DON'T COMPLAIN OR REVISIT YOUR PAST!

A Response to "Don't Complain or Revisit Your Past!"

The Craving of the Mixed Multitude

The children of Israel, fresh from their deliverance from Egypt, found themselves in the wilderness complaining against God. They had seen His power in the ten plagues. They had walked through the parted Red Sea. They had witnessed His glory in the pillar of cloud and fire. Yet when they became hungry, they turned their hearts back to Egypt. They remembered the fish, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. They complained that their whole being was dried up and that there was nothing except this manna before their eyes. The manna was a miraculous provision, a daily gift from God. But they treated it with contempt. They looked back with longing to the place of their bondage.

The Revision of History

Strangely enough, we do not read of a grateful sentiment peppering the Israelite's speech. We read of their longing again for Egypt, for slavery. They bemoaned that the fish they ate in Egypt cost nothing. But they were revising their past history. That fish had cost them everything—they were slaves in Egypt. They were forgetting the oppression, the cruelty, the bondage, and the suffering. They were romanticizing a past that had been a nightmare. This is what happens when we look back with ungrateful hearts. We begin to remember only the good and forget the bad. We begin to long for what we once had, ignoring the cost it demanded. We begin to complain about God's provision, forgetting that He has set us free.

The Danger of Complaining

Complaining is not just a bad habit; it is a sin against God. It reveals a heart that is not grateful. It shows a lack of trust in God's provision. It demonstrates a failure to remember what God has done. The Israelites' complaining was not just a minor grumble; it was a rebellion against God. And God responded with judgment. The mixed multitude who yielded to intense craving were struck with a plague. The complaint of the people was met with the fire of God's discipline. This is a warning to us. Do not complain about what God has given you. Do not look back with longing to a past that held you in bondage. Do not revise your history to make it more appealing than it was.

The Provision of God

Remember God's provision of manna for the Israelites in the wilderness. This miraculous food appeared every morning, except on the Sabbath, in enough supply to feed the entire nation. If the Lord had not graciously produced the manna, countless people would have starved and died. It was a daily miracle. It was a tangible reminder of God's faithfulness. Yet the people did not give thanks. They did not express gratitude. They complained. This is a lesson for us: be appreciative of what you have, or rather what God has already given you. Do not look back at your past history or glory. Do not complain. They are gone. They are gone. But rather, look towards what you can do in the future.

Pursue Your Own Dream

As an individual, pursue your own dream. Challenge yourself to do even better. Do not copy from others. Do not chase another person's dream. Otherwise, you will not be fulfilling your own that God has for you. God has given you a unique calling. He has placed specific gifts and opportunities in your path. Do not waste your time longing for what others have or what you once had. Focus on what God has set before you. Press forward. Pursue your own destiny. Do not let the past hold you back or the achievements of others distract you. Your future is in God's hands, and He has a plan for you.

The Attitude of Gratitude

Gratefulness should abound when you witness God's provision in your life. Next time you are tempted to complain about something, look at it in the light of God's provision. Remember what He has done. Remember where He has brought you from. Remember His faithfulness in the past. Let gratitude replace grumbling. Let thanksgiving crowd out complaining. When you focus on what God has given, you will find that you have more than enough. When you look forward with hope, you will find that the future is brighter than the past.

Final Reflection

Don't complain or revisit your past. The past is gone. The bondage is broken. God has provided for you and He will continue to provide. Do not let a complaining heart rob you of the joy of His provision. Do not let a longing for the past prevent you from embracing the future. Be grateful. Be hopeful. Be faithful. And trust that God who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion.

Prayer for a Grateful Heart

Lord, forgive me for the times I have complained about Your provision. Forgive me for looking back at the past with longing and forgetting the bondage I was in. Help me to be grateful for what You have given me. Help me to focus on the future You have prepared for me. Let gratitude fill my heart and thanksgiving be on my lips. I trust that You will provide for all my needs according to Your riches in glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.