In my Bible reading today I came across this passage from Numbers where the Israelites are in the desert and complaining because they’re sick of eating manna all the time. They start griping and actually reminiscing about living enslaved in Egypt because at least then they had “free fish”.

“The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!’”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So Moses is distraught and brings his grievances to God and really complains quite a bit.

“He asked the Lord, ‘Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.’”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬-‭6‬, ‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, at this point you might be thinking God’s going to get angry and just burn everyone up, but instead he says this:

“The Lord said to Moses: ‘Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.’”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So here is Moses complaining, talking about how his job was too much for him to bear. In response, instead of just saying “suck it up” or “here’s more power, now you can bear it,” God said “you don’t have to carry this burden alone”, and gives Moses SEVENTY other men to help bear the load. So, God recognizes that this is a big job, and He has mercy on Moses. To me this shows how much He loves us and cares for us in all things. Even when we are complaining, He treats us with kindness and patience. I love the idea that God doesn’t want us to have to carry our burdens alone.

I am also struck by the Israelites response to their freedom and the hardships that came with it. How often do we remember incorrectly what it was like to be enslaved to sin? The Israelites were literally slaves to a brutal master in Egypt, who worked them ruthlessly, and when they grew too populous, Pharaoh ordered his officials to throw their newborn sons in the Nile. But he did give them “free” food. So that they could continue to work, completely unpaid. They were so miserable that Exodus 2:23-25 says their cries went up to God, and He was concerned about them. Surely, if they remembered all of this, they wouldn’t complain about manna. But discontentment and ingratitude is such an easy trap to fall into. So often we forget that we were never promised easy. In John 16:33 Jesus promises us the opposite – he says, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world”. If we forget that promise, then God might free us from one sin, only for us to fall into the sin of ingratitude because our new situation is difficult in a completely different way.

This is not to say that we should never complain, after all, Moses complained. So what is the difference?

The difference is that Moses took his complaints to God. Numbers 11:1 says that the people complained in the hearing of the Lord. Not to Him. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” I also like the 21st century King James Version of this verse which begins “Fret not”. If you find yourself fretting, being anxious, or even straight up complaining, ask yourself, Have I prayed about this? If not, do so. God knows your thoughts anyway, you won’t surprise Him with your complaints, and He’s the only one who can do anything substantial about it anyway. You never know, He may send you 70 people to help you carry your burdens.