From my Bible reading this morning:

“… There is nothing at all to look at except this mana” (Num. 11:6b)

Often, when I teach about Israel and come to a passage like Numbers 11, the comment will be made in class: “I just don’t understand how they could complain or be so ungrateful to God.”

It is easy to see the glaring disconnect between Israel’s complaint and the reality of God’s goodness to them. Yet, are we better than them?

Far too often, we make the same complaints. No, there is no mana for us to stick our noses up at, yet do we not complain about God’s “mana” today when we…

– Openly complain against our Elders? (Acts 20:285)
– Choose to neglect God’s people, whom He has placed in our lives? (Heb. 10:24-25)
– Disparage those who teach God’s word because of trivial things (how they dress, how long (or short) the sermon is, the manner of speech, etc.) (Ephesians 4:11ff).

The thought struck me this morning as I read Numbers 11 of how easy it can be to complain about God’s goodness IF we do not guard our hearts and seek gratitude. Because earlier in the passage, here is the reason why Israel complained about the mana, “And the rabble who were among them had greedy desires…” (Num. 11:4).

If we find ourselves having nothing but complaints about God’s people, His church, and how we are doing God’s work, maybe, just maybe, we need to stop and focus on the goodness of God working in our lives.

Lest we end up grumbling about mana from God.