Complaining About Complaining

Complaining About Complaining

I love the story from Numbers, chapter 11, where the children of Israel complain about their manna. They didn't like the manna. It tasted bad. They were happier in Egypt; they were enslaved, but at least they had free fish, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. Now they're free, but the food literally stinks and is the delightful color of resin.

So Moses does a little complaining, too. "What am I supposed to do with these people? What did I do to deserve that you treat me this way, God? If this is the way things are going to be, then please kill me now so I don't have to listen to all this complaining!"

People complain. It's free, and it's fun for all ages. We start complaining about the time we start talking, maybe sooner. And we hone the skill the rest of our lives.

What's your favorite thing to complain about? Does complaining make you feel better? What do you do when people complain around you? Do you join in? Do you follow their lead and bolster the chorus? What do you do when people complain ABOUT you?

So, after Moses complains, God kicks into gear. The first thing God does is tell Moses that he shouldn't have to bear the burden of complaints all by himself. He's to appoint 70 others to help him. And then, in one of the funniest statements of God in the Bible, God declares that the people of Israel will get meat instead of manna. In fact, they'll get so much meat it'll be coming out their nostrils.

So, I take this episode as some guidance for handling complaints.

1. Listen to the complaints.

2. Get help.

3. Laugh about it.

No matter what you do, people will complain. Whether in bondage or in freedom, whether eating manna from heaven or filet mignon, they'll find a reason to complain. So, listen, get help, and then laugh. Even God gets fed up hearing complaints, too.