Masters of Criticism
“Come on Russell! That throw was 10 yards too far!
*Me complaining at an elite quarterback for throwing an inaccurate pass, as I sit on the couch.
“The sauce of this pizza is a bit on the bland side”
*Me as a consumer who has done nothing to cook the pizza at the restaurant.
“This weather is miserable.”
*Me grumbling while sitting in a heated office, after getting out of a heated vehicle.
“That movie was a 4 out of 10”
*Me critiquing the movie in which I had no part in directing.
We have become groomed experts of criticism, so much so that it blinds us of the blessings that are right in front of us. The common denominator of all of my examples is simply that I was the one consuming, not contributing. Out of my lack of contribution, I have become discontent which is the driving force of critique. Many have said “cleanliness is next to godliness” but really it is “contentment” that is next to godliness according to 1 Timothy 6:6. Why is it then we have become such grand critiques? I would resolve because it is easy. We, like nature, follow the path of least resistance.
Perhaps no greater group of people serve as a greater example of critiquing and grumbling than that of the early Israelites. The people complained of their slavery in Israel (Ex. 2:23,24). God, remembering His covenant with His people, rose to action and brought them out of the land. Once out of Egypt, they quickly complained about being out of Egypt (Ex 16:2).
In the midst of the commute, the Israelites really let God know how dissatisfied they were of the experience so far. And as a result, God really let the Israelites know how tired He was of listening to their grumbling. The people complained, “why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food” (Numbers 21:5). In response to that, God sent fiery serpents that who ever was bit would die.
The resolution came when the people repented of their complaint; “we have sinned because we have spoken against Yahweh and against you” (21:7). God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent, put it on a staff, and whoever looked at the serpent would live. As the people looked and believed in the paradoxical cure, they were saved from the snake’s venom. This of course has tremendous implications to Jesus and how we look and believe in Him (John 3:14ff; 12:32f).
While the ultimate truth found in this account is one of looking upon our Savior for salvation, we also find a resolution for our grumblings against God. It seems a bit contradictory for us to thank God in prayer for the food we are about to eat, and then immediately complain about it, to thank God for “all the blessings of today” but grumble during every step. Through Jesus we have salvation. Everything else in this life that is categorized as a blessing is merely a bonus in an effort for God to show His goodness and love. How are we as stewards of those blessings (yes, even the blessing of bland boring manna that has been on the menu for months on end)?