Numbers chapter 11 begins with the account of Israel’s complaining against the Lord. Here’s what it says, “The people began complaining out loud to the Lord about their troubles. When the Lord heard them, he became angry, and fire from the Lord began to burn among them.” I bet they had much more to complain about than we do. But they also had much to be thankful for! Why did they focus on the difficulties instead of rejoicing over the blessings? They had just been redeemed from slavery, had witnessed miraculous acts of God on their behalf, had what they needed for daily life, but focused on their hardships rather than their blessings. Does that sound familiar?

The point is God doesn’t like it. He sends fire! Not fire “among”, but fire “within” us. Complaining is like a fire within devouring all the goodness of life and the blessings of God and makes us miserable as well as those around us. May I follow Paul’s advice, “Whatsoever things are good…..think on these things!”