The Grumble
Scripture
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. (Exodus 15:22-25).
Manna and Quail
The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 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.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”
9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”
10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud. (Exodus 16:1-10).
Reflection
A coworker is never satisfied with his paycheck. A relative is always complaining about her loud neighbors. We all know people who never stop griping. When there’s an opportunity to complain, they don’t hesitate to do so. No matter how great things are going, some people always seem to find a reason to grumble.
After God delivered Israel through the Red Sea, with walls of water to their right and to their left of the dry ground—and then he destroyed the entire Egyptian army that followed behind them, the Israelites sang a song of praise. But their song was short lived! Only three days passed before the people began to grumble against Moses. Without drinkable water, they grumbled, but they didn’t cry out to God for help, so Moses did. Again, God answered; he provided the Israelites with water, this time, with instruction that would test their obedience.
Only a month after travelling from Egypt, the Israelites again forgot God’s miraculous provisions and began to grumble—their provisions were running out and they anticipated starvation, selectively remembering their past and forgetting God’s promises for their future. Again, when God heard their complaints, he provided for them bread and meat; again he would test their obedience, but he also showed them his glory. He showed them his presence with them.
Do we too often find ourselves like the Israelites? Do we forget who our God is and what he has done? Are we quick to grumble and slow to obey? When we replace our grumbling with gratitude, we discover a ongoing cycle of thanksgiving that takes up residence in our hearts. In this season of Lent, let us count our many blessings as we remember what the Lord has done for us. May we live out our lives in gratitude to him.
Prayer
Almighty God, please forgive us for the times we’ve grumbled, even in the midst of your abundant provisions. Help us to replace our complaining with gratitude as we remember the many reasons we have to be thankful for what you’ve done, what you are doing, and what you will do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown