anonymous_ng linked to a post by pastor and Christian life coach Dr. Raymond Force, titled Where Men Blow It. Force explains that Scripture teaches us that God doesn’t mind it when we complain, and therefore Christian husbands shouldn’t discourage their wives from grumbling (emphasis mine):
On many occasions in the scriptures, especially Numbers 11:11-15, God’s men offered their complaint before the Lord.
[Quotes Psalm 77:3 and Numbers 11:11-15]
What I love about scriptures as such is they teach us that it is okay to reverentially offer our concerns, fears, worries, and even complaints before the Lord. What I also feel is fascinating is that one never finds God taking these complaints as though they are an attack against his person, nor do they find God getting defensive or taking things personally.
A woman needs a place to express, complain, vent, et cetera without condemnation. But, if a man is too wrapped up in his own sensitivities, he will fail to provide that which Christ offers to him on a daily basis.
The emphasized part is a bold claim, but very easily disproved. In fact, the very chapter Force quotes in Numbers as proof that God doesn’t mind when we grumble is all about God’s anger when we grumble. Numbers 11 opens with God’s fiery anger with the Israelites for complaining. This isn’t just metaphorical fiery anger, but God’s anger in the form of actual flames (Num 11:1, KJV):
11 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
God was so angry with the Israelites for complaining about the food that he provided them, that He chose to punish them by feeding them (Num 11:18-20, KJV):
18 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
20 But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
The same chapter ends with God killing some of the Israelites because of his anger at their complaining (Num 11:33-34, KJV):
33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.
34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
Even the part that Force quotes where Moses complains to God is about the evil of people complaining to their leaders. Force left this out by starting at verse 11 instead of 10, which provides the context. Moses was complaining about the burden the complainers were to him as a leader*:
10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
11 And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
Later, in chapter 14, God becomes so angry that the Israelites are still complaining that He tells Moses that He is going to smite them and start over with a new people (Num 14:11-12, KJV):
11 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
After Moses intervenes on their behalf, God agrees to forgive them. However, none of the complainers will be permitted to enter the promised land. Instead, the entire tribe must wander the desert for 40 years until the complainers are all dead (Num 11:33-34, KJV):
20 And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.
22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
So given the clarity of the Scripture Force is quoting, why does he assert that:
..one never finds [in Scripture] God taking these complaints as though they are an attack against his person, nor do they find God getting defensive or taking things personally.
Why does Force make such a laughable statement, one so easy to completely disprove? The answer is, Force wants to excuse the sin of wives by making it a sin for husband to teach his wife what Scripture says about complaining, or to in any way discourage her from complaining:
A woman needs a place to express, complain, vent, et cetera without condemnation. But, if a man is too wrapped up in his own sensitivities, he will fail to provide that which Christ offers to him on a daily basis.
Note: I plan on writing a follow up post on the rest of the claims Force makes in Where Men Blow It. Edit: The follow up post is Winning her over without a word.
*See also Hebrews 13:17.
