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No Grumbling and Complaining Signs are often posted about activities that are prohibited. For example, there are signs that say “No swimming,” “No running,” “No smoking,” or “No passing” in places where these particular activities are not permitted. Ignoring the warnings can bring serious consequences and sometimes danger. Interestingly, God has a BIG warning sign for us that comes from the story of Israel. The signs says, “No Grumbling or Complaining.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that we learn any better or faster than they did. Let’s briefly rehearse what happened to them. In Exodus 15:24 they grumbled about water and in 16:2 they grumbled about being in the desert and the food they had to eat. Again in 17:3 they grumbled about water and in Numbers 14:2 they grumbled about enemies they feared. In Numbers 16:41 they grumbled because some who had rebelled the day before had died and by the time Joshua was the leader they grumbled because they didn’t like a decision the leaders had made (Josh. 9:18). Other translations use the word “murmuring” to describe all their complaining. So what did God think about all this grumbling and complaining? “In this desert your bodies will fall--every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me” (Num. 14:29) and “They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD. So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the desert, make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands” (Ps. 106:25). God says there are dangerous consequences when you have a grumbling and complaining attitude. Read the sign: Stop Grumbling and Complaining. Then stop grumbling and complaining and start praising and thanking.
—Ricky |
