Dahil sa hirap na dinaranas, nagreklamo ang mga Israelita. Dahil dito, nagalit si Yahweh at pinaulanan ng apoy ang isang bahagi ng kanilang kampo.

Mga Bilang 11:1

Grumbling. ‘Yan ang hindi mapigilang gawin ng Israelites noong naglalakbay sila papunta sa Promised Land. They complained about the long journey, the bitter water, then they complained about being so hungry. Sumunod ay ang leadership naman ni Moses ang inireklamo nina Miriam at Aaron. Years later, si Aaron naman ang napagdiskitahan nila’t inireklamo ang kakayahang pamunuan sila. And the list goes on and on.  

Can you imagine the atmosphere during those times? Imagine being with somebody day and night, for many years, and all you hear from them are rants. I’m sure at some point in our lives, we have met someone who only focuses on the negative. ‘Yung tuwing kasama natin sila, walang katapusang reklamo ang ating maririnig.

“Ang init sa Pilipinas!”

“Wala na talagang asenso itong tatay mong tamad!”

“Ang sakit ng balakang ko! Ngayon naman pati tuhod ko!”

“O, ano ba ‘tong luto mo, walang lasa!”

Hindi ba’t nakaka-stress silang kasama? It doesn’t help that the situation is already stressful, tapos puro reklamo pa ang naririnig natin. Ngayon, what if we put ourselves in God’s shoes? What if all He hears from us are our complaints, criticisms, and gripes? Instead of being grateful for what He is giving us, naka-focus tayo sa kung ano ang wala.

Ano ang response ni God dito? Numbers 11:1 says that God was angered and punished them for their grumbling. Are we in any way like the Israelites, always grumbling? Hihintayin pa ba nating magalit si Lord at parusahan tayo?

And as for our friends and family members who hear nothing from us but our negativity, sooner or later, they’ll realize how unhealthy it is to spend time with us. Before we lose them because of our grumbling, how about we ask God to change us to instead become more inspiring?