我在一間商店裡，看到一位老伯伯花了好長的時間，仔細挑選兒童用的背包。他告訴我：「今天是我孫女的生日，希望她會喜歡我送的禮物。」結帳時，他緊緊拿著一個印有卡通人物圖案的粉紅色背包，一臉興奮又期待的表情。

後來我在一家餐廳又看到了老伯伯，他正和一個小女孩以及她的父母在一起。只見這小女孩拿到禮物時，一臉不高興地說：「我不喜歡這個卡通人物！我討厭粉紅色！」她的爸媽要她道歉，但她仍繼續抱怨。我真為老伯伯感到傷心難過。

這提醒了我，有時候我對於上帝所賜的禮物，就是這樣的反應。因為和我想要的不同，所以我會抱怨，以致沒看到眼前的神蹟──這是上帝愛我，親自賜給我的。以色列民也同樣不知感恩。上帝對他們信守承諾：「我要將糧食從天降給你們」（出埃及記16章4節）。在曠野，上帝信實地供應他們，「夜間露水降在營中，嗎哪也隨著降下」（民數記11章9節）。

對上帝慈愛的供應，以色列人不知感恩，還發怨言：「除這嗎哪以外，在我們眼前並沒有別的東西」（6節）。他們沒有謙卑地向上帝求其他食物，反而為上帝所賜的嗎哪哀嘆。

至今，那位老伯伯傷心難過的神情依然歷歷在目。這讓我想到，當我們抱怨時，天父也必會感到憂傷。讓我們為祂所賜的禮物，心懷感恩。

The elderly man was taking a long time looking at the children’s backpacks in the store. He told me, “It’s my granddaughter’s birthday. I hope she likes my gift.” At the checkout, he clutched a pink backpack with a cartoon character design. He looked excited.

Later in a restaurant, I saw him again with a little girl and her parents. When the child opened her gift, she said, “I don’t like this character! And I hate pink!” Her parents made her apologize, but she still complained. My heart broke for her grandpa.

I was reminded of how I sometimes respond to God’s gifts. I complain because I want something different, failing to see the miracle before me—that God Himself has lovingly given something for me. The Israelites behaved similarly. God had kept His promise to them: “I will rain down bread from heaven for you” (Exodus 16:4). God’s faithful provision in the wilderness was sure: “When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down” (Numbers 11:9).

But instead of being thankful, the Israelites complained about God’s expression of loving provision: “We never see anything but this manna!” (v. 6). Instead of humbly requesting other food from God, they wailed over His gift.

I still remember the hurt look in the grandfather’s eyes that day. It made me think of how our heavenly Father must feel when we complain. Let’s be grateful for the gifts He’s given us.