By Michele DeGarmo
“Now, when the people complained, it displeased the Lord, for the Lord heard it, and His anger
was aroused.” Numbers 11:1
Grumble, complain, moan, groan, whine, mutter, protest. Object to, speak out against, find
fault with. Any of this resonate with you? Ouch – I’m convicted!
Why is grumbling so easy to do? Why is it the first line of defense for so many people? Because
it’s sin, and sin is easy. When we grumble, it’s usually because we’re offended. We’ve taken the
bait of the enemy and believed that our own best interest has been neglected. God has
somehow forgotten what we want, need or desire and so we must let Him know that we are
displeased or disappointed. Isn’t it just like the enemy to get us to think that we’re on the same
footing with the Creator of the universe? This deception is as old as Adam and Eve and yet we
keep falling for it.
Grumbling takes our focus off of God and puts it onto our circumstances, dismissing His
goodness and telling Him that we believe the lie over the truth. It demonstrates our lack of faith
in the One who gives all good things! It’s also a demonstration of our fear. Fear of not having
what we want. Fear of God not doing what He said He would do. Is being unfaithful and living in
fear what we’re called to do? No!
In Numbers 11:1 and throughout the old and new testaments, we see God’s position on
grumbling – it displeases Him and arouses His anger. Why? Because He is such a good, good
Father, our Maker, Provider, Protector and Healer. Because He has good plans for us, plans to
prosper us and not harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). Because He created us in His image, He adores us
and He desires that our eyes remain fixed on Him out of our love and adoration for Him.
If you’re a parent, doesn’t it displease/anger you when you give your child something and they
cry when they receive it, stating they wanted something more? Or they cry when they don’t get
it but you know the timing isn’t right for that for them. I remember when my son wanted to
play the violin. That year for Christmas, my husband and I sacrificed gifting one another so that
we could get our son this violin and the red bow that he really, really wanted at the time. It was
very expensive in our eyes. It cost us everything and we were so excited to give it to him! We
knew he would be ecstatic over this violin and bow – he’d been asking for it for a long time!
Then, on Christmas morning, he opens his gift…we’re waiting with sheer excitement…and he
cries! At first I thought he was crying out of joy (as I was doing!) but no – he was angry!
His anger started a whole slew of angry responses, and no joy was found in
that gift that day. But can you see how this small example of grumbling can make the people
around you feel? And let’s bring it back to how our Creator must feel when we are complaining
of such small, insignificant things in our daily lives. He gives us all good things. He’s always therefor us. He knows exactly what we need when we need it. His timing is perfect. Perfect. Perfect.
He is PERFECT!
Please hear my heart in all of this – I’m writing this to myself as well as to you, dear reader. This
topic of grumbling hit me hard as I was searching the scriptures to find how God revealed His
glory to the Israelites. His very presence was with them – tangible – and they STILL grumbled!
Oh goodness, Lord help us!
Father God, we want to be a people of joyful gratitude. You are so, so good to us. Your Word
never fails, your timing is perfect and you supply all our needs. May we be ever so thankful for
your goodness and kindness to each one of us daily. Forgive our grumbling and work in our
hearts, Holy Spirit, to develop thanks and praise as our first response in any situation. Help us
keep our eyes focused securely on You, Lord, and all else fades away. You are faithful and true.
Thank You, Father!
