1157. Mutterings and Murmurings

Mutterings and Murmurings

"Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer" (1Co_10:10).

The children of Israel murmured for water, they murmured for bread, they murmured for flesh, they murmured at Moses, they murmured at Aaron, they murmured at God.

The carnal Christian is a bundle of murmurs. He is discontented, dissatisfied, disturbed. He has broken touch with his God and lost his joy; he bears a continual burden because of his backslidings.

God, in recounting Israel's sins, placed murmuring last. Is this because murmuring was the most grievous of Israel's sins? Worse than wilderness wanderings? worse than lusting for the fleshpots of Egypt? worse than idolatry? worse than fornication? and worse than tempting God?

At least, God says, "Do all things without murmuring." Never fret! Never be anxious! Never complain! Be not rash with thy mouth! "Who art thou that speakest against God?" If thy way is dark, and the waters are rough, just wait and trust; e'er the morning break He will come unto thee, walking upon the water, and will say unto thee, "Peace, be still."

"He leadeth me, oh, blessed thought,

Oh, words with Heavenly comfort fraught;

Whate'er I do, where'er I be,

Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me."

Murmuring is a child of unbelief; it results from a lack of confidence. Paul lived in perfect trust and never complained. He could sing quite as graciously in a Philippian jail as in the Colosse dwelling of the well-to-do Philemon. He had learned in whatsoever state he was, therewith to be content. Let us no longer walk in envyings and in strife and murmurings, but let us walk in love and in joy and peace.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR