The Mumble and Grumble Gang

O.T. #175  "The Mumble and Grumble Gang"
Nov. 22, 2013
Exodus 15-Part 3
So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" Exodus 15:24 NIV

LET IT GLOW

How many times, when our son was growing up, did I hear him ask what was for supper before he finished eating lunch? Do boys ever get their belly full? We talk about them having hollow legs when they are teenagers. I don't think it ever stops when they become an adult. Eating is a habit, a hobby, a pleasure, a weakness, a must, and a requirement for survival. Drinking can be included. We have to eat and drink in order to keep living. However, we don't have to daily drink liquor, soda pop, punch, sweetened water. Are we thankful for plain water that God provides for us? Are we any different from the Israelites?

We just heard, rather, we read the first song recorded in the Bible. It was sung by Moses and his sister Mariam.
Exodus began with sighing, but because of redemption, we now see the nation singing. Note that this song exalts God, for the Lord is referred to at least forty-five times in these eighteen verses. 'They praised God for His:

• redemption (verses 1-10),
• guidance (verses 11-13),
• and victory (verses 14-17). (Wiersbe)

Miriam led the choir of women as they praised the Lord. They also played tambourines. Shouldn't we do the same?

Verse 18 NIV says, The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
Jesus, the Son of God shall be king of all and for all eternity.
Psalm 103:19 states, The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
Our God has always been in control. Is He on the throne our life?
Daniel 4:34c says, His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

Oh, how people need to recognize this! It is comforting to me to know God has always been, is now in our present time, and will be always reigning. Isaiah calls Him Everlasting Father.
How do you feel about this?

LET IT GROW

Moses and Aaron talked about the Israelites traveling into the desert. Actually, they talked to Pharaoh more than ten times about his giving them permission for their journey to go worship God in the desert. We know how that turned out. (Scriptures do not say if Pharaoh drowned with his army or not. I just always assumed he led them, but maybe not.)

We just read of the special provision of escape and victory God gave the Israelites. Now they pick up and march for three days in the wilderness. Remember, there are about 2 million of these folks.

So what happens to the Israelites?

• They went 3 days in the wilderness and found no water (verse 22).  Do you think they were grumbling and thirsty?
• They came to a place called Marah. Marah, (pronounced maw-raw'), means bitter, to rebel, be disobedient, to disobey. I think the Israelites were at the right place, for it reflected their attitude.
• They could not drink the waters of Marah for they were bitter.
• The people murmured against Moses. (NIV uses "grumbled") They didn't trust God to supply their needs.
• They asked, "What are we to drink?"

The personalized declarations of their ode to the Lord sung three days earlier vanished into thin air. Their belief of Moses faded out of the picture. (MacArthur)

What did Moses do? He cried out to the LORD (verse 25).
God immediately showed Moses what to do to make the waters sweet. He showed Moses a piece of wood, a tree. Moses threw it into the bitter water and it became sweet water.

This must have been a miracle by which God demonstrated His willingness and ability to look after His people in a hostile environment. (MacArthur)

Can we throw a piece of wood and make the bitter sweet? When we hear a conversation going south, people expressing criticism and bitterness, we can throw in a few words of encouragement and turn the discussion into sweet talk. I need to develop this skill. Also, I need to get out of the mumble and grumble gang.
About what do we mumble and grumble?

LET IT GO

Sing praises to my Lord Jesus all the day long.

Keep Him on the throne of my life and heart.

Leave the mumble and grumble words, changing them into sweet words.

Get me a tambourine and sing.