Murmuring against God is a recurring theme in the Bible, often reflecting a spirit of discontent, rebellion, and lack of faith among God's people. This behavior is characterized by grumbling, complaining, or expressing dissatisfaction with God's provision, guidance, or commands. The Bible provides several instances where murmuring against God leads to divine displeasure and consequences.

Old Testament Instances

1. The Israelites in the Wilderness: One of the most notable examples of murmuring against God occurs during the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Despite witnessing miraculous deliverance and provision, the Israelites frequently complained against God and Moses. In Exodus 16:2-3, the congregation grumbled about the lack of food, saying, "If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread! But you have brought us into this wilderness to starve this whole assembly to death." God responded by providing manna, yet their murmuring continued.

2. The Incident of the Spies: In Numbers 14:2-4, after the report of the spies, the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, expressing a desire to return to Egypt. They said, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!" This act of rebellion led to God's judgment, resulting in the generation that murmured being denied entry into the Promised Land.

3. Korah's Rebellion: Numbers 16 details the rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who challenged Moses' leadership. Their murmuring against God's appointed leaders was seen as murmuring against God Himself. The earth swallowed them as a direct consequence of their rebellion (Numbers 16:31-33).

New Testament References

1. Warnings Against Murmuring: The New Testament also addresses the issue of murmuring. In 1 Corinthians 10:10, Paul warns the Corinthian church not to grumble as some of the Israelites did, resulting in their destruction by the destroyer. This serves as a reminder of the seriousness of murmuring against God.

2. Philippians 2:14-15: Paul exhorts believers to "do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation." This instruction highlights the importance of maintaining a spirit of gratitude and trust in God's sovereignty.

Theological Implications

Murmuring against God is often rooted in a lack of faith and trust in His goodness and provision. It reflects a heart that is not fully surrendered to God's will and purposes. The biblical narrative consistently shows that murmuring leads to negative consequences, both spiritually and physically. It is seen as an affront to God's character and His divine plan.

Practical Application

Believers are called to cultivate a heart of gratitude and trust, even in challenging circumstances. Recognizing God's sovereignty and goodness can help prevent the temptation to murmur. Engaging in prayer, worship, and the study of Scripture can foster a spirit of contentment and reliance on God's promises.Exodus 5:22,23
And Moses returned to the LORD, and said, LORD, why have you so evil entreated this people? why is it that you have sent me?
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Exodus 16:8,12
And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD hears your murmurings which you murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
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Numbers 14:26-37
And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
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Numbers 17:10,11
And the LORD said to Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and you shall quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
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Job 15:11-13
Are the consolations of God small with you? is there any secret thing with you?
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Job 33:12,13
Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
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Job 34:37
For he adds rebellion to his sin, he clapps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.
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Psalm 37:1
Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be you envious against the workers of iniquity.
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Psalm 44:9-26
But you have cast off, and put us to shame; and go not forth with our armies.
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Psalm 73:13-22
Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
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Psalm 78:17-21
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
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Proverbs 19:3
The foolishness of man perverts his way: and his heart frets against the LORD.
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Ecclesiastes 7:10
Say not you, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for you do not inquire wisely concerning this.
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Jeremiah 15:10
Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them does curse me.
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Lamentations 3:39
Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
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Malachi 3:14
You have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
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Luke 10:40
But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
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Romans 9:19,20
You will say then to me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?
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1 Corinthians 10:10
Neither murmur you, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
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Philippians 2:14
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
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James 5:9
Grudge not one against another, brothers, lest you be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.
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Jude 1:16
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
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"Because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God, for it is not ...
... God,"it breaks out often in words, against that most high and holy One, so ver.40,
41, and ver.56, 57 Provoking, which is the plain expression of murmuring, ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xx because the carnal.htm

A Petulant Wish
... But if that be anything like an account of the temper expressed by this saying,
is it not strange that murmuring against God takes the shape of praying? Ah! ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a petulant wish.htm

Genesis xxvii. 38
... Not that, probably, it excites discontent or murmuring against God; nor jealousy
against those whose faculties are better than our own: the trial is of another ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xviii genesis xxvii 38.htm

Of the Sons of the Church who are Hidden among the Wicked, and of ...
... some are not now recognized; others declare themselves, and do not hesitate to make
common cause with our enemies in murmuring against God, whose sacramental ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 35 of the sons of.htm

Wherefore, that Thou May'st be Rightly Disposed Both for Thy Soul ...
... slander of Christ or of any of His Saints; to name His name without reverence;
gainsaying and strife against truthfulness; murmuring against GOD for any ...
/.../chapter vi wherefore that thou.htm

Augustin Quotes Himself on Free Will.
... My answer to such objectors is this: "I tell them, by way of a brief reply,
to be silent and to cease from murmuring against God. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 81 augustin quotes himself on.htm

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
... MURMURING AGAINST GOD OPEN REVOLT. 23. This last point is akin to the one
preceding. Paul defines murmuring against God as an open ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/ninth sunday after trinity carnal.htm

Marah; Or, the Bitter Waters Sweetened
... Observe"and this is worthy of note"that the murmuring was not ostensibly
against God. They murmured against Moses. And have ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/marah or the bitter waters.htm

Sovereignty of God in Administration
... pleasure. Therefore, when we complain about the weather we are, in reality,
murmuring against God. 2. GOD GOVERNS IRRATIONAL CREATURES. ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter three sovereignty of god.htm

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... David, not murmuring against God, but acknowledging him to be a just judge,
confesses that the curses of Shimei are uttered by his orders. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm

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