Scripture
Korah son of Izhar, the sons of Kohath, . . . and certain Reubenites . . . became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. Numbers 16:1-2
ObservationThose who are complainers are often embarrassed by the moral company in which they find themselves. They are in spiritual affinity with some pretty shady characters in the Bible: Cain, Korah, the sulky elder brother in the story of the prodigal, the petulant Jews of the Book of Malachi who answered every fatherly admonition of God with an ill-humoured "Where got? Who says so? How can you say that of us? " These are but a few faces that stand out in the picture of the grumbling followers of old.
Lastly, the believer who complains against the difficulties and inconveniences of life shows that he has never quite felt or known the sorrows which broke over the head of Christ when He walked the earth. After one look at Gethsemane or Calvary, the Christian can never again believe that his own path is a hard one. We dare not compare our trifling pains with the deep passion endured by Jesus for our salvation. Just watch the blood-bath scenes from The Passion again and again. And the Scriptures tell us that he went to the Cross without one word of complain, like a lamb led to the slaughter.
Application
After saying all this I am sure that no one can be reasoned out of the habit of complaining. I complain. And when I pause to catch the breath of my own complains, I am shocked at how petty and shallow I am. It's embarrassing.
But that habit is more than a habit--it is a disease of the soul, and as such, it will never yield to mere logic. The only cure is cleansing in the blood of the Lamb. And to be cleansed, we must admit that complaining is a sin and come to him in repentance.
Prayer
Lord, I find it far easier to grumble and complain than to graciously accept the the circumstances in which You place me. Forgive me Lord and cleanse me by the blood of the Lamb.
