GOD HATES MURMURINGS

The LORD in his admonitions to Believers, speaking through Paul the Apostle in his letter to the Philippians commands us to: “Do all things without murmurings and disputing” (Philippians 2:14). Christians today are guilty of murmurings against God. The sad truth is that we feel justified in doing so and are even confident in using the scriptures to justify our murmurings. We use prayers as a channel through which to deliver our murmurings to the ears of God. But for his compassion, grace and mercy we would have been destroyed.

As one study the Scriptures of the Old Testament as provided for our examples one see’s the Children of Israel, at an early point in their deliverance from bondage in Egypt; murmuring against God who brought them out with a mighty hand; as if they were merely dealing with another of their fellow mortal man. It was not long after their deliverance from Pharaoh and the mighty Egyptian Army that they started murmuring. They had just sung a song of praise to their Awesome God for His mighty acts; but having come upon the bitter waters of Marah; they forgot that: “The LORD is their God” and started murmuring against Moses the servant of their God. This continued throughout their history, that just about every instance where they were faced with some obstacle they resort to murmurings and in many instances completely turned their backs on their God. While they were in the wilderness they made Moses and Aaron; God’s appointed servants the focal point of their murmurings; making it seem as if Moses and Aaron were operating of their own accord, thereby ignoring the fact that it was God who was directing them in all of their doings. Just think of how impatient, distrusting and disgusted they were; that when Moses was in Mount Sinai with God, receiving the Commandments; they demanded that Aaron build them a God for them to worship because they felt that Moses was up in the mount too long. They were more content to worship that which they made with their hands, which was powerless, could not talk, move or hear them. Their continuous murmurings made God so angry that he swore to destroy everyone twenty (20) years and up that came out of Egypt not letting them enter the Promised Land; except Caleb and Joshua. He kept his word and also destroyed fourteen thousand seven hundred by plague plus those who were swallowed up by the earth and those consumed by fire when they plotted against Moses and Aaron. They were “God’s chosen people”. Today Christians: “God’s chosen people”, are no different in their acts of defiance against God. We just simply change the method, standard and manner of our murmurings. It is quite often manifested in the way we conduct our lives, the way we treat our  rulers, leaders, fathers, mothers, employers, wives, husbands, children and neighbors making it seem as if they are responsible for all that we go through, our failures, successes, our lack and our wants. We target people and institutions, but our murmurings are against God himself.  There is nothing that the Believer goes through that God is un-aware of. Just as the waters of the Red Sea were parted and the bitter waters of Marah were made sweet: God is able is   able to take care of all our problems if we only let him. We may even find out that some of the things we see as problems and obstacles to be removed were credits and protections for us. We like to be in control of our lives.  We determine when to obey, what to obey, where to obey, who to obey, why to obey and how much to obey; often times scoring much higher on disobedience than we do on obedience. We apply standards of self satisfaction above self sacrifice. We look forward to receiving more than giving. We expect to be helped more than we are willing to be of help. We spend more time in prayer asking God for those things which he already has provided, only because we are dissatisfied with how much we have, what we have, where we have it and how it compares with what others have. We pray and sing praises unto God and then use the same mouth to complain, curse, gossip, malign, backbite and condemn each other. We do all these things because we are not satisfied with how God is managing his world and all that is in it; ignoring the fact that he is in charge, in control, all powerful, Almighty and able. We would like him to change the world, change the people and change every situation and circumstance that we find to be not to our liking and so make things more suitable for us. We think we know what’s better and best for us; and never seem to acknowledge that God really knows best. We give little or no acknowledgement to the fact that it is God who works in us to both to will and to do of his good pleasure. God knows that we are prone to murmurings and it is for that reason he command’s us to: Do all things without murmurings and disputing, that we may be blameless and harmless. The Sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Among whom we shine as lights in the world. Now that you know God, glorify him as God and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are called in one body. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations. God hates murmurings but he inhabits the praises of his people. Let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

My friend, my brother, my sister, my child and dearest one: If you do not understand what this is all about, because you really do not know what it means to be saved: why don’t you take time today and learn about the LORD our God, the great and mighty One. Get to know him in a very personal way by reading and studying his Word. Come to Jesus today, He will not turn you away.

(Exodus 15 + 16, Numbers 11 & 14-17, John 6: 37, 1Corinthians 10, Philippians 2: 1 – 15 and 1Peter 3: 4)

I love you with the Love of the LORD.

W. Bennett