The Difference Between Complaining and Praying

"Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat." Numbers 11:13

Even as this passage has a sad end, I was reminded of the power of prayer. Though Moses was the leader of Israel, this wasn't a model prayer. We see that Moses also was a human who had been hit with the punch of exhaustion. This is the second time that we see Moses overburdened with his leadership of Israel. The first time he was advised by his father in law to get elders to help him judge among the people. So apparently, Moses took his God-assigned responsibilities with much zeal and continued giving far and beyond on his call for duty. I think God knew this, and It's amazing how God saw thru the fog of his hopeless cry for help and still responded with wisdom and help. I think that is the beauty of prayer..even as often it is done by those who care for us, when are too exhausted to do it. Jesus is actually continuously interceding for us. Hebrews 7:25) And the Lord always respond to it according to his infinite wisdom. We may not get exactly what we ask for, but we normally get what He thinks is best in that specific situation. In this case Moses got the help that he needed thru 70 more elders. 

Now, God is not pleased with complaining which is a blunt rejection of his perfect will. (Phil 4:6) Thus, the results of complaining are always dim and we can clearly see how God wanted Israel to learn that He's certainly powerful to respond to their needs, but also a God that loves discipline so that we learn to ask Him in a way that is pleasing to His will.