Is Complaining a Sin?
Numbers 16:21-35 New King James Version
21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”
22 Then they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?”
23 So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’ ”
25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.” 27 So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children.
28 And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. 29 If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.”
31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. 33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!”
35 And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.
Numbers 11:1 King James Version
11 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Eye Opener
While reading this passage this morning I realized a pattern. Every time the Israelites complained God was ready to kill them. That’s not an overexaggeration as you can see in these scriptures.
To God complaining is rebellion and a lack of trust in Him.
It opened my eyes and got me thinking about all of the complaining I do. We really aren’t much different than the Israelites when you think about it. God rained down manna from Heaven to feed them, and they complained because they were tired of it and wanted something different. Instead of continuing to be in awe of God’s miracle they grew bored, comfortable, complacent….
New Testament
I will leave you today with this scripture from the New Testament. It’s a reminder that God’s word has a purpose. We are to learn from the mistakes of others and no matter if it’s in the old or the new part what is said matters.
1 Corinthians 10:1-11 New King James Version
10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
What About You?
Complaining is rebellion and distrust in God’s eyes. What are you complaining about today? Are you bored or displeased with what God has blessed you with because you want more or something different? Are you frustrated because you don’t believe He is doing what you think He should be doing at this point in your situation?
I’ll be honest, I had to repent after this revelation today. I also had to thank the Lord that He does not handle complaining the same way He did back then. We would all be dead by now if that were the case.
Philippians 2:14-15 New King James Version
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
***Lord thank You for opening my eyes to the sin of complaining. Please forgive me for all the times I have done it and help me to recognize immediately if I ever try to do it again. I am thankful for You Lord. For who You are and all You have done and will do! Your ways are always greater than mine. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.***
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