Murmuring displeases God

 (Resolving Personal &
Spiritual Conflicts)
Numbers 11:1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused.The tongue is a small part of the body but it has great influence over the overall direction of one’s life. On one hand, it can be an instrument of life and blessings to those who use it wisely and constructively. On the other hand, it can be an instrument of death and self-imposed curses to those who use it carelessly and destructively. The wisdom book of Proverbs contains many powerful statements that point to the fact that our tongues need restraint or they can lead us into trouble.  Good examples of such scriptures are Proverbs 18:21 which says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” and Proverbs 21:23 which reads, “Who so keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

While the Bible clearly links our troubles with the way we use our tongues, most people do not understand this connection. If you warn them that their negative speaking is the reason for the troubles befalling them they look at you in disbelief. They think that words are just words and cannot really have that much effect on their lives. Yet, words like “sorry” and “thank you” are known to pacify the offended and to encourage good doers. A lady can marry a man from a far nation only because he has sincerely proposed love and marriage to her using his mouth. Conversely, some people have been fired from work, divorced, or lost their lives just because of one or a few careless words they said. But it seems very few people understand this connection between our words and the troubles that befall us.

 No wonder why the great divinely-inspired philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, wrote in his essay on fate, “He (man) thinks his fate alien because the copula (connection) is hidden. But the soul contains the event that shall befall it; for the event is only the actualisation of its thought, and what we pray (say) to ourselves is always granted. The event is the print of your form. It fits you like your skin.”
One of the wrong uses of our tongues that clearly stated in the Bible is murmuring or complaining. Murmuring in the Old Testament incurred the wrath of God faster than other sins. God judged murmuring of the Israelites harshly and instantly. Most of the Israelites who perished in the wilderness died mainly because of murmuring against God. It is written in Numbers 11:1, “Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.” Fire, severe plagues and leprosy were used by God to punish murmurers. Even in the New Testament murmuring is strongly condemned. 1 Corinthians 10:10 warns us, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” What happened to the murmurers in the time of Moses  is   a warning to us not to displease God through murmuring lest we should be destroyed too. Some of the ungodly souls to face severe judgment before God are the murmurers and complainers who walk after their own lusts and whose mouth speak great swearing words (Jude 16). Let us learn to speak positive words about our nation, economy, families, children and we will create a better atmosphere.

 Many husbands and wives can stand great trials but they cannot stand spouses who murmur. Murmuring irritates. But why do people murmur? Major reasons are hardships and unfulfilled desires. You have a great temptation to murmur when you have an unmet need or are going through hardships.  For instance, Israelites wanted meat and water in the wilderness but when God took His time, they complained. God was not pleased by their complaints and He allowed the destroying angel to kill some of them.  Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo said it well that murmuring is a killer disease.
God hates murmuring because He has given us the right way to approach Him when we have a need or a desire. He says in His word that we are to ask Him to meet our needs. In other words, according to God to ask Him is to get (Matthew 7:7). Asking God in prayer is the legitimate channel of having our needs and desires met by God. Murmuring, cursing, fantasising about past good times are an abomination to God.

Some people ask God in faith but when the answer takes time to be manifested they waver and begin to compare themselves with others leading them to complain saying, “But why me, God?” This displeases God so much as it implies that He is not fair and just. Beloved, know that God uses the waiting period to test the sincerity of our faith and to develop Christ-like character in us. Good things are truly good when God gives them to us in His own way and time otherwise they come with sorrow when we murmur against God.
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