There is no doubt that Moses had to put up with some
situations that would try anyone’s patience. As a matter of fact, God was
pretty put out with the same people who had Moses all stirred up. Verse one of
this same chapter reports that when the people complained about their
hardships, the Lord’s anger was aroused to the point that he sent a fire to
consume some of the outskirts of the camp.
Righteous indignation is a valid emotion. No one would deny
God’s right to feel it and act on it. I am not even condemning Moses’ little
tantrum. But when you aren’t God and your complaints are “all about me,”
shouldn’t you look for a more constructive use for such strong emotion?
While Albert A. Beach was working on the lyrics for a song,
he was distracted by the vicious words coming from the couple next door. Their
“hate words” were not conducive to inspiring the words to a love song, so the
songwriter started “mirroring” the neighbors’ words into the opposite – and he
was able to complete the lyrics to “I Wish You Love.”*
When we are tempted to whine or to react in anger, perhaps
we could employ the songwriter’s little mirroring trick. What’s the opposite
response to the annoying things that people do? Instead of complaining, could
we count our blessings? For all that Moses had good reason to whine, wouldn’t a
positive attitude be more likely to be an influence for positive change – not
to mention being more attractive? There may be a fine line between being free
to bring our problems to God and giving in to whining, but what a difference it
makes when we choose the high road. Righteous indignation is God’s prerogative –
not ours!
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