Attitude Adjustment Week 2 : Numbers 11

Review: “My attitude is the lens through which I view life.” “Our attitude adjust by acknowledging that Jesus is Lord over our attitude.”

INTRO> I gotta tell you, God has worked on me this week as we approach our topic today. The one of complaining. Did you know that we complain so much, that there is actually an official, legal way to complain?! It’s called a “Consumer Complaint”. (PIC) Last year alone they’re where 2.68 million official consumer complaints sent in! The top 10 complaints where: 10)House Hold Appliances 9) Real Estate 8) Fraud 7) Interest Sales 6) Services 5) Utilities 4) Retail 3) Building Contractors 2) Credit Cards 1) Auto-Sales. Here is what’s interesting, one report said that “96% of people who complain actually never file a report!”

APP> That’s intense! Let’s be honest this is something that we all struggle with. Let define this to help us be a little clearer:

• • • Complaining is expressing dissatisfaction with no intention of action.

CONTEXT> I saw this all the time but I love God’s Word. We do series like this to show you how God’s Word can be applicable to your life. God has strong feelings about complaining among his people. In fact the people of Israel and the “Wilderness” experience is talked a lot about in the NT. But this actual passage, Numbers 11 and complaining is specifically mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:

• • • • “We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” 1 Corinthians 10:9-11
      • God has led Israel out of slavery.
      • They have seen some of the most powerful miracles.
      • God has given them the law.
      • They have been traveling for about a year.

APP> Let’s move into the text and see what God has to say to us about this problem and attitude.

1. Complaining is a sin. v1

• • • “When the LORD heard it his anger was kindled and the fire of the LORD burned among them…” Now there is really, really strong language here. It’s so significant in fact, that the location is defined by God’s reaction, Taberah which means burning.
    • Its important to know a little bit more about the back story here. When Israel set’s out on this journey, God promises to take care of them and provide for them: “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the LORD has promised good to Israel.” Numbers 10:29

APP> Now this is a HUGE deal not even 7 verses earlier, God said that he would do good to them and they are complaining! Why is complaining a sin?

APP> Sin is seeking satisfaction anywhere other than God. So when we begin to complain about our lives or what’s going on in our lives…

APP> Complaining questions God’s ability.

2) Complaining spreads. v4 & v10

• • • • “now the rabble that was among them…” This is why I love the Bible! This is the ONLY time this word is used in the NT! It is a reference to the NON-Jewish people who came with Israel in the escape from Egypt.
      • “An ethnically diverse crowd also went up with them, along with a huge number of livestock, both flocks and herds.” HCSB
      • That’s not all! We see Non-Jewish people, who don’t know the backstory and history of Israel starting to question and challenge what God can provide that starts to spread throughout the camp
      • Moses starts to complain “If you will treat me like this then kill me.” v15!

*ILL> So you know that Flu Season is getting pretty close right? You start seeing pictures like these. PIC 1, PIC 2. Then there are things that you can do to stop the spread PIC3.

Stopping the spread of complaining:

• • • If you have valid concerns about something cover your mouth until you can take it to the appropriate person.
    • Dispose of any contaminated material. Such as Facebook, InstaGram, text messages, restaurants and break rooms.
    • Wash your hands in the waters of repentance. Wash away any complaining that you have done in the past or are currently participating in. 
    • Be sure to keep up with your daily dose of scripture.

*ILL> In all seriousness, this is a problem. There was a recent study done through Stanford Medicine where they exposed two groups to two different environments. One positive with affirmations and another negative environment with complaining then gave them a task. The first group succeeded in solving a the problem, the latter failed. They also found that the negative, complaining comments damaged peoples brains and their neurons. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2016/05/different-brain-cells-process-positive-negative-experiences.html

3) Complaining separates us from God’s blessings.

• • • • • Do you know why this moment is highlighted in Israels journey and why the NT writers reference this situation as well? Later on in Chapter 13, God shows them the promise land and they send in people to scout it out and you know what happens… they complain again.
        • “Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.  And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!” Numbers 14:1-2
        • “Why is this significant? Remember the entire story? The beginning of the story? “During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” Exodus 2:23-24

APP> Am I complaining to God about what at one time I cried out to God for?

4) Complaining stops with contentment.

• • • • “had a strong craving….” In the Bible when it talks about food it is also talking about desires. So Food = Desires . Israel wasn’t happy with their food but they also were not satisfied with their desires….
      • “Now the manna…” This was literally like a flower that came down from heaven..
      • “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”  Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:31-35

Big Idea> A complaining attitude is cured by a content heart.

Closing Corporate Prayer:

“Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for pursuing us, even in our complaining, you remain faithful to us. We are not only thankful for your love that pursues us but also your truth that is perfecting us.

In this moment, I ask that You would make me aware of what I say and think. Forgive me for my complaining. Give me grace and faith to see beyond my circumstances and to see you working in and through my circumstances.

Lead me down the path of contentment. You are enough for me. If I have you, I have everything. Calm my restless heart and close my complaining mouth.

I pray this and ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.”