Perspective Does Matter!

Numbers 11:1 “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.”

It is amazing that in anything we experience or enjoy, we can either be thankful or be focused on what could be different. Did the children of Israel have anything to be thankful for? Yes-on a daily basis, they had food (manna) and direction (the cloud and pillar of fire). But could they have found anything to complain about? Yes-they were in the desert and eating the same food every day. So then complaining is really a matter of perspective.

I am most aware of this fact when camping out. Camping in tents and sleeping outdoors is a matter of dominating your attitude-otherwise it makes no sense! You leave behind the comforts of home, a comfortable bed, and delicious meals, and you do it on purpose! On this particular trip we packed three kids and four adults into our Mountaineer SUV and watched Roy Rogers on a small portable DVD player! We wanted to do it, so we did and had a great time!

Also notice their perspective on the situation in verse 5: “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely. . . .” Do you think they did anything “freely” in Egypt? They were slaves and were cruelly treated as such. It is ironic that through their perspective, their memory of Egypt was far greater and kinder than it truly was. They saw themselves as “dried away” with “nothing at all” (verse 6), but they almost forgot about the manna from Heaven right in front of them!

“But,” you say, “what is the difference between the people’s complaining and Moses’ conversation with God in verses 11-15?” The difference is that Moses went to God–the One Who could change things! Moses says in verse 14, “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.” And he was exactly right-he couldn’t, but God could.

Life has a way of wearing on you-people, circumstances, and even the “daily grind” of each week. Take stock of your attitude and your life today. There are always things to be thankful for or complain about–that will not change. But you do have a choice in what you choose to do in response. Right now, what do you have to be thankful for? Has complaining been a part of your life? Perspective really does make a difference.