11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. Exodus 1:11-14

Egyptians enslaved the Israelites, and worked them hard. The harder the Israelites worked, the more they multiplied. They should have never been enslaved in the first place, but since they were forced to endure hardship, why not have plenty of family around to ease the misery!

This is a classic case of the adage: “when you are given lemons, make lemonade.” I’m not making light of their slavery in the least, and I’m certain many suffered greatly because of it. But they weren’t escaping, and it wasn’t going to get easier for a lot of years (though they didn’t know that at the time). I mean, if anyone had a right to complain and whine, certainly it was the Israelites.

That gives us a timely lesson about complaining, doesn’t it? We constantly complain about the quality of food, traffic, prices, car problems, roof being dented by hail, or all the corrupt politicians in the world. Everything is fair game for a complaint!

But God has given many of us new life. He wants us to live the abundant life (John 10:10). Abundant life living isn’t filled with complaints and whining. No, it’s filled with laughter, joy, and gratefulness. It’s filled with peace and goodness. Nowhere in the fruit of the Spirit is complaining (Galatians 5:22-23).

Complaining is so unbecoming of a Christian.