Grumbling 

Marilyn Appleby

Some people are born grumblers aren’t they—maybe you know one! The children of Israel were certainly grumblers. Despite the fact that God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt through the leadership of Moses, all they did was complain. In the account from Exodus 17 the people were moaning about the fact that they had no water. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” They had already forgotten how desperate their lives were before they were freed from slavery.

Moses, like many leaders—past and present— was first in line to bear the brunt of complaints along with the expectation to fix the situation. Leaders have a tough time as they will never please all the people all the time, but God will support and enable them provided they look to Him and heed his guidance. As for the rest of us, we need to concentrate on the positives, be thankful for all the good outcomes any leaders have worked so hard to provide for us.

This applies to our politicians, church leaders and families. Most of all we need to give thanks for Jesus Christ, the ultimate leader and the one we endeavour to follow in every way and in every walk of life; He has only our best interests at heart and we give Him thanks for his sacrifice of love through his death on the cross. 

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and
innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted
generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
Philippians 2:14-15