel and to show them GOD’s power. GOD then told them that HE is the Healer. HE healed the water and HE would heal them if they obeyed HIS commands and heed HIS voice. HE then led them to twelve wells. One for each tribe. This was yet another miracle. GOD used sticks and water to change the mindset of HIS people.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the bitter water miracle?
• Have you ever expected GOD to do something in a certain time and became disappointed when it did not happen as you expected?
• What mindset do you need to give to GOD so HE can change it for the better?

 

Escalation

Escalation

2 Corinthians 8: ²⁰ We are being careful not to stir up any complaints about the way we handle this generous gift. ²¹ Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

 

============

 

“I’m going to tell!” was my go to set of words. This meant I could not handle the situation and I was going to escalate this to someone who could. I couldn’t fight, but I could tattle on someone. This particular day I tattled and the adult responded, “You are in trouble too.”

 

• I didn’t realize my complaint was also a problem.
• I was not careful about raising up a complaint to a higher authority.
• I could only see a path to getting “that” person in trouble and did not realize I was in trouble too.

 

Paul speaks about being very careful not to stir up complaints. But who would the people complain to? He knew that his actions needed to be above the level because GOD would see what he did and validate the complaint if it were true.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to be very careful about complaining about other people.
• GOD wants me to know HE sees and hears every deed that is done and every word spoken.
• GOD wants me to tame my tongue to speak as few complaints as possible and exchange them for praise.

 

Thinking about the complaints I have said about other people over the years is embarrassing. I mean, if I were to escalate all my complaints to GOD and “that” person would die an eternal death because of my complaint, would I really complain? No. Unfortunately, I do not take complaints seriously enough.

 

I think I can whisper a complaint to a friend and think GOD did not hear it. Satan uses complaints to make his case against each human in an attempt to steal them from GOD’s love. He can’t do it by himself, so if he can use my complaint to help him out, he would gladly do so. I am grateful GOD gives me praise as a weapon to fight my complaining tongue.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer is careful about not stirring up complaints?
• Where do you think complaints land?
• What does it look like to do “right” in the sight of the LORD in your life?
• Will you spit out your bitterness and trade your complaint in for an advocating prayer on the behalf of “that” person today?

 

Dear LORD, we apologize for raising petty complaints up to YOUR throne through the ears of other people. Please forgive us of our complaints. amen

Clear Example

 

Clear Example

1 Corinthians 10: I want you to remember, my friends, what happened to our ancestors who followed Moses. They were all under the protection of the cloud, and all passed safely through the Red Sea. ² In the cloud and in the sea they were all baptized as followers of Moses. ³ All ate the same spiritual bread ⁴ and drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them; and that rock was Christ himself. ⁵ But even then God was not pleased with most of them, and so their dead bodies were scattered over the desert.

 

⁶ Now, all of this is an example for us, to warn us not to desire evil things, as they did, ⁷ nor to worship idols, as some of them did. As the scripture says, “The people sat down to a feast which turned into an orgy of drinking and sex.” ⁸ We must not be guilty of sexual immorality, as some of them were—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them fell dead. ⁹ We must not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did—and they were killed by snakes. ¹⁰ We must not complain, as some of them did—and they were destroyed by the Angel of Death.

 

============

 

Wanting to fit in, I paid attention to the technique. I wanted to get the movement right for when I did it. The thug saw me looking and motioned a hush finger over his lips. When the unsuspecting guy was going to sit down, he would snatch the chair away. Unfortunately his prey hit his head on the desk behind.

 

• There have been many times when I saw bad examples and got straightened out.
• There have been many times when I saw someone else do the wrong thing and I stayed away from doing the same.
• There have been many times when I saw the consequences of doing the wrong thing, so I avoided it.

 

Paul points out that obedience is not enough. Many people did as they were told, but what was really in their heart was to fulfill their every lust and complain when things were not going as they wished. These people were killed and never made it into the promised land.

 

• GOD wants me to obey but also to do it with a heart given to HIM.
• GOD wants me to follow HIS rules, but do it because I want to be with HIM versus manipulating HIM.
• GOD wants me to praise HIM versus complaining about where I am in the trial.

 

Sometimes the examples don’t seem fair. I mean, I can’t even complain? No. In fact, the more I look at GOD’s word, the more I realize I act like Satan when I complain. He was not satisfied with GOD being GOD so he vowed to take over and do things better.

 

GOD tossed him out of heaven for trying to get his way. GOD wants me to align my desires with HIS and put my trust in HIS hands. I am glad HE gives me mercy so I can praise HIM another day.

 

• Do you have a complaint against GOD?
• Are you going through a trial and are blaming GOD?
• Will you heed the warnings and turn your complaints to true praise for all HE has done for you today?

Something to Say

Something to Say

Acts 13: ¹³ Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. ¹⁵ And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

============

“Stop right there” a leader said to me in the middle of my long list of complaints. “If you have a complaint, you must also have three solutions.” All of a sudden, I had nothing to say.

• Sometimes I want to complain.
• Sometimes I want to spout out negative words.
• Sometimes I want to say what’s on my mind and that thing may be bad for others.

Paul has now emerged as the leader of the group. When they arrived in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, the normal order of church service went on. A request came up. “Does anyone have any words of exhortation for the people?” Fortunately, Paul was available.

• GOD wants me to be ready to say something about HIS love.
• GOD wants me to be ready to speak about JESUS at any time.
• GOD wants me to be available to say a word of encouragement to people who need it.

Having something to say is one thing, but being available to say it is another. My heart will speak what is in it. I had to do an experiment. I paid attention to how many negative discussions I started or was part of and then I counted the number of positive conversations I had and the times I mentioned GOD. I found out I spoke negatively most of the time.

GOD wants me to have something to say. I am grateful for HIS love, grace and mercy. HE include me in HIS plans.

• What are you saying?
• Are your words mostly negative or do you have anything positive to say?
• Will you start practicing speaking about JESUS, not just saying ”GOD” to people?

Well Placed Complaint

Habakkuk 1: ² How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?

-------

¹³ Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
    you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
    Why are you silent while the wicked
    swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

============

“There’s nothing on TV!” I blurted out. I pay for hundreds of channels and you would think they would have just one I could watch! “My phone has no signal!” I exclaimed. I pay for a fast network and you would think I should be able to get coverage here on the moon! “Traffic is moving too slow because of that camper!” I said out loud. I wonder what I can do.

• Sometimes I complain about comfort.
• Sometimes I grumble about luxury items.
• Sometimes I grouse about things that are out of my control.

Complaining takes practice and after a while I had a PhD in complain-ology! It’s too cold, or it’s too rainy were whining statements I protested as I passed a homeless person without seeing them. “Man, my tire is low light is on again!” are words I have said while driving out of communities where people are murdered, overlooked and undignified. Should I complain?

• GOD says to me “Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.”
• GOD says to me “Pray for those who have needs.”
• GOD says to me “Serve those who are poor and outcast and I will serve you far more than you know.”

Habakkuk complained about the mistreatment of his friends, family and community. He wasn’t asking for more riches rather some relief from the oppressors. He knew GOD was the only answer to truly difficult situations. GOD wants me to focus on some of these problems as well. HE wants me to have compassion when necessary.

Instead of complaining about traffic, HE wants me to pray for those who are involved in the accident. Rather than complaining about luxury TV, HE wants me to have a heart of thanksgiving that I even have TV and maybe open up my home to someone who doesn’t. GOD does not mind a complaint as long as the other side points to growing HIS kingdom.

• What are you complaining about right now?
• Are you complaining about your comfort?
• Can you reduce your complaints a little and point your frustrated words towards injustice?
• Will you genuinely pray for those you have overlooked today?

The Path to All is Well

Jeremiah 7: ²¹ “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! ²² For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, ²³ but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. ²⁴ But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

============

Rebellion was not pretty as I said the words, “I will not serve YOU.” I was not getting “my” way so why serve a GOD who seemed to just leave me on my own to fend for myself, meanwhile the rich and powerful filled their bellies on whatever they wanted.

• There have been times when I complained about GOD’s ways.
• There have been times when I looked at GOD and others as “the problem.”
• There have been times when I was so focused on “me” that I could not appreciate the right way.

Things started to go downhill quickly. I felt even more alone now that GOD wasn’t in the picture. Tired of being alone, I returned to church, not GOD. I figured that HE wanted a few dollars from me so I placed my five dollars in the plate and expected my problems to go away. More problems came. “See, this is why I left GOD in the first place” I thought. BUT GOD was gracious.

• GOD said to me “Obey ME and I will be your GOD and you will be MY people.”
• GOD said to me “Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.”
• GOD said to me “Give me your entire heart and I will mold it into something new.”

Giving up my heart was GOD’s expectation of me. HE wanted me to stop complaining, lusting after the things of Egypt or whining about perfect conditions being deplorable. HE wants me to see HIM no matter what situation is going on at the time. GOD’s road is filled with praise to HIM rather than complaints. GOD wants my heart, not half-hearted service.

• Are you serving GOD and mad at HIM?
• Are you trying to get your way instead of asking GOD for HIS way?
• Is your heart full of complaints?
• Can you turn your complaints into obedience for GOD? 

The Preference is People

Psalm 30: ⁸ To you, Lord, I called;
    to the Lord I cried for mercy:
⁹ “What is gained if I am silenced,
    if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
¹⁰ Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;
    Lord, be my help.”

¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
¹² that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

============

“Let’s get this over with” was the thought that flashed in my mind as the church announcements droned on and on. “Blah, blah I need this and blah, blah, I need that!” Let’s just get on with the church part so I can get home.

• Sometimes my attitude makes me blind.
• Sometimes my thinking gets in the way.
• Sometimes my demeanor is heartless.

When I went to “church” only thinking of “me” sermons became irritating. In fact, anyone who asked for gifts became irritating. Quite honestly, if anyone corrected me about my approach to church, I found them irritating as well. Soon I wasn’t praising much at all, rather complaining about what was wrong with the church, work and community.

My giving was not sacrificial and my help to others was limited. BUT GOD said do something about this NOW!

• GOD says to me “I can make the rocks cry out to praise ME, but I prefer you to do it.”
• GOD says to me “I made all creation, but I have given you free will to praise ME or not.”
• GOD says to me “Chose this day who you will serve, ME or those who do not serve ME.”

GOD has opened my eyes to the judgment I placed on my giving. I now see that I did this as “protection” for myself rather than being generous to please GOD. I critiqued churches because I wanted to hear what I wanted to hear. I complained about people at work because I didn’t want to point at my own mess. BUT GOD showed HIS mercy and has blessed me instead of punishing me. I can praise HIM forever!

• Are you shrinking away from helping people?
• Are you super suspicious of those who are sent to you and are in need?
• Can you believe you may be serving an angel and are not aware of it?
• Can you stop complaining at work, church or at home and begin praising GOD?

Learning to Follow

Psalm 15: ¹ Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
    Who may live on your holy mountain?

² The one whose walk is blameless,
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth from their heart;
³ whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
⁴ who despises a vile person
    but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
⁵ who lends money to the poor without interest;
    who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.

============

Grousing at the horrid conditions of not having a full breakfast at meetings was something I couldn’t get into. “We should be thankful for what we had” was my thought. Then the company cut back on randomly giving away tee shirts. “Come on! This place can afford a lousy tee shirt, I groused!”

• Complaining blinds me more than I know.
• Complaining hardens my heart to hearing.
• Complaining leads to slander that is very hard to reverse.

I never knew that the seed of complaining grows an ugly vine within me. I mean even the smallest complaint can grow a tree of superiority, arrogance and a deserving attitude that does not draw people to GOD. How can I counter my complaining attitude?

• GOD says to me “Utter no slander” even when the crowd is doing it, especially about leaders.
• GOD says to me “Do no wrong to your neighbor” even when the neighbor is crazy.
• GOD says to me “Cast no slur on others” especially racial, sexual, age or class.
• GOD says to me “Despise a vile person” which is difficult when I too am vile so I must give the person to GOD.
• GOD says to me “Honor those who fear ME, who trust ME, who keeps oaths when it hurts, who does not change their mind, who lends money to the poor without interest, who does not accept bribes” which means I must recognize these traits in others. 

Getting rid of my complaining seeds is not easy, but the more I can spit the poison out of my mouth the more GOD replaces my seeds with fruit.

• Are you a complainer?
• Have you spread slander about a person who is not in the room with you?
• Can you reduce your poisonous words and replace them with praise?
• Will you learn to follow JESUS’ ways and be gentle, even to your enemies?

My Community Reputation

Nehemiah 11: ⁶ The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of standing.

============

Scrawny was my description in the neighborhood I grew up in. I can think of other adjectives like “holey pants” and “Professor” although that one didn’t quite turn out to be an insult. My next neighborhood was more of an extended area known as high school. I traveled one hour by bus through many tough areas and the terms “easy target” and “punk” were hurled at me.

Tired of these labels, I decided to make my own reputation in my college neighborhood, so I collected my wit and became a jokester with a foul mouth. I always had something funny to say so my crowd soon began to degrade to those who wanted to hear that kind of humor. Soon I had a reputation of “clown” and could not be taken seriously. What reputation should I have?

• There have been times where I wanted to be known.
• There have been times where I wanted to be popular.
• There have been times where I wanted to be heard.

It is easy to get a reputation that has little to no value to anyone else. Others were getting recognized for being “most likely to succeed” and I was being called out for being a “clown”.  My reputation was broken. BUT GOD said something different.

• GOD said to me “You will be insulted, BUT I made you beautifully and wonderfully.”
• GOD said to me “Do not be afraid of those who can harm you with words or even harm your body, but fear GOD who can harm the soul.”
• GOD said to me “Walk in MY ways and I will always make your paths straight.”

If GOD leaves me on this earth to reach 120 years old, what do I want my community reputation to be? Do I want a legacy to myself or to be known as a clown or would my life have pointed to GOD? GOD desires that I spend more of my time with HIM so I can point people to HIM.

• Are you trying to make a reputation for yourself?
• How are you viewed in all of your communities?
• Can you see if you need to move out of the complaining community and into a compassionate one?
• Will GOD say “Well done my good and faithful servant” to you if your heart is hard?

Expectations of GOD

2 Kings 5: ¹⁰ Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

¹¹ But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. ¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

¹³ Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” ¹⁴ So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

============

“Take notes” the department head told me as we were headed on a break. The nerve!  I mean, I was a “manager” at that time. Maybe they didn’t know I had two people reporting to me. Besides, this person wasn’t even my boss!

I noticed a couple of my peers acting a little jealous of me getting chosen to “take notes” in a meeting. I told another person what was asked of me and they said “Take this as an opportunity to sit at the decision making table.” I went back in, took notes and this act started a journey to a highly successful career.

• Sometimes pride makes me blind to what GOD is doing.
• Sometimes pride makes me think certain things have to happen certain ways in order for me to be successful.
• Sometimes pride makes me set false expectations of GOD and I think HE will do certain things a certain way.

Disappointment in GOD is easily found in my expectations of HIM. Looking back, HE has had compassion on my enemies rather than taking them out and smiting them. HE has allowed people who serve HIM to have problems in their lives even though I prayed for them. HE even let arrogant, reckless people seem to get their way while I struggled to serve HIM on a daily basis. BUT GOD says hold on.

• GOD says to me “In order to be great humble yourself.”
• GOD says to me “My ways are not your ways.”
• GOD says to me “The first will be last and the last will be first.”

Maturity has taught me that I should never say “If I were GOD…” mainly because if I were HIM, things would be quite messed up. I should have faith in HIS unmatched power, trust in HIS awesome wisdom and respect for HIS mysterious yet extremely effective plans.

GOD knows what HE is doing, even when I think things are going haywire!

• Do you have an expectation of GOD?
• Are you expecting HIM to deliver you in a certain way at a certain time?
• Can you praise HIM for what HE “is” doing rather than complaining about what HE isn’t?
• Won’t you follow GOD’s strange plan for you and allow HIM to shape your road?

Am I ready to be blessed?

Deuteronomy 12: ⁷ There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.

============

“Just look at how they handled my bags! I should complain.” I thought to myself staring at the mountain of luggage in a pile on the cruise. “What do you mean I can’t upgrade to first class? I have the right status” I verbalized in my complaint. “This rental car smells funny” I should complain I thought to myself.

• Habitual complaining is easy to fall into.
• Habitual complaining is blinding.
• Habitual complaining is detrimental to my witness.

After traveling all over the nation I found myself in the same complaining mode as the rest of the passengers. My complaining spawned impatience which birthed rage and even contempt for “poor service.” I sought better treatment since “I” traveled so much I “deserved” it, right? Wrong!

• GOD wants me to recognize HIS blessings instead seeking what I can get from complaints.
• GOD wants me to understand people will mistreat me because they murdered HIS SON.
• GOD wants me to treat others as I wish to be treated no matter how poorly they are treating me.

Looking back I see I wasn’t a good representative of GOD in my complaining instances. HE would rather see me praise HIM for the many blessings HE has bestowed on me. HE wants me to see beyond the here and now and look to the place HE is taking me rather the place I am right now.

• Are you complaining about something?
• Are you blaming someone?
• Can you stop focusing on what isn’t and look to where GOD is taking you?
• Won’t you stop for a moment and truly praise GOD for the many blessings without expecting something from it?

Where does complaining get me?

Numbers 21: ⁴ The people of Israel traveled from Mount Hor along the way to the Red Sea. They wanted to go around Edom. But they grew tired on the way. ⁵ So they spoke against God. They also spoke against Moses. They said to them, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt? Do you want us to die here in the desert? We don’t have any bread! We don’t have any water! And we hate this awful food!”

⁶ Then the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people of Israel. The snakes bit them. Many of the people died.⁷ The others came to Moses. They said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

⁸ The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake. Put it up on a pole. Then anyone who is bitten can look at it and remain alive.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake. He put it up on a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake remained alive.

============

“This guy is an idiot” I thought to myself. My boss would frequently sneak into my office to see if I had any new ideas lying around that he could take credit for. I would lock my cabinets and take my laptop with me so he wouldn’t find anything. “I’m tired of this guy, I should complain.” So I did.

Later his boss and his boss’s boss all began to frown at me. What was once pats on the back soon became sneers and curt responses. I needed a higher authority to protect me.

• When I complain I have not considered GOD’s plan
• When I complain I have not looked around to see what GOD is doing.
• When I complain I am only looking at the situation from my eyes.

GOD despises complaints. GOD DESPISES COMPLAINTS! I had to say that twice because GOD despises complaints. I cannot tell who HIS servant is and who isn’t. Yeah, the person may not be acting the way they should at the time but my complaint about them is abysmal to GOD.

• GOD wants me to pray for my leaders and let HIM handle their downfalls.
• GOD wants me to praise HIM for HIS plan no matter how bleak things may seem.
• GOD wants me to be honest when I feel low but wants me to trust HIM rather than blame HIM.

When I have problems all I have to do is look up!

• Are you complaining about your situation?
• Are you complaining about people around you?
• Can you understand that GOD is not pleased with your complaints?
• Won’t you look to HIM for grace?

Complain or Compliment

Numbers 14: ⁹ “But don’t refuse to obey him. And don’t be afraid of the people of the land. We will swallow them up. The Lord is with us. So nothing can save them. Don’t be afraid of them.”

¹⁰ But all of the people talked about killing Joshua and Caleb by throwing stones at them.

Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting. All of the people of Israel saw it. ¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “How long will these people make fun of me? How long will they refuse to believe in me? They refuse even though I have done many miraculous signs among them. ¹² So I will strike them down with a plague. I will destroy them. But I will make you into a greater and stronger nation than they are.”

============

Slander was the weapon of choice in the corporate environment. I didn’t even think I was using it because I had convinced myself I was right in the situation. We sat in a room and came up with rebuttals and retorts to the other groups’ desires.

When I presented our desires after the other group pitched theirs I knew I had the upper hand. To my dismay Senior Management said, both ideas would not be funded and they were going to merge our fighting departments.

• Complaints are despicable.
• Complaints are low.
• Complaints are excuses wrapped in situations that I want my way and I’m not getting it.

GOD knows when I’m throwing a tantrum.  HE knows my motives and doesn’t take kindly to my complaints especially when I have fooled myself into thinking I am right.  With blind eyes I blurt out a complaint about what someone else is doing and I forget to look at how I am contributing to the situation.

• GOD loves when I accept HIS plan no matter how difficult it may look.
• GOD loves when I listen to HIM and can face difficult tasks without disobeying HIS ways.
• GOD loves when I use compliments instead of conflict to accomplish HIS goals.
• GOD loves when I let HIM do my fighting.

“My ways are not your ways” says the LORD. HE has incredible plans for me because HE has forgiven me, but HE doesn’t like when I treat HIS grace as if I deserve it. HE has blessed me thoroughly and I am eternally grateful!

• Are you complaining about something or someone?
• Have you lost your grace?
• Have you asked GOD to manage the situation no matter how bleak it looks?
• Won’t you let GOD direct the situation?

Think before complaining

Numbers 11:The people weren’t happy about the hard times they were having. The Lord heard what they were saying. It made him burn with anger. Then the Lord sent fire on them. It blazed out among the people. It burned up some of the outer edges of the camp.

============

“What is it” I jokingly sneered at the dorm food plopped on my plate! It looked funny, smelled funny and tasted not so funny but bad! I passed on that meal knowing another was on its way in a few hours. I complained about the food.

The next year I had my own apartment. I stepped into the kitchen waiting on someone to hand me my meal and there wasn’t anyone there. I looked in the refrigerator and there was no food there either. I begged to get into the dorm cafeteria and couldn’t. When I got out I had a ticket on my car and had no money to pay it!

• I sometimes forget GOD doesn’t like complaints about HIS plan.
• I sometimes forget GOD doesn’t like grumbles about HIS gifts to me.
• I sometimes forget GOD doesn’t like protests about HIS creatures.

When times were difficult, I complained to GOD and guess what… things got worse! Wait a minute, you mean GOD doesn’t like it when I have a request? A request is different than a complaint.  When I grumble about my situation, no matter how bleak it is, I am saying “GOD you don’t know what you are doing and I DO.”

• GOD cannot stand any form of pride from me especially when it’s wrapped in a complaint.
• GOD does not like it when I have my life all figured out and pout when I am not getting my way.
• GOD will not yield to my rants or complaints because HE is GOD.

Making GOD “GOD” means I have to accept when HE will say “No” or “No” or “NO!” I may have a plan in mind but without HIS blessing, nothing will come to fruition. If it is HIS will HE will bring me through difficult times and lead me beside still waters, if not the HE will provide the endurance and testimony to draw many to HIM.

GOD doesn’t want me to be phony and pretend to be “happy” but HE does want me to respect HIS choice and “joyfully” serve HIM and those HE chooses to send to me.

• Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
• Why does GOD have you in this position?
• Don’t you understand HE knows where you are and what’s best for you?
• Can you turn this difficult time into a testimony instead of burying the opportunity in a complaint?

Time to step up

Exodus 18: ¹⁹ Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. ²⁰ Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.

============

As I sat in church a thought popped in my head, actually it was a complaint. Actually it was several complaints. I had just finished another public speaking course and the guest preacher was boring! “I could do better than this guy” I thought to myself. “Why are they asking for money all the time?” “Why are those kids so bad?” “Why don’t they fix this place?” I think I’m going to go to another church!

• I sometimes complain about what somebody else is doing.
• I sometimes complain about the poor job other people are doing.
• I sometimes complain about my surroundings, expecting someone else to fix it.

The main question I never asked during my complaining is “how can I help?” Let’s face it, if GOD placed the problem in front of my face then maybe HE wants me to do something about it. I wonder what I can do.

• GOD wants me to be a representative for HIM.
• GOD wants me to teach HIS decrees and instructions to those who will listen.
• GOD wants me to show people how to live and behave.

Now when I attend I ask “what do YOU want me to do LORD” and HE always gives me an answer. My willingness to serve reduces my complaints significantly.

• Are you complaining?
• Do you see something wrong?
• What is GOD telling you to do about it?
• Do you realize you have a purpose that only you can do?

Complaining about GOD isn’t smart

Complaining about GOD isn’t smart

Exodus 16: ²⁶ Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”

²⁷ Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. ²⁸ Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 

============

Alarms, whistles and bells don’t sound when I want to sin.  There is a small still voice that says to me, “you shouldn’t do this” but I quickly ignore it and proceed anyway. Am I trying to prove GOD wrong or do I just want my way?

• GOD says to me, ”I have heard your complaints.”
• GOD says to me “How long will you refuse to keep my commands?”
• GOD says to me “How long will you refuse to keep my instructions?”

Honestly, this is the side of GOD I get a little nervous about. HE does have love that spans all of my sins but it doesn’t give me license to blatantly sin.  GOD heard HIS people complain in the desert and HE didn’t like it at all. Since HE doesn’t change I believe HE still doesn’t like complaints, especially about someone HE has a plan for.

I believe the more I complain the more GOD stores up against me.  HE knows I am coming from a very selfish place and HE isn’t pleased when I look at someone else as being the problem.

• GOD wants me to see HIS creations as being perfect.
• GOD wants me to accept HIS plan and not wander away from it.
• GOD wants me to accept HIS timing because HE know how to instill patience while providing.

Waiting on the LORD has not been one of my strengths so I complain. GOD wants me to turn my complaints into praise. This changes my perspective and puts me back on course!

• Are you complaining?
• Do you think your complaints are pleasing to GOD?
• Can you stop complaining and start serving?

Three ways to live today

1 Peter: 4: ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

============

“Why do I have to be the one who does all the work” I said to myself. Look at everyone, just sitting there while I work my fingers to the bone. Some of these people are mean and nasty anyway so they probably can’t serve I surmised. From now on, I will hold back and watch everything fall apart.

• When I serve without love and compassion I get burnt out quickly.
• When I am trying to put on a goody, goody front I may begin to grumble when I have to serve.
• When I think higher of myself than I should I “hold back” my gifts as to punish those people.

It’s ashamed that GOD has to actually tell me to love people instead of it just naturally being that way. I actually have to get rid of my grumbling and complaining about others in order to serve them the way GOD wants me to serve them. HE doesn’t want my phony smile or fake behavior.

• GOD wants me to truly care about those who are difficult to love.
• GOD desires that I show hospitality with excitement rather than saying “why me again?”
• GOD prepares me with gifts and talents that HE expects me to use to serve others.

It’s simple… I should love, serve and grow people the way GOD wants me to because grace has covered mu multitude of sins.

• Are you complaining?
• Do you see yourself grumbling about serving?
• Can you stop thinking more highly about yourself and serve “that” person?
• Won’t you examine your heart to see if it is too stony to have “love” in it?