Numbers 11:1-2 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 burned among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.
Complaining is a common response to the frustrations of life and the problems of sinful earthly existence. Israel complained ten times in the wilderness. We respond to life by complaining daily. Someone or something is always going wrong, and implicitly God gets the blame. It is the outward symptom of unbelief and distrust. Everyone around us, ourselves included, God included, feel worse when complaining takes over. No one is edified or blessed by it.
The Lord is letting us know how serious and how dangerous He considers complaining, though it may seem trivial to us. He sends fire into the camp. God is serious about our relationship with Him.
Instead of complaining, we can respond by praying. This is what Moses did; he took on the role of intercessor. And this is what Jesus does for us: intercedes with God and continues to pray. The Lord is displeased with our complaining, but pleased with our prayers in Jesus’ name. In any situation we have a choice of response. It’s easy to see the better way.