Perhaps often times we do not realize it when we follow the example of the Israelites in the wilderness on their way to the promised land. The Israelites trek into the land flowing with milk and honey is symbolic of our own journey to the promised land when Yahushua returns for His people.
Are we like them? Do we complain about our daily circumstances? Do we complain not only behind closed doors but also publicly for all to hear, even unbelievers?
Let’s examine what Yahweh did to the children of Israel as a result of their murmurings:
Numbers 11:1- And when the people complained, it displeased YAHWEH: and YAHWEH heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of YAHWEH burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
As we can see, complaining is not something that is pleasing to Yahweh. Complaining is often due to a lack of faith:
Numbers 13:30- And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31- But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32- And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33- And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Numbers 14:1- And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2- And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would Elohim that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would Elohim we had died in this wilderness! 3- And wherefore hath YAHWEH brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4- And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Now after the Israelites tried to stone Moshe, Moshe’s (Moses’) supplication and prayer to Yahweh to pardon the sins of this people rather than totally consume them all at that point and make a great nation of Moshe was heard by Yahweh.
Numbers 14:27- How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28- Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith YAHWEH, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 29- Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
Brothers and sisters, do we realize the magnitude of this example?! It was for the reason of complaining that Yahweh was going to totally destroy Israel and it was for the reason of murmuring, grumbling, and complaining that Yahweh did NOT allow the children of Israel to enter the promised land!!
Does Yahweh change in this day and age? He certainly feels the same way about it now as He did then and lest we repent each time we find ourselves complaining about our circumstances, WE TOO could be rejected by Yahweh from entering His kingdom!! The implications are enormous.
There is too much of this going on in the body of Messiah and we need to repent! It is also time that all brothers and sisters stop complaining about one another:
James 5:7- Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Master. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8- You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Master is at hand. 9- Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
It is also time that the wives stop murmuring against their husbands and the husbands stop complaining about their wives!
It is particularly wicked in Yahweh’s eyes for a wife to complain about her husband or a circumstance that she thinks that her husband has created. As Solomon noted, this is a very common situation for a wife to be contentious. But Yahweh has placed the husbands in the position of authority over the wives, not unlike Yahweh placed Moshe in the position of authority over the children of Israel.
In every case that the children of Israel spoke against Moshe, Yahweh viewed it as murmuring against Him! Now let’s examine what took place to the children of Israel who spoke against one in authority over them:
Numbers 16:1- Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2- And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3- And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against _aron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and YAHWEH is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of YAHWEH? 4- And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
And what did Yahweh later do with those that stood up against Moshe?
Numbers 16:31- And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32- And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33- They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
So the children of Israel were to respect Moshe’s authority as unto Yahweh and not murmur or complain against him. This does not mean that Moshe was Yahweh but it does mean that any authority that is from Yahweh is to be obeyed and respected as unto Yahweh:
Ephesians 5:22- Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to Yahushua.
Therefore, the principles of authority is the same. This does not mean that the husband is greater than the wife in any way, shape or form. But it does mean that every husband and every wife has a certain role to fulfill before Yahweh. And there should be none of this grumbling and complaining by any spouse concerning what duty Yahweh has given us!
This goes for the husband as well as the wife. We should not despise our duty unto Yahweh, lest we fall into the same condemnation as the children of Israel who did not respect their duty, but sought to exalt themselves over their authority. I know I may receive persecution for these statements but the women’s lib. movement will not change the clear teaching of scripture!
Now let’s examine what a righteous man will do when enduring circumstances that seem unfair or unwarranted. Joseph was a righteous man. Though he did no wrong, he was sold as a slave by his own brethren. He could have spent the rest of his life complaining about his circumstances, but what did he do?
Genesis 37:28- Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Genesis 39:1- And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
He made the best of his circumstance and for that he was blessed:
Genesis 39:4- And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
After this he was unfairly thrown into prison:
Genesis 39:17- And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: 18- And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out. 19- And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. 20- And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
Yet Joseph did not murmur nor complain:
Genesis 39:21- But YAHWEH was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
After this, Yahweh gave Joseph the interpretation of 2 dreams that the servants of Pharoah had and it was 2 years before anyone knew of it. But Joseph bided his time and committed himself to Him who judges righteously and finally Yahweh delivered him and made him 2nd in command over all Egypt!
If only we as children of Yahweh could follow that same example! Now let’s examine a key difference between 12 disciples of Yahushua and all the others whom Yahushua did not choose:
Luke 5:30- But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
Luke 5:2- And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
Luke 19:7- And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
John 6:41- The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
As we can see, those who were blinded in unbelief were the murmurers. But the true disciples did not murmur:
John 6:57- As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58- This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59- These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60- Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61- When Yahushua knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62- What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63- It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64- But there are some of you that believe not. For Yahushua knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65- And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66- From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67- Then said Yahushua unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68- Then Simon Kepha answered him, Rabbi, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Somebody please show me one example of Yahushua complaining about HIS circumstances? Yahushua did not complain! Yet, one might say that He had every right to! He was perfect and sinless before Yahweh yet He was marred more than any man and He was tortured, hung and killed by his enemies.
Somebody please show me one example of Yahushua complaining about HIS circumstances? Yahushua did not complain! Yet, one might say that He had every right to! He was perfect and sinless before Yahweh yet He was marred more than any man and He was tortured, hung and killed by his enemies.
Brothers and sisters, I would like to say that I believe whatever situation you are in, it is ordained by Yahweh!
Philippians 2:12- Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13- For it is YAHWEH which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:14- Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
“all things”!!
Philippians 2:15- That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of YAHWEH, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16- Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of the Messiah, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Will our journey to the promised land come to end in the following fashion?:
Numbers 11:1- And when the people complained, it displeased YAHWEH: and YAHWEH heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of YAHWEH burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Numbers 14:22 – Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23- Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
Numbers 16:31- And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
Or will we learn from their example?
1 Corinthians 10:8- Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9- Neither let us tempt the Messiah, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10- Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11- Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
and again:
Psalms 106:21- They forgat El their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; 22- Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea. 23- Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them. 24- Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word: 25- But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of YAHWEH. 26- Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness: 27- To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
We surely should not be among the Complainers, Grumblers, Murmurers against Yahweh! It is particularly wicked to complain about Yahweh’s chastening:
Lamentations 3:37- Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when YAHWEH commandeth it not? 38- Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? 39- Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? 40- Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to YAHWEH.
Surely, we must not complain..but search and try our ways to see if they are righteous. And then repent and turn again to Yahweh!
So what shall we do next time some difficult circumstance should befall us? Certainly it is not an evil thing to pray for Yahweh to deliver us. This is what we are supposed to do.
Psalms 50:15- And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Along with prayer, I believe the best thing for us to do is..PRAISE YAHWEH! Give Him the praise no matter what life’s trials might be. Yahweh often tests us to see if we will still serve Him and praise Him when in an unpleasant situation. We must endure brethren! I pray that we all do.
Let’s heed the words of the psalmist:
Psalms 146:1- Praise ye YAHWEH. Praise YAHWEH, O my soul. 2- While I live will I praise YAHWEH: I will sing praises unto my Elohim while I have any being. 3- Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4- His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. 5- Joyful is he that hath the El of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in YAHWEH his Elohim: 6- Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: 7- Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. YAHWEH looseth the prisoners: 8- YAHWEH openeth the eyes of the blind: YAHWEH raiseth them that are bowed down: YAHWEH loveth the righteous: 9- YAHWEH preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. 10- YAHWEH shall reign for ever, even thy Elohim, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye YAHWEH.
Yahweh shall reign over all things. Therefore let us put our hope and trust in Him that He is leading us in that direction.
Proverbs 3:5- Trust in YAHWEH with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6- In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.