Murmuring: Punishment of
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Murmuring, in the biblical context, refers to the act of complaining or expressing discontent, often against God or His appointed leaders. This behavior is frequently depicted in the Scriptures as a serious offense, demonstrating a lack of faith and trust in God's provision and plan. The Bible provides several instances where murmuring led to divine punishment, serving as a warning to the faithful.

One of the most notable examples of murmuring and its consequences is found in the narrative of the Israelites during their wilderness journey. After being delivered from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites frequently complained against Moses and Aaron, and ultimately against God. In Numbers 14:27-29 , God addresses this behavior: "How long will this wicked congregation grumble against Me? I have heard the complaints that the Israelites are making against Me. So tell them: As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you exactly as I heard you say. Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me."

The punishment for their murmuring was severe: the entire generation of Israelites who had left Egypt, except for Joshua and Caleb, were condemned to die in the wilderness, never entering the Promised Land. This judgment underscores the gravity of murmuring as a manifestation of unbelief and rebellion against God's authority.

Another significant instance is found in Numbers 16, where Korah, Dathan, and Abiram led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, questioning their leadership. Their murmuring and defiance resulted in a dramatic punishment. Numbers 16:31-33 describes the event: "As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly."

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul references the Israelites' murmuring as a cautionary example for believers. In 1 Corinthians 10:10-11 , he writes, "And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come."

The biblical accounts of murmuring and its punishment serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining faith and trust in God's sovereignty. They illustrate the consequences of allowing discontent and rebellion to take root in the heart, emphasizing the need for gratitude and obedience in the life of a believer.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Numbers 11:1
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
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Numbers 14:27-29
How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
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Numbers 16:45,46
Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell on their faces.
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Psalm 106:25,26
But murmured in their tents, and listened not to the voice of the LORD.
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Library

Psalm 78:3. Third Part. The Punishment of Luxury and Intemperance ...
... The punishment of luxury and intemperance; or, Chastisement and salvation. ... 4 But
they in murmuring language said, "Manna is all our feast; "We loathe this light ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 78 3 0 third part the.htm

The Poison and the Antidote
... Murmuring brought punishment, which was meant for amendment. 'The Lord sent fiery
serpents.' That statement does not necessarily imply a miracle. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the poison and the antidote.htm

Augustin Quotes Himself on Free Will.
... of lust, is not the nature of man as he was created, but the punishment of man ... 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

Strange Fire
... would have seemed to indicate their murmuring at God's judgments, and might have
led them to participate in the sin while they lamented its punishment. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/strange fire.htm

Philippians ii. 16-Dec
... be blameless," says he, "and harmless"; ie irreproachable, unsullied; for murmuring
occasions no ... not say, "that ye be not punished," for punishment is reserved ...
/.../homily viii philippians ii 16-dec.htm

"But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses ...
... they separated sin from punishment: at one time making bare confession of sin, without
fear of God's justice, at another time fretting and murmuring at his ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv but we are.htm

1 Cor. Ix. 24
... For if they who had so great privileges suffered such things; and some for murmuring
alone were visited with such punishment, and others for tempting, and ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxiii 1 cor ix.htm

Of Holy Patience
... far more blessed to endure injuries and reproaches patiently, without murmuring,
for the ... manner all things shall turn to the condemnation and punishment of the ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter v of holy patience.htm

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
... deserved punishment, and therefore in order to be saved from wrath and condemnation,
they had no possible alternative but to believe again in Christ. MURMURING ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/ninth sunday after trinity carnal.htm

How those who Fear Scourges and those who Contemn them are to be ...
... For, were he not afraid of the punishment, he would doubtless commit the sin. ... who,
when subjected to strokes, breaks out into a sound of murmuring is turned ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xiii how those who.htm

Resources
What was the significance of Aaron's rod? | GotQuestions.org

Who is Caleb in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to guard your heart? | GotQuestions.org

Murmuring: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Murmuring

Murmuring of Israelites Against Moses

Murmuring: Aaron

Murmuring: Against God

Murmuring: Against: Christ

Murmuring: Against: Disciples of Christ

Murmuring: Against: God

Murmuring: Against: Ministers of God

Murmuring: Against: The Service of God

Murmuring: Against: The Sovereignty of God

Murmuring: Asaph

Murmuring: Cain

Murmuring: Characteristic of the Wicked

Murmuring: David

Murmuring: Disciples

Murmuring: Elijah

Murmuring: Forbidden

Murmuring: Grecians

Murmuring: Guilt of Encouraging Others In

Murmuring: Hezekiah

Murmuring: Illustrated

Murmuring: Israelites

Murmuring: Jeremiah

Murmuring: Jews

Murmuring: Jews, Against Jesus

Murmuring: Job

Murmuring: Jonah

Murmuring: Korah

Murmuring: Moses

Murmuring: Pharisees

Murmuring: Provokes God

Murmuring: Punishment of

Murmuring: Rachel

Murmuring: Saints Cease From

Murmuring: Solomon

Murmuring: Tempts God

Murmuring: Unreasonableness of

Related Terms

Grudge (11 Occurrences)

Whispering (7 Occurrences)

Muttering (3 Occurrences)

Pur (3 Occurrences)

Complaints (6 Occurrences)

Complaint (29 Occurrences)

Murmurings (8 Occurrences)

Community (77 Occurrences)

Nay (92 Occurrences)

Officers (171 Occurrences)

Leads (64 Occurrences)

Leadeth (42 Occurrences)

Leading (101 Occurrences)

Grecian (3 Occurrences)

Grumbling (13 Occurrences)

Guards (42 Occurrences)

Widow (71 Occurrences)

Widespread (2 Occurrences)

Fortitude (5 Occurrences)

Fix (36 Occurrences)

Taberah (2 Occurrences)

Denaries (6 Occurrences)

Deceives (14 Occurrences)

Dannah (1 Occurrence)

Deceiveth (8 Occurrences)

Massah (5 Occurrences)

Murmurers (3 Occurrences)

Moan (13 Occurrences)

Multiplied (109 Occurrences)

Murmured (21 Occurrences)

Ministration (33 Occurrences)

Patient (34 Occurrences)

Babble (1 Occurrence)

Contrary (77 Occurrences)

Aaron (343 Occurrences)

Astray (116 Occurrences)

Submit (36 Occurrences)

Seize (91 Occurrences)

Satiety (12 Occurrences)

Flourish (26 Occurrences)

Hellenistic (2 Occurrences)

Hebraic (1 Occurrence)

Wherefore (448 Occurrences)

Grecians (4 Occurrences)

Using (88 Occurrences)

Crowds (62 Occurrences)

Multitudes (72 Occurrences)

Parable (52 Occurrences)

Indeed (628 Occurrences)

Higgaion (2 Occurrences)

Caused (468 Occurrences)

Joshua (211 Occurrences)

Chief (696 Occurrences)

James (40 Occurrences)

Arrest (22 Occurrences)

Priests (451 Occurrences)

Pharisees (86 Occurrences)

Temple (614 Occurrences)

Epistle (13 Occurrences)

Murmuring: Provokes God
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