From Rabbi Bergman:
In Parshat Beha'alotecha, we read about the group in the desert termed as “mitonenim” complainers: “The people were “k’mitonenim” like complainers; it was evil in the ears of God. God heard and His anger flared and the fire of God burned among them and consumed some of the outcasts of the camp. The people cried out to Moshe and Moshe prayed to God and the fire subsided. He called the name of the place Taverah, for it was there that burned among them the fire of God.”
This event serves as a turning point as it gives rise to many unfortunate events including the spies, the rebellion of Korach, and Moses striking the rock.
You will note that their complaints are not specifically mentioned in the text. According to Ramban, the word “mitonen” is from the same root as “Ben Oni” (Binyamin’s name given to him by Rachel right before she passed away, meaning “the son of my sorrow”). As they got further away from Mount Sinai, which was near an inhabitable settlement and entered “the great and dreadful wilderness” in their first journey they became upset and said: “What shall we do? How shall we live in this wilderness? What shall we eat and what shall we drink? How shall we endure the trouble and the suffering and when shall we come out of here?”
Ramban explains that they spoke in the bitterness of their soul as do people who suffer pain and this was evil in the sight of God as they should have followed Him “with gladness and goodness of heart when everything was abundant.” However, they behaved like people acting under duress and compulsion, murmuring and complaining about their condition.
I have a friend whom I've always admired for their ability to find positivity amidst hardship and virtue even in difficult people. In every situation we can find positives and negatives.
Did this group have what to complain about? Of course, we all do. The problem was that they lost sight of what was right in front of them: they just received the Torah, the Ark of the Covenant was traveling in front of them and the Cloud of God was above them. What an incredible opportunity, yet they chose to worry and complain.
When we encounter a difficult situation, take the time to assess the situation and, while acknowledging the negative, keep grasping the positive. Perhaps, from there, you will gain the strength to overcome what is standing in your way.
Shabbat Shalom!
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