Why Must We Grumble?

Since it is the Passover time, I have been reading Exodus and about God leading the Israelites out of Egypt and one of the things that stood out to me is that we, as humans, are very good at finding things to grumble about. When Moses first comes back to Egypt and tells Pharaoh to let the people go, Pharaoh doubles the work load of the Israelites because he thinks they are complaining because they are lazy and not working hard enough. The reaction of the Israelites was "May the Lord look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." (Exodus 5:21). When Moses tells them that the Lord will bring them out of their bondage to the Egyptians, the Israelites would not listen because of their discouragement and bondage (Exodus 6:6, 9).

Then after the Father displays His awesome majesty and leads His people out of Egypt, all men women, children, and livestock. After the Israelites plunder the Egyptians because the Lord made them favorably disposed. Pharaoh decides to pursue them in the desert. When the Israelites see this, is their first reaction, "Father you saved us once from the Egyptians and gave us all their plunder, I know you can do it again"? No. Their reaction is, " Why did you bring us into the desert to die? Was their not enough room for our graves in Egypt?" (Exodus 14:11). But yet again, the Father displays is majesty by putting Himself between Israel and their enemies, parting the Red Sea so they can cross on dry ground, AND completely destroying the Egyptian army when they try to pursue the Israelites.   

Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord shattered the enemy. In the greatness of Your majesty You threw down those who opposed You...Who among the gods is like You, O Lord? Who is like You - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?  Exodus 15:6-7,11

Now after the Lord has delivered them from the Egyptians, not once, but twice, do the Israelites put their full trust in God? Let's see...they are in the desert for three days without water and what do they do? They grumble. What is the Lord's answer? He provides water for them to drink and then promised to give them complete health if they follow His ways (Exodus 15:22-26).

Now will they trust? Nope, once again they begin to grumble, "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." (Exodus 16:3). Once again the Lord provides by raining manna from heaven for them to eat and tells them to gather only what they need for that day because He will provide for them every day, except on the sixth day they are suppose to gather double so they can rest on the seventh day. What do some people do, they gathered more than they needed and saved some for the next day. However, what they had left until morning was full of maggots because they had disobeyed God. For forty years, the Lord provided enough food for the Israelites to eat.

When they camped at Rephidum in the desert, there was no water and what did they do? Hadn't the Lord provided water for them before? Hadn't He rained down food for them when they needed? Yes, but once again Israel quarreled with Moses about wanting water and once again the Lord provided water. Are you sensing a pattern yet?

Next the Lord promises to make Israel His treasured possession and a kingdom of priests and a holy nation if they fully obey His commands and Israel promises to obey all His words (Exodus 19:5-8). Yet when Moses goes to talk with the Father on Mount Sinai and is gone for a while, Israel turns their back on God and asks Aaron to make them new Gods (Exodus 32:1).

During the whole time in the desert, the Lord was with them in a cloud by day and fire by night. He ALWAYS provided for their needs. But the Israelites continue to grumble about their hardships. Their cloths did not wear, they had food rained down, water provided from rocks, yet they grumbled. And when it was time to take possession of the land flowing with milk and honey, they sent a group to bring a report of the land. When it came back that they people living there were very large and the cities fortified, once again Israel reacts by saying, "If only we had died in Egypt (apparently that was a common theme)! Or in this desert! Why did the Lord bring us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" (Numbers 14:2-4).

Quick recap, the Lord delivered the people from Egypt. Check. He parted the Red Sea and completely destroyed the Egyptian army. Check. He provided water multiple times. Check. He rained down food from heaven. Check. Their cloths and sandals did not wear. Check. His presence was with them day and night. Check. But He will not be able to provide the victory against these strong people? Uncheck. 

I didn't write all of this to judge the people about all their grumble and to say, "Oh, look at me. I'm so awesome. I would have never grumble if I lived back then ('Cause really we probably would have grumble too)." I wrote this to highlight the fact that it is so easy to grumble, even after the Lord displays miracle after miracle and provides for everyone of our needs. And to ask the question: Why must we always grumble? Human nature would probably be the best answer. That is why we have to cloth ourselves with Jesus for He has provided the way (Romans 13:14). Jesus walked knowing that He was going to be the sacrifice for us. When His time came did He say, "Oh Lord, if only I had never been born! Why did you bring me here to be crucified?!" No, His response was, "Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will." (Mark 14:36).

Honestly, the Father could have delivered Israel from Egypt and had them taken possession of the promise land without all of these trials. Why didn't He? It was so the He could display His mighty hand and show His glory. In everything we go through and in everything we do we are to glorify the Father. The time has come that His sons are to be glorified so we can glorify Him (John 17)!

"That's All Folks!"