"And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them..." Numbers 11:1, RSV

 

"Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving; and the people among them wept again, and said, 'O that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up and there is nothing but this manna'... and the anger of the LORD blazed hotly..." Numbers 11:4-6; 10, RSV

 

"Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses... and the LORD heard it... and the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and He departed; and when the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous..." Numbers 12:1; 2; 9-10, RSV 

 

We often think that it is our birthright to grumble and complain. As a matter of fact, most Americans are firmly convinced that their Constitutional right to free speech is also tacit permission from God to grumble and complain at will. But the Word of God reveals exactly what God thinks about such behavior. 

 

It makes Him angry!

 

Now we know that the Israelites were not under a Constitution, and we know that we are not under the Old Testament Law any longer, but from reading all of the Bible we also know the grumbling and complaining against the Lord has never been a "right" for any of God's people.

 

Here is how He put it in the New Testament era:

 

"We must not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents; nor grumble as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer, Now these things happened to them as a warning, but were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." I Corinthians 10:9-12, RSV 

 

This is why we read!

 

Today is the 20th day of the 30 day challenge to read through the Books of Moses, with the 7th through 12th chapters of Numbers being the reading for today. May God richly bless your efforts as you seek to find His will and to do it!