God hates complaining.

He both calls us to give thanks, and pours out abundant blessings to give thanks for. There are times when our lives are more full of blessings than others and times the blessings are harder to see, but let’s face it: even in the abundant times we can get caught up in a complaining attitude.

Spotlight on…the Children of Israel (Numbers 11). Delivered from slavery, led by the Glory of God, fed miraculously on bread from heaven every day…for an entire year…

Then the complaints started rumbling. Hateful manna! To be stuck with no other sustenance was a worse fate than hard labor as slaves in Egypt. At least there you had a little variety: cucumbers, leeks, a fish or two. Ah, to sell freedom for the taste of garlic again!

The complaints and tears did not go over well with God. (Which is something we should all keep in mind when having the same meal the third time in a row, or getting stuck in traffic, being stuck with…you get my drift.) He went ahead and sent them their meat—and a plague to go with it.

What struck me last time I went over this account was the fact that God did not stop the manna. If I had been in that position, my natural reaction would have been, “Fine! If you hate my bread so much, go ahead and starve!” He, though, never stopped providing. The complainers had to face the consequences for their sin, but through it all He never stopped providing. That’s one high standard of grace and faithfulness.

The Lord God is just amazing that way. Aren’t you thankful?