Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

Originally posted by Queen:

When Jesus was on the cross He cried out to God saying "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" That could be regarded as a complaint no?

I don't think so. The scriptures are filled with people crying out to God.

Why else would one complain if the purpose wasn't to find a better solution? God cares about every little details of our lives and that includes the discomfort which would cause us to complain.

Perhaps what we need is a definition for what it is to complain? I go to God about everything that pertains to me but I certainly do not complain in the sense we understand it. A couple of definitions:

1 : to express grief, pain, or discontent
2 : to make a formal accusation or charge

IMO, There is a significant difference between 1 and 2 and I think it is the latter that God objects to.

[fOrTyLeGz]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

Originally posted by Compry:

A couple weeks ago I was in a very trying situation. I knew what was about to happen and I started praying. Nothing. The situation still presented itself. At that moment, I screamed out to God and ask why He's not answering my prayer and immediately the problem disappeared.

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps this god's getting a little hard of hearing? He is very old, people say.

[Guest]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

Originally posted by fOrTyLeGz:
[qb]

Originally posted by Compry:

A couple weeks ago I was in a very trying situation. I knew what was about to happen and I started praying. Nothing. The situation still presented itself. At that moment, I screamed out to God and ask why He's not answering my prayer and immediately the problem disappeared.

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps this god's getting a little hard of hearing? He is very old, people say. [/qb]

Nope, the thought never entered my mind.

Edited to add: I do believe that there are times when He test me to see how badly I want something.

[Dailybread]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

I think complaining to God is distasteful and shows our lack of faith in Him. Though He winks at our ignorance, God wants us to grow to a point where we trust Him without complaining. The Bible teaches us to ask what we will it does not teach us to complain.

We can go to God and ask anything of him regarding any situation. However, if we go to God complaining he will put us in our place. It is shown over and over again in the scriptures. One good example that comes to mind is that of Job where after all he had endured he began to complain to God.

God came back to him and asked him where was he when he did all that He God did...

[Diplomat]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

Originally posted by Dailybread:

I think complaining to God is distasteful and shows our lack of faith in Him. Though He winks at our ignorance, God wants us to grow to a point where we trust Him without complaining. The Bible teaches us to ask what we will it does not teach us to complain.

We can go to God and ask anything of him regarding any situation. However, if we go to God complaining he will put us in our place. It is shown over and over again in the scriptures. One good example that comes to mind is that of Job where after all he had endured he began to complain to God.

God came back to him and asked him where was he when he did all that He God did...

I agree with you. While we can tell/remind Him of what is going on with us (though He already knows), it is presumptious to accuse Him of, or charge Him with, being unfair or whatever else it is that we sometimes do. This was exactly what the Isrealites did - on multiple occasions - and they got punished for it.

[DC]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

ooops!

[DC]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

As usual-interesting discussion [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

My thoughts in regards to the definitions of 'complaining':

It is a common practice for the enemy to slap us in the face and point at God and says" He did it!" We can choose to believe the enemy( knowing how sly he is) or we can choose to believe that God had nothing to do with it. The pain of that 'slap in the face' [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] can cloud our minds at times and it's not that we don't believe that God is quite capable, but we writhe in the pain of our suffering and sometimes tend to lash out at the very One who is closest to us. In lashing out and being completely human, we can be involved in one or both acts of complaining.
I am thinking the difference is when we come to a place within our suffering and say like Job "Though he slay me yet will I trust Him". In that I would surmise, that it is not so much how we do complain, but how long we complain(IMHO). The end result will always be repentance because the end of suffering usually allows one to see 'who they are' and 'who God is'. That's enough to make you fall to your knees.

There comes a time when even enduring faith will have to produce works. In that God would be pleased. The Righteous falls seven times but he is a victor because he got up those seven times and did not stay down. That is faith. He is still considered righteous in God's eyes!(we fall down but we get up)

And I agree with you Daily bread-God wants us to reach the stage where we will endure without having to complain but until then-He knows our frame [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] .

Would you say grumbling is synonymous to complaining? Even though the Scripture says the "Israelites complained" do you think the nature of their complaints resembles grumbling? which is another matter..

[britisha]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

1. Has anyone observed how easy it is to get angry with God, or even bitter, when we do not understand His purpose?

Is this at all possible and if so how does one get angry with God? How? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Queen]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

I'll posts examples later on why I believe it's not wrong to complain to God.

Britisha - people get angry at God when their prayers are not granted or when tragedy strikes...sometimes. Sometimes they curse Him (like Job's wife suggested) and sometimes they denounce their belief in Him and stop serving HIm and keeping His commandments. Those are just of few examples.

[britisha]

Re: Women Of The Bible (WOTB) - Naomi

Originally posted by Queen:
[qb] I'll posts examples later on why I believe it's not wrong to complain to God.

Britisha - people get angry at God when their prayers are not granted or when tragedy strikes...sometimes. Sometimes they curse Him (like Job's wife suggested) and sometimes they denounce their belief in Him and stop serving HIm and keeping His commandments. Those are just of few examples. [/qb]

Very interesting.