Murmurers and Complainers

by R. J. Evans

The Apostle Paul, in speaking of the Israelites, said, “nor murmur, as some of them also murmured and were destroyed by the destroyer” (1 Cor. 10:10).  To the Philippians, Paul said, “Do all things without murmuring and complaining”  (Phil. 2:14).  To murmur and complain is to give audible expression of dissatisfaction.  Some instances of murmuring and complaining during the history of the Israelites are recorded in Exodus 16, Numbers 14 & 16.  Paul points to the Israelites as a warning to Christians who murmur and complain.  Thus, both are condemned  in the Old and New Testaments.  And, no doubt, there are those among us today who need to heed Paul’s warnings.  In this article, we shall focus our attention on some of the characteristics of murmurers and complainers that we read about in Scripture.  They expressed: 

1. Unbelief.  In most cases, the root of all murmuring and complaining  against God and His servants is unbelief or a lack of faith.  God is no longer relied upon and trusted; God, or His servants,  are accused of treating and leading in the wrong way.  This was exactly the problem with the Israelites in the wilderness. 

2. Ingratitude.  Murmuring and complaining indicates a spirit of ungratefulness for all the blessings received.  This was true of Israel.  Just one month after being delivered from Egyptian bondage, the people began to murmur and complain.  Think of how much can be forgotten in such a brief period of time!  Having entered the wilderness, with supplies running low, the people began to murmur by saying, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in Egypt, when we ate bread to the full!  For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger”  (Ex. 16:3). 

3. Accuse God.  The murmurer and complainer attempts to accuse God of dealing with him harshly and unjustly.  In essence, he complains against God.  That is precisely what the Jews were doing in the wilderness.  This manifests a narrow, self-centered, self-pitying, egotistic spirit on the part of the complainer. 

4. Likely to exaggerate.  I seriously doubt that the Israelites were as well off in Egypt as they claimed to be in Exodus 16:3.  But in order to make their present situation appear as dark and grim as possible, they began magnifying the so-called advantages they had while they were slaves in Egypt.  But bear in mind that they were not so excited about those conditions when they were living under them! 

5.  A masked rebellion against God.  In Exodus 16:2, we are told that “the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.”  But this murmuring, even though it was verbally directed toward Moses and Aaron, was in reality, against  God.  What the people said in verse three was simply an attempt to mask their murmurings against God, for Moses told them in verse eight: “Your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord.” (Also see Jude 16.) 

6. A feeling of superiority.  Those who murmur and complain often reveal a sense of feeling superior to others.  In other words, they think they are entitled to do what they are doing because of their great importance and intellect.   It reminds me of what Paul warned against in Romans 12:3— “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God had dealt to each one a measure of faith.”   

Yes, at times, it may be easier to murmur and complain than it is to work and pray. In the local church great harm can result from murmuring and complaining. It is much like what Paul told the Galatians: “But if you bite and devour one another, beware, lest you be consumed by one another” (Gal. 5:15).  It is always much easier to tear down than it is to build up.  Some never see any good; they always have a negative, pessimistic outlook; nothing ever pleases them.  If this is not stopped, a murmuring, complaining spirit can sweep through a congregation and do much damage to it. It creates unrest and dissatisfaction; it alienates; it creates suspicions and distrust; it cultivates a fault-finding, hyper-critical attitude; it creates factions; and it lowers the over-all morale of a congregation. Of this principle, Paul said, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?”  (1 Cor. 5:6).   

No doubt, there are many complaints that can be offered if all someone ever does is look for things to be critical about.  We suggest the best remedy for this is to get busy in the Lord’s service, faithfully doing His will, encouraging others to do the same, and work in a constructive manner to improve where improvements are needed—so that we will not have time to sit around looking for something to murmur and complain about.  Again, in referring to the sins of Israel, we are reminded that Paul told the Corinthians not to murmur, “as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer” (1 Cor. 10:10).

 

 

Other Articles by R. J. Evans 
Responding to Our Enemies
Envy and Jealousy
I Am Praying For You
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire