Murmuring Moments

Introduction

Good morning. If you’ll please open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 10. 1 Corinthians chapter 10. In verse 6, Paul writes, Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were, as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. Keep that in mind. Why were they destroyed by serpents? They put Christ or the Lord to the test. In verse 10, nor grumble as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. And if I were to ask you, who is the they of 1 Corinthians chapter 10? Well, we know it’s the people of Israel. And boy, do the people of Israel have a fascinating story. Just ready for the movie theaters near you, isn’t it? They had all kinds of trouble. They conquered land, they were taken out of land. They obeyed God and God freed them, and then they disobeyed God and they were taken away into captivity. And time after time, you look at the Israelites, and you say, these were God’s people. These were the people that God directly guided. He directly helped them out of Egyptian bondage.

That’s an interesting point. Out of Egyptian bondage. And yet, once they were out, what was the common refrain? Why did you take us out of Egypt? We would be better there. There was food there. There was water there. And I said key in to verse 9. And you note that many of them were destroyed because they did not because they put Christ to the test, excuse me. So look with me now in your Old Testament, at Numbers chapter 21. This morning I’d like to discuss murmuring moments. And we find plenty of those in the Old Testament. But if you look with me first, in Numbers chapter 21. As you’re turning there, I’d like to note that this is a bit of a challenge. First of all, we see that the Israelites would murmur time and time again, and then they’d murmur time and time again, and then they’d continue murmuring.

In fact, I found myself trying to find a text that best set up this lesson. And in the book of Numbers alone, there were so many instances of murmuring. I was murmuring about not then how much they murmured. Not that we would ever have a problem like murmuring or complaining today, right? In verse 4 of Numbers chapter 21, from Mount Hor they set out by the way of the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses. Did you see that? Who did they speak against? Against God and against Moses. Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? But there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.

Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten when he sees it, shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. I want to key in, though, on verses five and six. Do you see what the complaint was?

Do you see who it was? And the people. It wasn’t one person. This is the people. A large amount of the collective nation of Israel. And they were speaking against God, and not only were they speaking against God, note how important the issue was. It was of vital importance, wasn’t it? Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There’s no food, no water, and we loathe this worthless food. Do you see it? Don’t you see how they could complain against the Lord so easily? All he did was provide their every need. And they were just tired of what he was giving them. Give them a break, right? What was God’s reaction to this? Was it, hey, you know, that’s a good point.

I I just want you to be happy and thrilled. I want you to enjoy this trek through this awful land to go around the land of Edom. I just want you to enjoy this. And food’s actually for your benefit. No, not quite. The ironic part of this worthless food is can you imagine looking someone in the face who has given you a nice meal and then told them, you know what, I’m really sick of this worthless food. I know you provided for me, but it’s just not doing it for me anymore. I just don’t enjoy it like I once did. Try again. That’d be a pretty good show of lack of respect, wouldn’t it? But consider also complaining against God that way. And you wonder if the people really meant it against the Lord, but the fact of the matter remains, whether they intended so or not, the text records for us it was against God, and they realized it was, because did you note that part of their repentance in verse 7?

We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. So they recognized what they did. But I want to look at another example. Back in Numbers chapter 11, kind of straddling several instances of murder murmuring in this book. In Numbers chapter 11, look with me here, and if you have a marker, this will be our kind of base text, if you will, for the morning. And in Numbers chapter 11, we find a common refrain, and the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes. And when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down.

And you see in verse 1, and the people complained. And the Lord had what response? Well, his anger was kindled, and what was the outburst of that anger? The fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. So you’d say, okay, this was their warning shot, although they were still punished in no sense. You think, okay, now they’re going to get it. They’re not going to complain anymore. Look with me in verse 4. Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. Oh boy, here we go. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, Oh, that we had meat to eat. We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.

But now our strength is dried up. And there is nothing at all but this manna to look at. Now you have to remember who provided the manna for them? The Lord. Who are they complaining against? Truly the Lord. Who were the people of Israel? They were the Lord’s chosen nation. These are people who had seen him. Not only were they taken out of Egyptian bondage, but do you remember that trek to get there? Do you remember the plagues? Do you remember that the Red Sea was parted? Do you remember that God did all of that for them? And you’re thinking, why is he shouting at me? I know that. Do you think maybe we murmur or complain? And you see, the real issue is not just complaining, although the New Testament makes clear in several passages we can look at that grumbling and complaining is not befitting of Christians.

1. Blinded by Their Physical Circumstances

And by the way, that passes the common sense test, too. How many of you like hanging out with people who only complain, who always have a reason to whine? Makes kind of common sense that our light doesn’t shine too brightly when we’re dimming it with the plagues and the causes of the world. But consider what it actually shows in the people. It exposes their problems with the Lord. They had a relationship issue. It wasn’t a word choice issue. It was a relationship problem with the Lord. And you can see that in three different yet very similar ways. I want to think about the first one here. Is that they were blinded by their physical circumstances. Did you see who started it in verse 4? Now the rabble that was among them.

This would have been some of that camp that was along the outside, a little bit of the outsiders. But it wasn’t just them. Did you see who else it became? And the people of Israel also wept again and said, So this group of people got this bigger group of people, and now they’re all complaining. And what was the complaint? Was it over some real issue? Was it some real problem? Was their faith in God waning? Were they wondering, is there a God? No. Oh, that we had meat to eat. Boy, we remember how good everything was in Egypt. If we could just be back there. I mean, I know there’s the whole slavery part, but you know what? The food was good. You think we can ever get blinded by our physical circumstances?

Think about the physical nation of Israel with me and turn back in your Bibles to Exodus chapter 17. I told you there was just so many instances to look at, but I want to note this one in Exodus chapter 17. Consider with me there. All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephetim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, Give us water to drink. And Moses said, Why do you quarrel with me? Do you see this next part? Why do you test the Lord? By the way, does the Bible seem pretty clear on this idea of grumbling?

How it’s not just about complaining, it’s testing the Lord. It’s a complaint against the Lord, it’s a problem with them and the Lord. Keep reading with me now into verse 3. But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst? Because by the way, that was Moses’ plan, of course. So Moses cried to the Lord, What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me. And the Lord said to Moses, Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go.

Before I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. But see with me, verse 7. And he called the name of the place Massa and Meribah because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and you guessed it. And because they tested the Lord by saying, Is the Lord among us or not? You see how this got out of hand quickly? You see how these physical circumstances were blinding them. You see that in multiple facets. First of all, back in Numbers chapter 11 and verse 4, who was the first people listed that had the strong craving?

It was the rabble, the people they were around, were getting this strong craving. And what did that start? That led to the complaint. You see what happens is you get a you get a group of people, or you yourself, you might be that person. Let’s try to work on that if I am, if we are. And you say, you know what? I don’t have this thing that I want. And we might even say, you know what? It’s something that I need. Because if you remember Numbers chapter 11, what was their basis? Our strength is dried up. This food, this worthless food that we have, it’s just not cutting it. Who gave them that worthless food? Who was making sure that the people of Israel were sustained?

The Lord. Who do you think was right in that circumstance? The people complaining? Or the Lord? The Lord. Do you see how we can get bogged down in what we see? What we are focused on, and what that does is it blinds us to God. God is all powerful. Amen?

We have an all-powerful God. I know He loves me. I come to church on Sunday. I sing praises to Him. I want to lift up His name. I pray to Him, but you know what? I just don’t have these things. I just don’t have this. I just don’t have that. Maybe we should stop to examine. Is this what God said I will have? Is this what God has promised for me? Is this my plan? Who knows that? God does. God knows the number of hairs on our head. Many of us don’t even know that. If you do keep it to yourself, that’s a little sad. Consider, though. The people needed water? Absolutely. Did they need food? Of course. The problem wasn’t a lack of supply that it wasn’t coming.

The problem was the implications of their voicing the complaints and murmuring. Did you see that at the end of verse 7 if you’re still there in Exodus 17? They tested the Lord by saying, Is the Lord among us or not? Do you know what happens through this process? You keep thinking about what you don’t have, and you’re dwelling on it, you’re thinking, well, it’s okay, it’s going to come at some point. And you know what we put our faith in? We put our faith in me. We put our faith in what I can see, what I can touch, what I have. And guess where that faith is not then? It’s not in God. And you see, that’s the problem? Our faith needs to be in the Lord.

2. Not Remembering the Power and Strength of the Lord

Murmuring, complaining, these types of problems with the Lord happen when we stop focusing on the Lord. When we start focusing on self and not God. And do you see how that would pose a major dilemma to this whole Christian living thing? If we’re supposed to die with Christ, if we’re supposed to be crucifying our old man of sin, what place does he have in our lives now? How is it that that man of sin is so dominating my thoughts that I am now actively involved in murmuring, directly or indirectly, against the very Lord that I acknowledge exists and is the creator of the heavens and the earth? It’s a problem there. Consider with me, secondly. We may not remember the power and strength of the Lord.

That surely had to be the problem. You look back at Numbers chapter 11 again. What were they comparing their food to? Well, they’re remembering Egypt, which is an interesting comparison. Because they do say in verse 5, we remembered the fish that we ate in Egypt that cost nothing. The cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at. And you take them at face value and say, okay, maybe they did have those things there. But what is the major point that they’re forgetting that we’ve already mentioned this morning? God miraculously, over and over again delivered them from the land of Egypt. He sent plagues on the land to convince Pharaoh’s mind.

He freed them from the chasing Egyptian army by parting the sea. These are people who in their heritage had seen that. Can you imagine if you had seen the sea parted? We can’t even fathom that truly happening without faith. Because it doesn’t happen. It takes an almighty God who is in control of everything to make that happen. And he did. And so why were they murmuring? They didn’t have trust in the Lord. They didn’t remember what the Lord could do. They didn’t remember that with God on their side, anything and everything could happen. It didn’t matter what they were facing. It would just be a question of when and how. Not if God exists. Not if God cares for them. And so the consideration for us this morning is simply do I take time to dwell on the fact that I serve a mighty God?

Do you see how that would be life changing? I just think that if we truly fought every day, we took time in the morning or in the afternoon or at night, or dare we try all three. And just remember some of the miraculous things that God has done. Or maybe count our blessings, whether we consider them miraculous or not. Do you realize how life-changing that would be? Do you realize how that would cut the complaining out from under us? And I understand that a passage we’re going to look at in just a moment in Philippians chapter 2 can extend grumbling to not just against God. Obviously, complaining, as we talked before, doesn’t paint Christians in a very great light. But if you’re focused on the good, what are you not thinking of?

The bad.

3. Do All Things Without Grumbling or Disputing

If we would commit ourselves to dwelling on the strength and the power of the Lord, knowing that God has promised that if we seek him, he will provide. We don’t have to worry if he’s there. We don’t have to worry if he will provide for us, but just when and how that will happen. And if we trust in him, we aren’t consumed with that worry. We aren’t consumed with that fear. And that changes our whole outlook because we know we can trust the God who lives. And that just means a ton. Look at Philippians chapter 2. Look there with me. Look at me in Philippians chapter 2. And if you’re familiar with the book of Philippians, you know that a big theme is unity. Being one together, not being selfish, but esteeming others as higher than self.

And you reach this point in Philippians chapter 2 and verse 14 that Paul says, Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God. Now here’s something interesting. Do you remember how sometimes we might be tempted like the Israelites were, to let our physical circumstances blind us to our spiritual, all powerful God? Let’s see what type of situation Christians are to be in. Do all things without grumbling or complaining. We’re children of God. Where, though? Without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. Now wait a minute. That doesn’t sound too good. That doesn’t sound too promising. You mean I can’t complain or grumble or dispute, even though I’m in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation?

I guess that means I can’t complain at all. Huh? Got it. Why, though? Among whom you shine as lights in the world. Holding fast to the word of life so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Do you note that maybe the stars and the moon shine the brightest when? When the sky is dark, when we’re away from all the lights. You don’t have all the street lights and all the building lights, and you just realize God did that.

And that’s miraculous, isn’t it? That God hung the moon and the stars. You realize that light shines brightest against a dark background. And that’s who Christians are supposed to be. So how are we supposed to do things, all things, without grumbling or disputing? When? All the time. Why? It very clearly affects our light. And that goes with all types of grumbling, whether murmuring against the Lord or murmuring about traffic or lines or anything else. Who are we going to be? Are we going to be the Israelites who are caught up in self? Are we going to be Christians who are caught up in Christ? Who are thinking of Christ, realizing what God has done for me, how great God is. You see how it takes away self to have this mindset?

4. The Lord Is With Us; Do Not Fear

I need to be focused on God because God is always good. And if I rely on me, I’m going to find plenty that’s bad apart from the Lord. Consider with me one final incident in the book of Numbers. And if you turn with me there in Numbers chapter 13. Find ourselves in the relatively well known story. The spies have been sent into Canaan to check out the land. And you talk about a people who forgot the strength and the power of the Lord here. In Numbers chapter 13, beginning with me in verse 25. At the end of the 40 days, they return from spying out the land. And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran at Kadesh.

They brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. Now this is good. And they told him, We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey. And this is its fruit.

However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. In verse 30, but Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it. Then the men who had gone up with them said, We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are. So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, The land through which we have gone to spy it out is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim.

And we seem to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seem to them. And you say, This is a people who can’t win. They’re outnumbered. The city is fortified, they’re larger.

What was Caleb’s reply in verse 30? Do you think Caleb didn’t see that part of Canaan? When he went to spy out the land, did he miss that part? Did he miss all the giants roaming around? Or the relative giants? Did he miss the fact that this was going to be a bad war if it came down to man versus man? No, he was there too. He was one of the spies. He knew. And yet what did he say? Let us go up at once and occupy verse 30, for we are well able to overcome it. Why? Where did that come from? Well, let’s see in Roman, in Numbers chapter 14. Let’s get one more instance of murmuring in before the lesson is yours. Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night, and all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.

The whole congregation said to them, Would that we have died in the land of Egypt? Or would that we had died in this wilderness? Do you see this being a little dramatic? They would rather have died in Egypt or in the wilderness. Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt? And they said to one another, let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt. Verse 5, then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And note what Joshua says in verse 8. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us.

A land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bred for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. Was Joshua’s complaint? Hey, you guys are missing it. We’re going to win because we’re just better than them. No. The Lord can do it. The Lord is with us, we will conquer. We will win if we stick with the Lord. Don’t rebel against the Lord. Don’t turn away. Stick with him. Realize God is going to give us the victory. And we need to realize the brothers and sisters, God will give us the victory if we trust him, if we don’t rebel against him, and if we truly immerse ourselves in his power and might that is unfathomable.

Realizing that God can do all things isn’t just a statement of belief. It is a life-changing understanding. And this is what Caleb and Joshua showed. They knew it didn’t matter who was there, God would have delivered them. It didn’t matter what the city was fortified like, God would deliver them. It didn’t matter what happened, God would deliver them. If they would simply trust in the Lord. And you see the complaining here kind of reaches a physical apex when they’ve reached the point where they say, we need to find a new leader. Moses has just brought us up here to die. It’s just a suicide mission. Is that what the Lord and our leader, Moses have left us to do? What’s going on here? And we look at that and we think, you silly people.

How can you not understand? How can you not just trust in the Lord? And then I remember. Silly self. How come I can’t just trust in the Lord? How come I can’t just remember what God has done? Why do I need physical things to teach me that God is going to provide? See, the problem in Numbers chapter 13 and 14, in chapter 11, in chapter 21, and in Exodus chapter 16 and Exodus chapter 17, and all the instances throughout the Old Testament and even the New Testament when people are grumbling, but particularly with the Israelites, there was a lack of understanding in the Lord. What he was trying to do, why he was going to do it, and the fact was they were willing to go along with God as long as it made sense to them.

When it meant stepping outside of what they saw as logical, what they saw as reasonable outside of their box, then that was it. The white flag was up. Let’s go a different way. This God stuff worked when we were getting out of Egypt. It’s not working anymore. Let’s go back. I know it was bad, but it’s at least better than here. And I wonder if I was stripped of my freedoms in this country, stripped of even just my stuff, or my job or my family. Would I have trust in the Lord? It’s easy to trust in the Lord when you’re winning battles. It’s easy to trust in the Lord when all of your needs are being provided for. And then we remember, you know what? God is providing all of my needs.

Conclusion

Victory is in the Lord. In fact, victory is only in the Lord. Amen. Will we seize it? Will we trust the Lord? Will we obey the Lord? Will we recognize that my murmuring against him, my complaining shows a lack of faith in God? How sad. And how interesting that something so relatively minor, something that can so easily permeate our lives, not only just around us, but even in and out of my own mouth, can show such a problem in my relationship with the Lord. We need to remember that murmuring against the Lord, raising a complaint against the Lord is a serious charge. Did you see how often the Lord responded to that? And how often it was not a good reaction? It was anger, it was punishment, it was problems.

He did not reward their lack of faith. He did not like their wavering in him. And God calls us to full obedience and full faith today. Will we trust in the Lord? Will we be Christians who shine as light in the world, even if we’re in a crooked and twisted generation? Will we do all things without grumbling or disputing? Will you go to God in prayer with me? Our dear God and most gracious Heavenly Father, we praise you for your greatness. We recognize you are the one true and living God. Forgive us of when we doubt, forgive us of when we stumble. Help us to trust in you. Help us to immerse ourselves in your word, reading about all the wonderful things you’ve done, all the miraculous things that you have led to come to pass.

Forgive us when we’re weak. Forgive us when we doubt. Forgive us when we complain. Forgive us when we stain and tarnish the lights that we should be shining so brightly. Thank you for sending Jesus the Christ to die on the cross for our sins. And pray that we will obey you, that we will take advantage of the grace that you offer and desire like you do to be saved, as you desire for us to be. Help us as we worship you to exalt you as the one true and living God. Help us to live, knowing that you are the one true and living God, devoting ourselves to you, picking up our cross and following after you and in the ways of Christ. As we go through the service, help us to focus, help us to remember, and in all things and all ways, help us to please and glorify you.

Keep us safe for this day, be with those who are missing. It’s in your Son’s name we do pray. Amen. We’re now dismissed to our Bible classes.