Why We Complain

What a glorious plan God had revealed to the children of Israel and it was unfolding in the sight of the Exodus generation step by glorious step. God had made them into a great people and there were going to be established as a nation in their own land where they would serve as a light to all the nations. They would manifest and testify to the glory of God's power and mercy so that all people would glorify the Lord of the universe. What a glorious mission to be on, yet as they walked in this plan, what do we read time and again? That their hearts were not filled with the glory of their calling and their mouths filled with praise, but rather, what filled their vision and came out of their mouths was constant complaining. God's plan and purposes have not changed and unfortunately neither have His people--they still complain in the context of God's promises and high calling. Why do we complain? Ultimately it has to do with vision. It is when our eyes shift from Christ's Kingdom, glory and purposes and focus upon ourselves that we are overcome by complaining hearts. The way we neutralize complaining in our own lives and in the life of our families is to make the Kingdom central to our existence.