They are in every organization! They are lurking in most successful businesses! They stalk in every non-profit enterprise! They hang around in every church! They are called, "complainers." People who seem to make it there sole purpose to voice their displeasure with whatever is happening - especially when they don't get their way. We have more colorful ways and words to describe them but they are probably not appropriate on this blog. Complaining may be the oldest profession known to man. Eve actually complained about the food she could or could not eat in the garden. Complaining has been around so long we take it for granted that someone just has to fill in and do it. If we can finally dispose of a complainer someone just steps in to fill their spot. Joshua, too, had complainers. Remember, he and Caleb forty-plus years earlier went on a spy adventure and came back with ten complainers. Joshua heard all the complaining the Israelites did toward God but to Moses during the wilderness wanderings. He must have had his fill of it. But here in Joshua 17, once again, we see the tribe of Joseph complaining about the territory they were to possess. They thought the "hill" country and the "Canaanite" were too tough to conquer so they complained to the leader asking him to make it easier on them. I love how Joshua deals with them: He simply tells them they are big boys and can go get what they want. No political correctness on Joshua's part. No baby-them-so-they-feel-good-about-themselves for this leader. Joshua, in essence, tells them to "grow up and take what they want." No one is going to deliver it to them. We need more spiritual leaders who are like this. We need to tell people to quit complaining and be the warriors God intended them to be. People who complain in church should not be appeased and coddled. They should be told to grow up and start tackling the very problems with solutions they are complaining about. Joshua was a great leader - he knew how to handle the complainers in life.
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