I am a part of three different groups where I share my Bible devotions every day. One of those groups is my family. I look forward to reading what each member of my family has read in their Bible reading. We read the same passages, so it is fresh in my mind and heart. I look forward to it. I also have another group of friends training to be in the ministry. They have allowed me to be a part of their group to share our devotions together. I also have a group in Argentina with some of the people from the church we planted in 2017. It is a pleasure to share what I am reading and to read the perspectives of others as they are reading God’s Word, I enjoy it each day!

I am including something I shared with my friends that share their devotions with me. To understand, we must read Exodus 16:2-3, and 6-8…

“² And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: ³ And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:2-3

“⁶ And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: ⁷ And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? ⁸ And Moses said, This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.” Exodus 16:6-8

Is my murmuring and complaining really that big of a deal?

The congregation of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron because they did not have something to eat. Not many days before, the congregation of Israel experienced the mighty hand of God and walked on dry land walled by the waters of the Red Sea. But now, in this passage, they complain and murmur. It is interesting that Moses told them that their murmurings were not against him, but against God, because God is the one who brought them out of Egypt and led them to that very place in the desert. So their complaints and murmurings were actually against God. God could have provided them food along the way, but did not, just to test or prove them. If God would do so to the nation of Israel, a question we must ask as Christians is, Will he do the same to us? I believe the answer is yes. God takes us to places of hardship to test and/or prove us. In these times as well as any other time, we should not murmur or complain.

Could it be that when I complain or murmur, that I am doing so against God? I hope not, but the reality is that God has led me to this point in my life. So then, in a sense, the answer is yes, when I murmur and complain, I am doing so against God. I fear God, I don’t want to murmur against Him. Therefore, I don’t want to murmur or complain at all. In times when I want to complain, instead, I should go directly to God in prayer and “vent” to Him, instead of complaining to others. I trust in God, wherever He leads me, I will follow, even if it means that I pass through times when I am tempted to complain or murmur.