"And do not grumble, as some of them did-and were killed"... I cor.10: 10.

GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING is one thing we don't get too concerned about these days. I mean everybody grumbles about something, right? Husbands and Wives complain about each other. Kids tell each other how terrible their folks are. Christians grumble about one another- even about their leaders'!

The nation of Israel had a long history of grumbling and complaining. You can read about the misery it brought them in the first five books of the Old Testament. Read for Meditation Numbers 11:1-2.

The Israelites' wilderness journey exposes the attitudes behind their complaints - some really serious sins! Let's look at three complaints that will get us into big trouble. Be honest and see if you find yourself in these accounts in Numbers.

Numbers II gives concise picture of what God and Moses had to put up with while trying to lead the people out of Egypt into the Promised Land. Not only did Moses have to listen to their complaints, but the Lord heard all their griping as well. Ps.139: 2,4. You can't hide bad attitudes from God. It's better to get to the root and deal with it. What was the root of their complaint? The root of their complaint was their flesh. They forgot that they didn't deserve anything! BE CAREFUL HOW YOU PRAY! The Lord, knowing their hearts, knew they'd rejected Him for their appetites. So He gave them what they thought they wanted. Num. 11:19-20; 31-32. God answered their complaining prayer abundantly and they added insult to injury. There was no praise, no thanks giving, no frost, and no faith. Just greed. Many, many people died in that plague.

Don't allow your flesh to win over your spirit, carrying you into a dead faith - or worse, into outright rejection of the Lord.

Numbers reveals another dangerous complaint that's buried in each of us like a ticking bomb. Read Numbers12: 1. You don't have to dig too deep to see the sin of jealousy. Because God elevated Moses to a place of leadership, honor, and respect, they complained because of hungry egos! Read Lk. 22:24; Jn13: 12-14; Gal. 5:15; Num. 12:10,20:24. The message is clear. Sometimes our complaints come from hungry egos we haven' t surrendered to the Lord. If you have been complaining because no one's recognizing your gifts, surrender your ego to God before it becomes like a cancer, devouring your brothers and sisters in Christ, and consuming your own spirit. Your complete, surrender will allow God to cleanse you. Then you will be ready to take your position in His Kingdom.

Read Numbers 13. One thing Israelites knew how to do by now was complain and they spent all night doing it. They wanted to kill Moses and Aaron and wanted to go back to Egypt. Moses asked God to forgive the people of Israel, and reminded Him of His compassion. When you step into the wilderness of Faith, it's a one way ticket, you either die in the wilderness or you enter the Promised Land. You can't go back to the world. Many people think they can, but they're never the same. They spiritually die out in the wilderness. We can obey God, or act according to our flesh. The greatest plan for victory over our enemies is prayer. Prayer shows our belief in the mercy and power of God. If we reject God's word, we reject Him.

Ask God ' s forgiveness for your grumbling and complaining right now.

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things,

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God,

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for- but everything I had hoped for,

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.