Joshua 15-18
Complainers

The Israelites had a history of complaining. They complained about Moses, they complained about food and water, they complained about God's punishment; they complained a lot.

It isn't surprising, then, that as they were taking over the land, some would find something new to complain about. Joshua 17 tells us of the complaint of the children of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. "'Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?' And Joshua said to them, 'If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you."(Joshua 17:14-15).

It is easy to see their real problem. They thought they deserved better than what they got. And, of course, as complainers, they didn't like Joshua's answer. "'The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.' Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, 'You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong."

How Joshua handled the situation is insightful. They had a point: they needed more land. It would have been easy for him to react negatively to their complaining and reject their request completely out of spite. However, he acknowledged their legitimate complaint. What he slammed them over was their lack of desire to work for what they received. "...You shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders... you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong." All the tribes had to clear out their lands of the remaining Canaanites. The Ephraimites and Mannassites were not privileged and would be no different.

I suppose there are different types of complainers. There are those who complain over legitimate grievances (remember the daughters of Zelophehad, Numbers 27?) and should be listened to. After they are satisfied, they will generally not be heard from again. Then, there are those who are always complaining over some issue or another. Pride & selfishness often drives complainers. They think they deserve more or better than others. When we feel like complaining, we need to ask ourselves what motivates our complaints. If pride is behind it, then we need to repent and keep quiet.

One final note: when people complain, wise leaders first consider if their complaint is legitimate. If it is, they rectify the situation. But, wise leaders also hold complainers to the same standard as everyone else and don't give into unreasonable expectations.