Three days without water is a long time for over two million people. In Exodus 15, the people of Israel complain. But the complaining didn’t end when God quenched their thirst. The books of Exodus and Numbers reveal an early and repeated problem with God’s people—the problem of complaining. Scripture, however, reveals a way to complain constructively.
What does destructive complaining look like?
In Exodus 15-17, we see several characteristics of destructive complaining. First, destructive complaining often blames the wrong person. Scripture says that the “people complained against Moses,” indicating that they blamed him (Exodus 15:24). In fact, the children of Israel accused Moses of murder: “you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Later in 16:7, Moses responds, “What are we, that you complain against us?” Ultimately, Moses was not to blame. God purposely orchestrated these events to prepare Israel to enter into covenant relationship with Him at Sinai. But it is much more convenient to vent to someone who is not part of the problem and not part of the solution.
Second, destructive complaining exaggerates the problem. Can you “hear” the drama in this phrase: “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full!? Their new perspective exaggerated the positive and seemed to almost forget the negative.
Third, destructive complaining results from a discontented heart. “Pots of meat” and full stomachs redefined Israel’s perspective of oppressive Egyptian slavery into a place of comfort, causing a heart of discontentment. Discontentment grows when we compare our situation to our past or to the situations of others.
The Risk of Destructive Complaining
In Exodus 16:9, God commands the children of Israel: “Come near before the LORD, for He has heard your complaints.” Ultimately, since God sovereignly controls our lives, complaining to someone else about our problematic situation risks drawing us away from the Lord. It effectively inserts a “third party” between the believer and the Lord. In other words, complaining distances us from God!
Constructive Complaining?
Is there such a thing as constructive complaining? Yes! You might be legitimately thinking that I’m referring to seeking out godly counsel rather than complaining (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, and 24:6). But Exodus 16:9 directs us to a different course of behavior. As God reveals His presence to the people of Israel, God instructs them to “come near.” The solution to the problem of our complaining is ultimately not the supply of what we want or even need, it is drawing near to God Himself.
In fact, God actually wants us to complain to Him. David said, “I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble (Psalm 142:2).” Likewise, we see Habakkuk complaining to God (1:1-3). Both David and Habakkuk respectfully but bluntly brought their complaints to God, the One who ultimately always has the solution to the problems we face! This resulted in drawing close to God rather than being distanced from Him. David’s psalm concludes, “For you shall deal bountifully with me.”
Personal Application
All of us experience disappointment that can turn to discontentment and tempt us to destructively complain. Don’t allow your discontentment to distance you from God, but don’t waste your disappointments by attempting to mentally dismiss them either! Instead, reverently complain to God! “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)”
