Browse Bible Study Resources

THE SIN OF COMPLAINING

Text: Numbers 11
11 May 2009

THE SIN OF COMPLAINING

1. The sin of complaining expressed

a) At Marah
“And the people complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?'” Exodus 15:24

b) In the Wilderness of Sin (Between Elim and Sinai)
“Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness” Exodus 16:2

c) At Rephidim
“And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, ‘Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst.'” Exodus 17:3

2. The nature of the sin of complaining

a) A sin against the Lord
“He hears your complaints against the LORD. But what are we, that you complain against us.” Exodus 16:7

“For the LORD hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD” Exodus 16:8

b) A sin that becomes habitual

c) A sin that easily escalates to contention
“Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water, that we may drink.'” Exodus 17:2

d) A sin of tempting/testing the Lord
“Why do you tempt the LORD?” Exodus 17:2d

e) A sin that displeases the LORD

“Now when the people complained it displeased the LORD” Numbers 17:1a

f) A sin that angers the LORD
“And His anger was aroused” Numbers 17:1b

g) A sin that may warrant swift punitive action from the Lord
“So the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some…” Numbers 11:1c

THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION
“Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the LORD, the fire as quenched” Numbers 11:2

1. People turning to Moses

a) In fear

b) In desperate need

c) For intercession

2. Ministry of Moses as an intercessor

a) His role

b) His experience

c) His special standing with the Lord

d) His ministry of intercession

3. In honour of Moses
“Then the LORD said to me, ‘Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favourable toward this people.” Jeremiah 15:1