Grumbling vs Gratitude

Article written by Pastor Phil Bray

    “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.” (Num 11:1). Can you see the foggy haze of smoke smearing the blue afternoon sky? Can you smell the charred stench of burning hair and human flesh? Can you hear the screaming of those set ablaze by divine fire? Can you hear the wailing horror of those who watched friends and family ignited on the spot like human torches? 

    The scene is unimaginable isn't it? It is repulsive to even think about, and yet it happened. What was the sin that caused God to smite the people with fire? Was it murder, sexual immorality, or idolatry? No. It was grumbling. It was complaining. The sin of the people that ignited the anger of God so that He blazed forth in judgment against them was the ungrateful grumbling of people who believed they deserved better than they were receiving, who were displeased with God’s sovereign providence. 

    They did not like the wilderness experience. They did not like traveling around the wilderness at the direction of YHWH. They did not like the food God was providing. They did not like the new life that God had given them. They started to dream of slavery again, actually thinking that it would be better to still be enslaved to sin, than to live in constant dependence upon and submission to God. “They became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD;”. 

    Lest we think this is Old Testament and no longer relevant for us listen to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10. Speaking of this generation of Israelites he wrote, “Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved. And do not be idolaters, … nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor 10:5-7a, 10-12). 

    Grumbling is the opposite of gratitude. “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:18). God’s will is that in every circumstance and situation of life, whether good or bad, we are to be those who give thanks to God. We live by faith in God’s omniscient wisdom and sovereign power to accomplish the promise of Romans 8:28, to bring about good from any and all circumstances in our lives. That means we can be pleased with what God ordains for us to experience. We may not understand why something is so hard and painful but we can praise God and give thanks that none of our suffering is wasted, as John Piper has said. God uses all things, he works all things together for good, for them that love God and are called according to His purpose. 

    When you grumble about the weather, about the busy schedule, about the projects and work piling up, about the political atmosphere, or the state of the country you are sinning against the Lord. When you complain about your health, your lack of financial freedom, or your child’s school experience you are sinning against the Lord. When we complain and grumble we are declaring that we do not deserve to experience the pain and hardship we are currently experiencing. We are declaring that God is unjust and unkind and unloving to treat us this way. We are declaring that God is unwise, that we actually know better than He does about what we need most. When we complain and grumble we are sinning gravely against the gracious and good God who loved us and gave Himself up for us to save us from this perverse and evil world in rebellion against Him. 
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    Will life sometimes be hard? Of course it will, but even in the valley of the shadow of death our God is with us. He will not abandon us and He has promised to work all things together for the good of them who love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). That means we can trust Him! That means we ought to be giving thanks rather than giving others or God a piece of our mind. What is the posture of your heart? Will you learn from those who died as human torches because of their grumbling and complaining about adversity?