You Can Complain or You Can Trust

Introduction

Its been about a month since the children of Israel left Egypt. They saw the miracles of the plagues, were escorted practically out of the city by having all kinds of material goods thrown at them, they were trapped at the Red Sea and saw probably the greatest miracle in the OT with the parting of the Red Sea and then just came from the miracle of the sweetening of the bitter waters of Marah in the previous chapter.

Now we see their murmuring (complaining). I would like to look at God’s provision of the manna and Israel’s complaining as a challenge to us that either we can complain about our circumstances or we can trust God.

Exodus 16:1–7 AV

1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. 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. 4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. 5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. 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?

1. Characteristics of Complaining

For the first half of this message lets look at some characteristics of complaining in the example of the Israelites.

A. Complaining is Habitual

Throughout the wilderness wanderings we find the Israelites constantly complaining - anytime anything went wrong they murmured.

It’s almost like they were addicted to it - they complained at the Red Sea, they complained at the bitter waters of Marah.

The complainer doesn’t wait very long for a problem to hang around. They start complaining as soon as the problem arises - and even sometimes BEFORE the problem arises.

What if we were as quick to praise God as we are to complain about life?

B. Complaining is Contagious

Verse 2 says the ‘whole congregation’ was involved in the complaining.

One complaining church member can infect the whole church.

Next week I get my second COVID shot - I don’t want to infect anyone.

We need to be vaccinated against gossip, complaining, and bad attitudes!

C. Complaining is Inexcusable

They were so out of touch that they accused Moses and Aaron of bringing them into the wilderness to kill them - it’s ridiculous - they are totally out of touch.

There’s no excuse for this - God has already shown that He is able to deliver them - yet they come up with ludicrous reasons to complain.

Never forget that the only thing we deserve is punishment for our sin - but by God’s grace and mercy we have forgiveness - gratefulness is a great cure or vaccine against complaining!

D. Complaining is Untrue

Then look at v. 3 again and see how they spoke of Egypt - reminds me of people who talk about the good old days.

Now there’s nothing wrong with nostalgia, or appreciating your history / past. But using the past as a basis for complaining about the future is just dishonest and untrue in itself.

Matthew Henry,

“But discontent magnifies what is past, and disparages what is present without regard to truth or reason. None talk more absurdly than complainers.”

These people talk about how it used to be, how much better it was, and we need to get back to how things were.

Our ‘vision’ can be really jaded when we enter a time of complaining - we all have to be careful.

E. Complaining is Pointless

Complainers never have a real solution. They only have bizarre and weird answers like - let’s go back to Egypt! The way it was was better!

Well maybe you could pray.

Complaining and complainers only make the problem worse - they really don’t have Bible-based plans.

They’re negative people and are usually against any real progress in the church etc.

F. Complaining is Selfish

The complainer really only sees themselves. He doesn’t really care about others - but how circumstances are affecting him.

Oh they may act like they ‘care’, but only as a smoke screen to advance their selfish interests.

Their complaining reveals their true heart.

G. Complaining is Blasphemous

Exodus 16:7–8 AV

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.

Their complaining was really against God. People who complain about leaders in the church in this way are really just complaining about God and His Biblical direction.

We tend to blame others, but in reality it is blaming God.

H. Complaining is Faithless

And finally, in line with our theme this year, complaining certainly doesn’t move Forward by Faith.

It’s actually a lack of faith - unbelief and distrust and His plan. Let’s see this in our second point.

Rather than being complaining and faithless ...

2. We Must Trust God’s Provision

Now Israel had already seen God provide multiple times and in multiple ways. And so have you and I. But how easily we forget. Let me give you for quick areas to help you trust in God’s provision and minimize complaining.

A. Trust that He Cares

Our God is a God that is rich in grace and mercy.

Romans 5:20 AV

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

They really were blaspheming and blaming God here…accusing him of putting them in this situation. But God was putting them in a situation to care for them in special ways.

In addition, God could have just destroyed them after all their ungrateful complaining. But He didn’t.

So trust that He cares about you no matter the situation you find yourself in.

B. Trust His Wisdom

God knows what He is doing. He brought them to this place to provide for them in a special and very wise way. Look at the manna.

Name - manna means ‘what is it?’ They didn’t understand everything God was doing and how he would provide. We many not know ‘what it is’ but we can still trust His wisdom.

He was providing bread and food for them - a heavenly provision.

Exodus 16:31 AV

31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

It was about the size of a pea - sometimes God’s ways can seem pretty small but they are mighty.

It tasted like honey. God’s way will taste good - it will be beneficial.

Exodus 16:35 AV

35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

They lived on it for 40 years - God’s way is beneficial, sustaining, and always the wisest way.

Remember he cares, trust his wisdom, and

C. Trust His Instruction

God is going to give them some instruction about working in his provision. It wasn’t just a handout…they had to go out and gather it.

God’s miracles are not meant to encourage our laziness. They had ot gather their own food.

Exodus 16:16 AV

16 This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.

They gathered about two quarts a person. If they got greedy and gathered more, it would rot.

Exodus 16:20 AV

20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

God didn’t want them to be lazy and gluttonous - but to have disciplined appetites.

He also wanted to have them do this daily - no storing up for weeks, months, and years - no storehouse of riches. Trusting that his daily instruction was enough.

And it was everyday, and early. If they were lazy one morning, well the sun melted it away.

Exodus 16:21 AV

21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.

God expects us to follow His direction and instruction. We can trust His way - it’s the best way - he is wise and caring, and...

D. Trust In His Gifts

This manna pictures two others gifts of God.

Exodus 16:15 AV

15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

His Son Jesus Christ is a gift

John 3:16 AV

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

the manna was white and pure and our Lord is the same. The manna gave them life in the desert and Jesus gives us eternal life.

John 14:6 AV

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

And the Word of God is a gift.

The word of God is to be eaten

Romans 10:8 AV

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

God’s Word should be consumed every day - without the manna, Israel would perish and without the word we die.

Psalm 12:6 AV

6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Psalm 19:10 AV

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The Bible, like manna, is a sweet taste to us.

CONCLUSION

So you have two options - you can complain or you can trust. Complaining is pointless, untrue, ungrateful, and faithless.

But know that you can trust that God cares, that He is wise, that His instruction is right for you, and that His gifts are perfect (Jesus and the Word).