Numbers 11:1-3 – Be grateful, don’t grumble!

Here in Numbers 11, we have a whole chapter dedicated to deal with the issue of grumbling and its consequence. This is one malady everyone indulges in at some point in life. But it is more common among people who are self-centered and have a skewed vision of God and life. Such people usually put their focus on themselves. As a result, they would be busy complaining and virtually spend little to no time appreciating the goodness of God and life. Grumbling and gratitude act in opposite directions. It is impossible to be grateful when one grumbles all the time. And it is equally true that when one is grateful, he or she seldom grumbles.

This chapter tells us that what started well for the people of Israel was not sustained to the end. Instead of being grateful for the grace received they grumbled at the smallest discomfort. Since their grumbling would infect others, God had to deal with it. In two scenes, we are shown the crippling effect of grumbling. The first scene, in verses 1-3, took place at the outskirt of the camp. This is very telling. A close look at life will tell us that grumblers would normally stay at the outskirt of the ministry. They are those who are not fully caught up with the work of God. Such people would rather sit uninvolved at the fringes and criticize whenever they experience the smallest of discomfort. These are the armchair generals who always take notice of the thorns but seldom the roses.  

In the case of the children of Israel, God’s anger was kindled, and He sent a fire to scorch the outskirt of the camp. In that situation, they at least had the sense of approaching Moses and cried out to him for help. What could have been more severe stopped because Moses interceded to God for them. The place where all this took place came to be named “Taberah”, meaning burning.  

Paul in Philippians 2:14 urged us to do all things without grumbling or argument. Grumbling not only makes one cynical, but it is also very contagious. We must learn to overcome grumbling by learning to see things with an eternal perspective and acknowledge that there is a God, and we are not. Gratitude is a vaccine against grumbling. So practice 1 Thessalonians 5:16. In everything give thanks for giving thanks is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. Be thankful!