Eyes Wide Open: 41-Day Lenten Devotional Sample

Responding to Grumblers

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” - John 7:38

When Moses was leading Israel through the wilderness, the Bible tells us the people grumbled against him about not having food, not having water, quarreling to the point of saying they wished they had remained in Egypt or perished. And this just after God’s almighty hand had saved them by crossing the Red Sea on dry ground (Exod. 14:16, Num. 20:2-5).

Grumbling is distrust. It communicates to God that he isn’t doing it right and they could do much better. However, it was a sinful response to a genuine problem—being without water in the desert. 

From time to time you might find yourself dealing with grumbling, rebellious people too. This could be with your family, co-workers or employees, classmates, or people in your community.

It is our instinctive reaction to resent the grumbling because we know whining is never the right way to respond to a problem. Or we take it personally and get wounded, responding in frustration, annoyance, and grumbling ourselves. 

But this doesn’t lead to good, loving, and holy outcomes. In fact, quite the opposite as we see happen to Moses in Exodus 20:10 and Numbers 20:10-11. Moses, being fed up with the Israelites’ grumbling and taking it personally, responds to them in disobedience to the way God had instructed him. He strikes the rock twice with his staff instead of speaking to it to yield its water. 

In his striking the rock, we are reminded of Christ, and the beating Jesus took because of all of the bad things we have ever done or will do, not just our grumbling. He took the punishment we deserve for every one of our sins. And in return, we receive his life-giving water; his forgiveness and new life. 

In light of humbly seeing ourselves in this way, we can respond in grace and compassion, reminding ourselves of what Christ endured because of our sin.

Prayer: Lord, You endured so much and sacrificed so much for me. Help me to humbly see myself in this light to then be more patient and compassionate with the grumblers in my own life. Amen.

- Written by Colleen Cooper