Title Number 11 From Complaining to Thanksgiving
Contents
From Complaining to Gratitude
Numbers 11:1-35
People cannot avoid physical and mental pain and suffering. Even people who live comfortably physically have mental pain. You should not expect such a life without pain and suffering. You must learn to overcome pain and suffering. There are two attitudes people can take when faced with difficulties. Thanks and complain. People have a choice, either to appreciate all the conditions or to complain. By the way, human nature is easier to complain than to thank. Whether to give thanks or complain, the real problem is the same. That attitude is what I decide. Let's learn how to avoid complaining and give thanks through today's Word.
The Israelites escaped from Egypt and lived there for 40 years. If the life of the Israelites for these 40 years could be summed up in one word, it would be 'complaining'. They complained constantly. They complained that there were no complaints at all. (5~9) Looking back on our lives, there are more complaints. Knowing what the cause of the complaint is and avoiding it can give you gratitude instead of complaining.
Complaining starts with seeing only what's in front of you
The Israelites complained because of the hardships of their wilderness life (11:1). The reason they complained is that they forgot two things. They forgot the grace God had bestowed upon them in the past. We forgot the ten plagues that God brought upon the Egyptians in Egypt in the past. They even forgot that they parted the Red Sea and saved them. As we forgot God's amazing grace in the past, we complained even if it was a little difficult in today's reality.
Today we too complain because we forget the grace we received from God and people in the past. When difficulties arise, we must remember the grace we received from God and people in the past. During the presidency of Chun Doo-hwan, Foreign Minister Lee Beom-seok died. At that time, the daughter who was in high school said, “Thank God for giving me a good father for 17 years.”
They complained because they had forgotten their hopes for the future. They were on their way through the wilderness to the land of Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. It was a road of hardship, but great blessings awaited in the future. But they complained, seeing no hope for that future. Today, when suffering comes, we must look to the blessings that God will give us in the future. After suffering, there is always God's blessing.
Complaints are contagious
Today's sermon says that complaints were transmitted to the people of Israel from other mixed races (11:4). In Exodus 12:28, it says that miscellaneous goods came out together with the Israelites. The Israelites had to teach these people the word of God and follow them. But they followed them and complained. Complaints are contagious. Even Moses was infected with this complaint. (11:11-15). don't complain
Complaining chases blessings and brings curses
God heard the complaints and gave them meat as they wished. But before the meat could even reach their throats, they were disciplined and many died.
God is a God of grace. Even if we have complained more than we thanked, if we repent, the curse will be cast away and blessings will be given. Now, instead of just looking at today's reality, we need to remember the grace of the past, see hope in the future, spread gratitude and receive blessings.