Complaining
Dear Friends,
In this week’s parasha the Torah describes a specific incident in which the Jewish people complained about not having delicious food to eat. It is stated:
“The people took to seeking complaints….Who will feed us meat? We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free of charge. But now, our life is parched, there is nothing; we have nothing to anticipate but the manna (Bamidbar/Number11)”
In refuting the Jew’s complaints about the manna not being sufficient, the Torah says that in fact the manna was perfect in its taste, smell, and in every way. Yet the Jews still found room to complain about the manna. In response to the people’s complaining, God punishes the complainers by providing them with an overabundant supply of meat and then killing them. One may ask whether God’s punishment was befitting the crime. What is so bad about complaining that God couldn’t forgive the people or at least give a lesser punishment? After all, we all complain from time to time.
To answer this, we must realize the root of complaining. It is not true to think that people complain because they are lacking what they need. Just as illustrated in our parasha, a person can have everything they need and still complain as if they have nothing to be thankful for. Complaining expresses dissatisfaction with what God gives a person. It is as if a person spits in God’s face and tells him, “You have done nothing for me”. It is considered as totally disregarding God’s kindness and Goodness.
We all feel the need to complain from time to time for various reasons. Most often it is that we want more than what we need, or think we deserve better than what we have, that leads us to complain. If we are dissatisfied with life we must search for the reason why this is so, but not complain. All complaining does is foster negativity and distances us from knowing the truth.
Shabbat Shalom
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