What God Thinks about Grumbling

Read Exod 16:1-12

- reports in the church of grumbling: new people, old people, even leaders

- must stop if we are going to see the Lord work in 1990.

- in Exodus 16, God was merciful and provided for the people

- but in Numbers, the Lord’s patience came to an end:

Numbers 11:1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

Numbers 14:27ff “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 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.

God’s judgment was to allow the peoples’ complaint to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. They complained about dying in the desert. They would die in the desert.

Lest we think that grumbling and complaining is a trivial matter:

1. Grumbling is a sin against God.

- its a sin on a par with idolatry and sexual immorality

1 Corinthians 10:7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

Galatians 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

If we had sexual immorality in this church, would you be concerned?

If we had drunkenness, would you be concerned?

If we had idolatry or witchcraft in this church, would you be concerned?

Well, we have grumbling and complaining, and God equates that with all of the above. It is sin. It is an abomination in His sight.

And by the way, whatever or whoever you grumble and complain about, God takes it personally.

Exodus 16:8 Moses also said, Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”

Numbers 16:11 It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?

2. Grumbling is a hindrance to God’s work.

Acts 6:1-2 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

The potential effect of the complaining going on in the early church was to detract from the ministry of the Word of God.

The church at Philippi. There was dischord. There was grumbling and arguing.

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing

Paul told the church at Philippi that they ought to consider Christ’s attitude.

James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

3. Grumbling is a snare to God’s people.

2 Samuel 15:1 In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice.”

Absalom traded on people’s discontent. Their grumbling played right into his hands. It led directly to his rebellion against his father, king David. And that led to disaster. The work of God was compromised in the nation. And it all began with grumbling and complaining.

Proverbs 6:16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

That’s what grumbling does: it stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirs up dissension

And that’s how God feels about it - he detests it.

What are the effects of grumbling and complaining in the church?

Proverbs 11:9 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor

Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword

Proverbs 15:4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

What sort of impact do you think your words have on new Christians or young Christians who come into our church? Nothing will turn a person off Christianity faster than to hear Christians complaining and griping in the church. Grumbling causes stumbling.

Mark 9:42 “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

4. Grumbling will be judged by God.

Usually we grumble when things aren’t going exactly as we want them to.

James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

What’s the remedy for grumbling? What’s the cure for a critical, complaining spirit?

1. Getting our heart right.

Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Getting our thoughts right

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

3. Getting our mouths right

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Proverbs 4:24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.