Exodus 15b-17: The Israelites' [and Your] Grumbling

"And Moses said, '. . .what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.' Then Moses said to Aaron, 'Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, "Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling."'"

Exodus 16:8b-19

Have you ever complained about something you didn't like? Have you ever grumbled because something didn't go your way? I know I have [even in the last five minutes perhaps], and I bet that you have as well. Yet this morning, let us take a moment to consider: what is that grumbling? what does our complaining tell us about our heart? Well, as we read the story of the Israelites here this morning, we will surely find out.

In the chapters of Exodus that we look at this morning, we find the great grumbling and complaining of the Israelites. In the previous chapters, the Lord had literally rescued them from slavery and split the Red Sea on their behalf, yet so very quickly we find them grumbling against the very Lord who had delivered them. First, we see their complaining when they don't have sweet water (ch. 15b), next when they do not have food (ch. 16), and finally when they don't have any water at all (ch. 17). Yet in each of these situations, the Lord provides just as he had promised (15:26). He miraculously causes the bitter water to become sweet, quite literally makes bread rain down from heaven, and makes water come out of a rock. Amidst each and every one of the Israelite's needs, there are two constants: the Lord's provision as well as the Israelite's groaning.

Before we make fun of the Israelites, let us realize that this very own sin is in our very hearts. Every single grumble or complaint that you have every had is no more righteous than any of the Israelites'. Do you know why? Because the Lord has both delivered and promised to continue delivering you,* just as he did for the Israelites. Yet, when even the minutest of troubles come, we are so quick to question the Lord and his good plan for our lives. We forget of the Lord's past salvation and quarrel against him and his sovereignty. In other words, we grumble just like the Israelites.

However, let us continue in the story of the Israelites by noting a few comforting verses that Moses has written for us, which are quoted above. In these verses, we find Moses convicting the Israelites about how they are not grumbling against Moses and Aaron, but rather directly against God, which we have already discussed. However, Moses says that even amidst this grumbling, the Lord has commanded his people to "come near" (16:9). Let us note the logical response that we would expect God to have, that is, rejection. If I were God and I had just delivered my people from a myriad of troubles both big and small, I would certainly cast them off if in their own stupidity they refused to trust in me once more. Yet, the true God is more patient that I am, and he thus commands his people to come to him, even in their complaining. Praise the Lord! Who does not cast us off amidst our failures!

So, have you grumbled or complained against the Lord? Realize this morning that this is a direct attack on God's sovereign, loving plan for your life. He has both promised to deliver and proved that deliverance to you by his Son on the cross, so therefore, how could you fail to trust in him? Yet amidst our sin, we so often do. Thus, praise the Lord who has mercy on us, and tells us to draw near to him, even amidst our ruined selves. Amen!

*There are many verses I could reference here to prove my point that I don't know which one to choose. Just go read the Bible, and they'll be everywhere. I suppose Phillipians 4:19 may be most appropriate.