“Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 

Numbers‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬-‭6 ‭NLT

It’s so easy to read passages like this in the bible and judge the Israelites harshly. God had just freed them from almost 400 years of slavery. They survived and were untouched by deathly plagues, they saw miracles, signs and wonders. An entire sea split before them, as they walked safely into their promised freedom. Then, they witnessed the sea swallow their captors and slave drivers behind them. It’s hard to imagine that in only a matter of weeks, they were cursing God, hating His miraculous provision, and had forgotten all He had brought them out of. They begged to return to their captivity. 

But can I ask you a question? How often is that us too? 

The bible is clear, sin is bondage. Romans 6:6-7 says, “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin.”‬ 

When we give our lives to Christ, He saves us, and we have to walk that salvation out DAILY. But the enemy tempts us, and tries to allure us back into the things of the world. We cry out to God, “This is too hard! I can’t do what you’re asking of me!” We crave easiness, and the sins that so easily entangle us start to look more attractive than pursuing righteousness. Complaining leads to snakes, and snakes come to kill, steal, and destroy. Don’t allow yourself to invite snakes into your life by complaining. Sin always leads to death and while it may not be a physical death, it can be a spiritual death. We need to be watchful and not be complainers, but in faith practice biblical gratitude.  

Here are 5 things that usually take place before we start complaining: 

1. We become impatient with the process. A lack of faith creeps in and we begin to doubt God’s goodness when we focus on temporary circumstances and hardships. 
2. We criticize the church and church leadership. Be very careful about this one. The enemy loves to use this to cause distrust with the very people God placed in your life to mentor and guide you throughout your walk with the Lord. 
3. We stop being faithful. Our church attendance becomes spotty, and our time in prayer and God’s word gets put on the back burner. 
4. We do not obey God. The word of God is clear, if you love me you will obey me. Even prolonged obedience is disobedience. 
5. We forget what God has done for us. This one is self-explanatory.

So how do we get out of this vicious cycle? The answer comes in the following verses. 

Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So, Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭21‬:‭7-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The first thing that needs to happen is a heartfelt confession of sin for complaining. True repentance of our unfaithfulness needs to take place. We have to cry out to Lord and He is faithful to rescue us. The bronze snake on the pole is a foreshadowing of Christ on the cross! Christ is ALL OVER the Old Testament so don’t miss this ladies, we need to be bible literate! When we keep our eyes on Jesus, He will heal us! Heal the brokenness of our hearts, and keep us faithful to Him by the power of his Holy Spirit. We need to counteract the father of lies with the Truth of God’s word. We abide in Christ first and foremost by abiding in His word; otherwise, how would we know how to use our sword in battle? I don’t know about you, but I want my sword to be sharp and powerful, not a wimpy little butterknife. This is a call for spiritual maturity. A loving spiritual pow pow if you will. 

If you are struggling with complaining, I encourage you to journal about what God has brought you out of. Remember where you were when you were in bondage to sin, and how grateful you are to have been brought out of it. When we do this, our faith increases. We are encouraged to live for Jesus another day and endure the hardships of our current season with true joy & confidence in Christ.

I’m rooting for you sisters!

With so much love,

Genesis