All of us grumble, to be sure. However, in reading about the Israelites in Numbers 14-17, I find myself trying to understand what is behind our grumbling.
Why?
Because it appears to grieve God more than we might imagine. He killed the rebellious Israelites who kept griping about Moses' leadership. He even swallowed up into the earth the families and all those connected with these grumblers as well (Numbers 16:31-33).
Are we in imminent danger of being swallowed up into the earth every time we grumble? Probably not.
But we are in danger of being swallowed up by lack of gratitude and thankfulness for all that we are given.
Feel like grumbling about your boss? Hmm, that means you have a job.
Feel like grumbling about your child? Hmm, that means you've been given the gift of parenting.
Feel like grumbling about your spouse? Hmm, that means God has allowed you to enter into marriage.
There are a thousand things for us to grumble about. Your list probably isn't much different than mine. But a grumble list is critically short of two things: praise for God and the role of personal responsibility in creating some of those very grumbles.
You don't make enough money? Did you prepare years ago with education and self-discipline? What can you change now to move in a positive direction?
Your friend is stressing you out? Are you grumbling about that person or are you confronting yourself and him/her and saying, "Let's make this work. What do we need to do?"
For every grumble, there is an action on our part that can impact that grumble for the better. The best action of all? Swallow up your grumble before ingratitude swallows up you.
The choice is ours: grumble and grieve God or praise God and take action.
Please don't get swallowed up.
