Over the last few years, we have seen more than our share of protests. In fact, as Americans, we have a tradition of protest and, certainly, some protest is healthy.

But many of today’s protests have taken on an ugly, finger-pointing, refusal-to-even-listen-to-the-other-side tone. It’s one thing to protest genuine injustice, especially when it’s in defense of those who are least able to defend themselves, but have many of our protests turned into the kind that God will judge?

Even if we’re on the side of truth, have our attitudes toward those with whom we disagree become displeasing to the Lord? If so, what should we do and how should we respond to those who protest against, even attack, our stand for God and His righteousness?

Welcome, to “God’s Word Day by Day.” This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s post and a list of all the Bible readings so you can check them off as you go. You’ll also find the daily posts on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both these Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here.

Today’s Readings:

Numbers 11 & 12
Psalm 31.15-18
Proverbs 11.12-14
Mark 10.1-31

Could Our Complaining Be Displeasing to God?

Numbers 11 & 12:

Nothing New

Protests are nothing new, even violent ones like the mob who cried for Jesus’ death and threatened to bring Caesar down on Pilate if he refused them (Matt. 27.21-23). Another angry mob stoned Steven to death (Acts 4.54-60) and yet another would have done the same to Paul (Acts 22.22).

Protests are not new in our nation either. Our nation was born of protest beginning with the Boston Tea Party. We’ve protested for prohibition, the right for women to vote, and many other causes.

During the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s, there was a great deal of violence against the protesters, but the movement itself was one of non-violence. Their cause was righteous and so were their methods. Because of that, they left room for God to work in the hearts and lives of the people who witnessed it (Rom. 12.20-21).

A Nation of Complainers & Protestors

But today, like the nation of Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness, our nation has become a nation of complainers and protesters. And in many cases, we are no longer protesting for God’s righteous causes.

We are obsessed with ourselves and our rights (2 Tim. 3.1-9). We demand that the government right every perceived wrong and give us the freedom to live any way we please. In many cases, we are protesting for things God condemns. When we do, we make ourselves His enemies (Jas. 4.4; Rom. 1.18-32).

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (Jas. 4.4, ESV).

Too often, right and wrong are determined by a political party line or some other group with which we identify. Hurting and destroying people who disagree with us is justified, even encouraged, by many.

We complain against our leaders instead of praying for them (1 Tim. 2.1-3) and trusting in the sovereignty of God.

¹ Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves (Rom. 13.1-2).

This passage convicts me even as I reread it myself.

Written for Us

The things written in the Old Testament were written for us, so we can better know God, understand how He works, not make the same mistakes they did, and give us the hope we need to trust in Him.

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Rom. 15.4).

If they were written for our learning, will we learn from them or must we repeat their mistakes and suffer the consequences?

Displeasing the Lord

When the people complained against Moses, the Bible tells us:

Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp (Num. 11.1).

And when their other leaders complained (Num. 12.1):

⁴ Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. ⁵ Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam …

⁹ So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed. ¹⁰ And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. 

God had been merciful to the Israelites. He had delivered them from 400 years of bondage in Egypt, brought them out of Egypt without a fight, caused the Egyptians to give them a great deal of wealth as they left (Ps. 105.37), led them, protected them from the pursuing Egyptian army, and parted the Red Sea so they could cross on dry land. He, also, comforted them and warned away their enemies with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

As they traveled their feet didn’t swell and their clothes didn’t wear out (Neh. 9.21). He fed them with food from heaven (manna), gave them water in the wilderness, and demonstrated His power and presence over and over.

Yet … instead of trusting His sovereign work in their lives, including who He had allowed to lead them, they complained and protested.

What About Us?

And what about us as Americans or you wherever you live? We live in perhaps the greatest and most prosperous nation on earth. God has blessed us with an abundance of natural resources, a beautiful land, creativity, and ingenuity beyond measure. We have freedoms almost unheard of in the world: freedom to worship, freedom to vote, freedom to pursue an education, freedom to live where we want, and even freedom to protest. Instead of being thankful we often complain and demand more.

We need to realize that when we complain about our circumstances, we are complaining against God and His sovereign work. God is never outside the events of history. Nor is He outside the events of our lives. That means He causes or, at the least, allows everything that happens.

Fire in the Camp

Not only have we complained and failed to pray, but we have also kicked God out of the government, the schools, and the public arenas of life. And now we demand the freedom to break His laws and destroy anyone who stands up for what’s right. Is it any wonder our complaining, unthankfulness, and rejection of God as a nation has finally produced “fire in the camp” (Num. 11.1)?

So, what should we do? Should we paint our signs and scream louder than those we see as ungodly? God has a better way.

What Can We Do?

We may need to start by asking God’s forgiveness for our own attitudes and failure to pray. We can ask Him as David did to renew a right spirit within us (Ps. 51.10).

We need to meditate on passages like Romans 13.1-2, 1 Timothy 2.1-3, Philippians 2.14-15, and 2 Timothy 2.23-26 which says:

²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Look at the actions implied there and the things we are to avoid. We’re to avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, quarreling, and a prideful attitude.

We’re to be gentle to all, able to teach (prepared with the truth), patient, and humble even when we must correct and pray that God will grant them repentance.

Notice some things about those who oppose us when we are on God’s side. They are ignorant of the truth, lack sense, are caught in the snare of the devil, and are held captive to do his will. Only the gospel and the Spirit of God can set them free. This is not a battle against flesh and blood! We must fight it largely on our knees.

When It Turns Personal

And when it turns personal, when we are attacked, mistreated, or maligned, we need to remember Paul’s words to the Romans:

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.¹⁷ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. ¹⁹ Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12.14-21).

Notice verse 21 is a command.

Pray & Seek His Face

Finally, a very familiar passage:

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chron. 7.14).

I understand this was a promise specifically for the nation of Israel, but it is a glimpse into the heart of God and how He expects us to live. As we hurl toward the end of this world as we know it, He may or may not restore us to our former morality and subsequent blessings. He may use another nation or our own rebellion as an instrument of judgment. Either way, we should remember God’s words through the Prophet Isaiah, “Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their actions” (Is. 3.10).

So, may the Lord help us to be grateful for our blessings, to use our freedoms as an opportunity to stand up for God and what matters to Him, to endure hardship with an eternal perspective, to pray instead of complaining and protesting, and to be willing to wait on God and His answers instead of demanding that those around us fix everything and give us what we think we need or want.

Today’s Other Readings:

And now a few thoughts about today’s other readings:

Psalm 31.15-18:

Praying for God’s Blessings

Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me for Your mercies’ sake (v. 16).

It’s alright to pray for God’s blessings, but we must be careful to trust in His sovereignty and timing.

Proverbs 11.12-14:

Warning Against Gossip

A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter (v. 13).

This does not mean that we never speak the truth in love. Some things should not be covered or ignored. It means that we should never gossip or repeat things that we don’t need to say.

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4.8).

Mark 10.1-31:

One Thing You Lack

Chapter 10 contains the story of Jesus’ meeting with the rich young ruler.

Verse 21 says:

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack. Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’

Jesus loved him enough not to let him delude himself into thinking he was “OK.” In reality, this young man’s self-righteousness (“all these things I have kept from my youth” Mk. 10.20) and self-sufficiency (“he had great possessions” Mk. 10.21) kept him from seeing his real need.

We, too, must love others enough to risk rejection or being misunderstood when we see that some sinful habit or pattern is keeping them from God’s blessings. We should do so, not out of selfishness or a critical spirit, but because of our love for them.

May God help us to love others enough to encourage those who need encouragement, love those who need love, comfort the hurting, and warn or admonish those who may be in spiritual danger.

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about how the sins of our parents and grandparents affect us and how God guides His children. We’ll also look at modesty, discretion, and what, if anything, God’s Word says about how we dress.

I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss them. 

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.