Grumbling

Grumbling: Complaining or protesting in a low, muttered, or discontented way, often about something minor or trivial. Example: "He was grumbling about the cold weather all morning." 

Grumbling is not a new word or a new thing. I actually have a copy of the 1828 original Noah Webster American Dictionary, and that dictionary defines the word grumbling as “murmuring through discontent”. 

How does God look at grumbling? How does God look at murmuring among his people? Did the people of Israel have any problem with grumbling? 

Israel grumbled to Moses about their lack of water in the wilderness. 

Exodus 15:24 (NIV) 

So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" 

God gave them water in the wilderness, and the people began to grumble about the food. 

Exodus 16:2-3 (NIV) 

2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 

3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." 

God responded severely to the consistent grumbling from the Children of Israel, the children He was leading to the Promised Land. 

Numbers 14:26-30 (NIV) 

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 27 "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 

28 So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29 In this desert your bodies will fall--every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 

30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 

They grumbled against Moses and Aaron, but this wasn’t the plan of Moses and Aaron. This was the plan of God. God took their grumbling personally, and God gave them the very thing they grumbled about. The grumblers died while wandering in the wilderness. 

That’s the Old Testament. What does the New Testament say about grumbling and the church? 

1 Corinthians 10:10-13 (NIV) 

And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel. 

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 

Yes, I believe the Israelites suffered during the wilderness journey toward the Promised Land. Yes, I believe the journey was hard. Is that a good reason to grumble? 

I also realize our journey to the Promised Land today is hard and filled with difficulties and trials. Does that give us a reason to grumble? 

Grumbling reveals a lack of faith in God’s goodness and faithfulness. Grumbling is an offense to God and an offense to those that God has put in place to help lead us on our way to the Promised Land today. 

The Book of James gives the clearest definition and warning about grumbling inside the church. 

James 5:9 (NLT) 

Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door! 

Would you grumble if you knew Jesus was at the door listening? Yes, this journey can be hard, and I strongly believe it’s going to get harder as we get closer to the Promised Land. That is no reason to grumble. Instead, trust in the goodness of God. Trust in the promises of God and stop grumbling. 

The Apostle Paul suffered greatly as a follower of Christ. But Paul realized that contentment wasn’t based on circumstances. Contentment was based on placing your trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God. Contentment is the cure for discontentment and grumbling. 

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) 

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen, 

Terry Cooper 

Lead Minister