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HELEN SANDERS
7-8-2022
MURMURING AND COMPLAINING
The Hebrews had been in exile in Egypt for over four hundred years. Abraham was told by God in Genesis 15:13, “And he (God) said unto Abram (later called Abraham), know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.”
Four hundred years is a long time. Abraham’s son Isaac had come and gone. Jacob, and his twelve sons had been born and multiplied in Egypt and died there. At first things were wonderful when the Hebrews came there with their father Jacob (Israel) because Joseph was second in command only to Pharaoh. After many years the later Pharaohs became very wary of them. There were more Hebrews than there were Egyptians. They had multiplied so much that the new Pharaoh insisted that all the baby boys be killed, but God used the midwives to prevent this. He was preserving his chosen people.
The day came when it was time to leave Egypt as God had promised Abraham. God sent Moses to lead these people out. They did come out with great substance, having spoiled the Egyptians of gold and precious things. You would think that the Hebrews would be grateful, but they started to complain when they reached the wilderness. They complained about the manna, and they complained about everything else. Many fought against Moses’ leadership and instead of their journey to the promised land taking forty to sixty days to reach their promised destination it took 40 years. God was displeased with their grumbling and complaining.
They made a lot of mistakes because all they could think of was “what it was like” back in Egypt. They had forgotten about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They had become like the Egyptians in their thinking, their eating, and committed great sin by having Aaron make a golden calf to worship like they had in Egypt. Many never made it to the promised land.
How often God blesses people and then those same people forget what he has done and murmur and complain. Like the Hebrew children of old their stinking thinking leads to sinking. God wants us to praise him for his faithfulness, and we can’t do that when we complain.
The Hebrew children’s clothing didn’t wear out for forty years and instead of praising God for this they complained. What about us? Do we complain when we can’t get something new? Are we thankful for what God has given us? Do we want to go back to the way “things used to be?”
We need to keep an attitude of praise in every situation just because God is worthy of our praise. Paul wrote in Philippians, 4:11-13, “Not that I speak in respect of want (lack): for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Many times, people take verse 13 out of context without considering the suffering Paul was speaking of. Paul is saying he can be content by the strength that God gives him to be abased or abound. He didn’t stop following Christ when things got rough. He didn’t stop following Christ when he was in a prison. He didn’t stop following Christ when he was beaten, shipwrecked, and hated. He learned through Jesus Christ to endure all things.
We must learn that we can be content and praise the Lord no matter what the situation is. If murmuring, grumbling, and complaining are your daily diet, you will never find peace. Peace comes by trusting God even when things aren’t going right. Peace comes when we thank God and praise Him for whatever situation we are in. Praise releases us from bondage and brings God to our rescue.
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