Concluding on the fifth forbidden attitude, 1 Corinthians 10:10 (APMC) states

Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did–and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death). 

Job 10:1, Job 23:2, Psalm 55:2, Psalm 77:3 and Psalm 142:2 are examples of men pouring out complaints to and before God when their spirit was overwhelmed by factors beyond their control.

I am weary of my life and loathe it! I will give free expression to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. Job 10:1 NLT

My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. Job 23:2 NLT

Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. Psalm 55:2 NLT

Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. Psalm 77:3 NLT

I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. Psalm 142:2 NLT

What makes such complaining different from what Paul reminded us to guard against? Examples of such are stated in:

1. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Exodus 14:11
2. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? Exodus 15:24
3. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. Exodus 16:2
4. And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? Exodus 17:3
5. 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. Numbers 11:1
6. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Numbers 14:27
7. But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord… Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. Numbers 16:41,49
8. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! Numbers 20:3
9. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. Numbers 21:5

These are listed to show the frequency and the number of times that their kind of murmuring and complaining bordered on despondency, fault finding God and accusing God of injustice!

Wow, how does this fly in the face of the One who said I will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6,8; Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:15)? They were demonstrating that they never heard nor took what He said to heart because they did not trust His word to believe Him. They were saying by their acts and confession that God was undependable.

Proverbs 19:3 (AMPC) warns that

The foolishness of man subverts his way [ruins his affairs]; then his heart is resentful and frets against the Lord

Isaiah 29:24b (NKJV) counsels us 

These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, and those who complained will learn doctrine

Be careful not to judge the Lord as undependable was the heart of Paul’s counsel in Philippians 2:14, do not dispute or fret against the Lord. Now that you understand, why will you die untimely? Shalom.



Pastor Afolabi Oladele