ABOUT THIS THING CALLED MURMURING
If God said something once in the Bible it is important or else He would not have said it. But if
God says something over and over, we should really pay attention. God is quite clear and very spe-
cific when He commands us, “Do all things without murmurings and questionings” (Phil. 2:14). In 1
Corinthians 10 God describes five failures of the Israelites of the Old Testament as examples to warn
Christians of five things that can cause us to lose our salvation: 1--Don’t lust after evil things (v. 6); 2
--Don’t become idolaters (v. 7); 3--Don’t commit sexual infidelity (v. 8); 4--Don’t tempt Christ (v. 9);
5--Don’t murmur (v. 10). We can learn a lot about what God thinks of an activity by the activities
which keep it company.
After God’s call for Moses to deliver the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, Moses went be-
fore Pharaoh to tell him to let God’s people go (Ex. 3:17). Pharaoh not only refused, but made their
work even harder. The elders of Israel then went to Pharaoh to appeal the edict, but Pharaoh refused to
listen. As the elders came out from Pharaoh, they turned to Moses and said, “...The Lord look upon you
and judge: because you have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of
his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us” (Ex. 3:32). Why should we not murmur?
Consider the following points:
1. Murmuring discourages others. The first consequence of murmuring is discouragement.
Moses wanted to do God’s will, but when the elders of Israel murmured against him (Ex. 5:21), Moses
became discouraged and began to question God’s will for his life (Ex. 5:22-23). 2. Murmuring is contagious. As a result of the elders of Israel complaining and murmuring,
Moses also complained. Murmuring and complaining always breeds more murmuring and com-
plaining. It is like a cancer--it keeps growing.
3. Murmurers love company. They often operate in groups. In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
it is always the scribes, the Pharisees or the Sadducees murmuring against Jesus (Luke 5:30; 15:2;
John 6: 41). 4. Murmuring is sin. What then will keep us from murmuring? In Exodus 16:8 Moses said to the
people, “...The Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your
murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.” Realize murmuring is against God--and it is sin.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: A Christian is a living sermon--whether or not he ever preaches a
word!
Have a great week!
Love ya,
Jesse
God says something over and over, we should really pay attention. God is quite clear and very spe-
cific when He commands us, “Do all things without murmurings and questionings” (Phil. 2:14). In 1
Corinthians 10 God describes five failures of the Israelites of the Old Testament as examples to warn
Christians of five things that can cause us to lose our salvation: 1--Don’t lust after evil things (v. 6); 2
--Don’t become idolaters (v. 7); 3--Don’t commit sexual infidelity (v. 8); 4--Don’t tempt Christ (v. 9);
5--Don’t murmur (v. 10). We can learn a lot about what God thinks of an activity by the activities
which keep it company.
After God’s call for Moses to deliver the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, Moses went be-
fore Pharaoh to tell him to let God’s people go (Ex. 3:17). Pharaoh not only refused, but made their
work even harder. The elders of Israel then went to Pharaoh to appeal the edict, but Pharaoh refused to
listen. As the elders came out from Pharaoh, they turned to Moses and said, “...The Lord look upon you
and judge: because you have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of
his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us” (Ex. 3:32). Why should we not murmur?
Consider the following points:
1. Murmuring discourages others. The first consequence of murmuring is discouragement.
Moses wanted to do God’s will, but when the elders of Israel murmured against him (Ex. 5:21), Moses
became discouraged and began to question God’s will for his life (Ex. 5:22-23). 2. Murmuring is contagious. As a result of the elders of Israel complaining and murmuring,
Moses also complained. Murmuring and complaining always breeds more murmuring and com-
plaining. It is like a cancer--it keeps growing.
3. Murmurers love company. They often operate in groups. In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
it is always the scribes, the Pharisees or the Sadducees murmuring against Jesus (Luke 5:30; 15:2;
John 6: 41). 4. Murmuring is sin. What then will keep us from murmuring? In Exodus 16:8 Moses said to the
people, “...The Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your
murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.” Realize murmuring is against God--and it is sin.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: A Christian is a living sermon--whether or not he ever preaches a
word!
Have a great week!
Love ya,
Jesse
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