Grappling with Grumblers

Please read Exodus 17-20 and Acts 3 if you're joining me in reading through the Bible in 2012.

The Lord answered Moses, "Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." -Exodus 17:5-6 (NIV)

A few days ago, I called a friend to say hello. He interrupted to say, “As long as you’re not calling to complain, we can talk.” It turns out that a steady stream of people had been in his office this week complaining about one thing or another. He was not going to let me join the long line of grumblers. Fortunately for him, I was just calling to say hi.

In the assigned scripture for today, the Israelites were once again complaining. Even though Moses and God had delivered them from slavery to the Egyptians and promised them a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey, they still complained. They complained when they didn’t get to the Promised Land quickly enough. They complained because their water was too bitter. They complained that they ate better as slaves than they did as liberated people. Even though God provided them good water to drink at Marah, they complained again about the lack of water at Rephidim. As best as I can tell, the Israelites never prayed about any of these things; they just complained.

Moses on the other hand did pray. He cried out to the Lord about this bunch of grumblers in his midst. And God gave Moses some instructions that you may just find helpful if you’re surrounded by complainers today.

First, get away from grumblers (17:5-6). Negative people will make you negative. Chances are that if all your friends are complainers, you are too. Distance yourself from nagging, complaining people. If you don't, they'll suck the life out of you and they will impede your relationship with God.

Second, surround yourself with people you can trust. Moses was instructed to take some elders with him. People of integrity. People with the leadership skills to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

Third, take a visible reminder of God’s provision. Moses was told to take the staff that God instructed him to use in one of the plagues brought against Egypt (7:20). We all need reminders of God’s faithfulness to us, especially when we’re surrounded by people who are pulling us down with their negativity.

Finally, remember that God goes before you and is with you (17:6). You’re not alone. You’re surrounded by people you can trust. You’re surrounded with reminders of God’s provisions in the past. And God is standing beside you.

My friend and I are getting together soon. He’s been surrounded by complainers and just needs someone that he can trust, someone who will encourage him, remind him of God’s provision in the past, and remind him that God is with him now…and that’s nothing to complain about!

May God grant you grace in dealing with grumblers in your life today.