Powerpoint Pictures: Weather Forecast; Congestion on Road; Referee; Petrol Station Board; Useless Waiter

What do people complain the most about? [The Weather; Traffic; Referees; Price of Fuel; Poor Service].

People whinge and moan when things don’t go the way they want them to.

God’s people, the Israelites, having been rescued from slavery in Egypt, were travelling through the desert to a special mountain that God had told them to go to.

But life in the desert was not easy, and soon they began to moan, forgetting about the amazing rescue God had given them.

“We have no food!”

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” (Exodus 16:4)

The next morning there were strange white wafers that tasted like honey covering the ground – enough food for everyone to eat. God also provided for them some fresh meat too!

But soon God’s people began to complain again.

“We have no water!”

God told Moses: “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” (Exodus 17:6)

Sure enough, that’s what happened. Plenty of water for the people and their animals.

Some time later there was another problem.

“Our enemies are coming!”

Enemies called the Amalekites came to fight against them. But God helped his people to victory. “So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army.” (Joshua 17:13)

Instead of punishing them for moaning, God gave them what they didn’t deserve – food, water and victory. He showed that He could be trusted to look after them.

Eventually the Israelites made it to the special mountain.