Dear Friend,
I am very happy that I can send you this journal today. I know that I say this almost every time but I want you to know that it’s not a cliché. I don’t know how to express what I feel when I’m preparing these journals but I know it’s real. I have missed you so much, I have missed your encouraging emails but most of all I miss sharing God’s Word with you. I can feel your prayers and intercession on my behalf. May God’s blessings continue to overflow in your life. Amen!
We’ll continue from where we left off a few weeks ago. We were learning about the geographical locations which may have influenced Israel’s actions as they journeyed and we learnt that we are to stay on course by holding tight onto the Word we received from God at the mount because those words will give us strength and courage to get through the wilderness – a dry and lonely place where we often feel uncertain of God’s presence and help.
Today, we will look at one of the behaviours or spirits that God abhors so much that He destroyed the people that demonstrated these although they were very precious to Him.
Numbers 11:1-3 (NLT)
(1). Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp.
(2). Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the Lord, the fire stopped.
(3). After that, the area was known as Taberah (which means “the place of burning”), because fire from the Lord had burned among them there.
The Complaining Spirit
When someone complains, they are either by their expression or impression indicating dissatisfaction with something, discontent or unhappy about a situation. From this definition, we can see that the key cause of complaints is dissatisfaction which could be translated fault finding. Stay with me, I’m going somewhere with this.
Israel, the chosen people of God began to find fault in the One who delivered them from the Pharaoh, his armies and other enemies. They found fault with their Guide who led them day and night with a pillar of cloud and fire. They were now frustrated with Him who miraculously quenched their thirst and hunger by giving them water from the rock and fed them with manna from above. They were discontent with the God who preserved their health and clothing.
Friend, this is why you and I sometimes complain – when we begin to focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. And to show how much God detested Israel’s behaviour, He released His fire. I’m sure you’re aware that anything that fire contacts is utterly destroyed and reduced to ashes – light particles that can be easily blown away. Are we to be afraid? Well, no but we are to be in reverential awe of God because He is still a consuming fire and this fire.
Hebrews 12:29 (ESV)
For our God is a consuming fire.
Friend, I heard a Word from God for you; I already know your pain, there is no need for you to complain, just be plain – stay pure, keep your spirit right and leave the rest to Me.
Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)
6-7Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.
I think the above scripture summarises what we ought to do. Instead of complaining, we should pray and praise. Worry can cause you to be disappointed which may move you to complain, but when you pray and humbly make your requests known to God, He
gives you peace – He stills your spirit, instead of complaining you become silent, you’ll have no uproar, middle or low roar– You’ll have peace.
We are also encouraged to link praise to our prayers. Praise is an outward expression of your love for God. Whatever you do and call praise, has to be outwardly shown. I have tried this and it works – whenever I sense a complaining spirit coming on me, I begin to praise the name of God and that deals with the situation I am facing – I have never found myself still complaining afterwards. It works. Try it today.
I’ve never seen a prayer warrior or a ‘praiser’ that wanders – prayer warriors are plunderers and conquerors and likewise Praisers. Remember that He already knows your pain and there’s no need for you to complain, just be plain – keep your spirit right!
More in this series:
Conquer and plunder 1
Conquer and plunder 3