Grumbling

 And Moses said, "When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord ."

Exodus 16:8 ESV


People nowadays might talk about 'loving a good grumble (or a moan)'. Biblically however, when we grumble, it's not just against circumstances but against our Creator, whose providence is what determines the circumstances we face. So when the Israelites got 'hangry', a cross between hungry and angry, Moses perceived they were angry against God.


To be fair to the Israelites, they had a point. I think most of us would chose being well fed slaves over hungry wanderers. But they forgot that they weren't just aimlessly wandering to starve out in the desert. They were heading for a land flowing with milk and honey. 

In this chapter, God mercifully hears the Israelites' grumbling and provides them with food. But Moses gives them their warning. By grumbling, they were essentially railing not against Him, but against the Sovereign Lord. 


God might excuse a one off grumble, as He seems to here. But if it becomes habitual for us to grumble, as it did for the Israelites, we may find ourselves on the receiving end of His wrath, rather than His mercy.


'God, forbid that we should test Your patience with our grumbling. May we humbly submit to Your providence, and accept hardship as good servants of Yours. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen'

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