Exodus 16:1-3
~16 min read
TRANSCRIPT
Our text for tonight's message is taken from Exodus 16:1-3. In the preceding verses, the children of Israel had murmured and complained that there was no water, and God graciously provided them with water by turning the bitter water at Marah into pure, wholesome, and sweet water that they could drink to their satisfaction. Then God brought them to Elim, which was a place of abundance with 12 wells and 70 palm trees. It was as if God was telling them, "You want water? I will give you water and plenty of it." We would have thought the Israelites had learned their lesson and that they would now obey and depend on God, stop complaining. But they did not. The very next moment, they encountered another difficulty, and they started to murmur and complain again.
Murmuring and complaining were Israel's besetting sin. Remember when Moses first went to the Pharaoh, the Israelites complained that he was making their jobs harder instead of easier. When Moses brought them out of Egypt and they came to the Red Sea, they complained and accused Moses of bringing them out to die in the desert. When they had travelled three days into the wilderness, and there was no water, they again murmured and complained. In fact, throughout their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they were complaining most of the time.
Tonight, as we consider this short passage in Exodus 16:1-3, once again, the children of Israel were complaining. From complaining about water, they moved to complain about food. Dear friends, isn't it true that oftentimes we are just like the Israelites? We complain about all kinds of things, we move from one thing to another. First, we complain about our homes, the place we live in is not convenient and conducive. Then, we complain about our jobs, the company we work for does not provide the kind of environment and job advancement programs we want. Then, we complain about our health, we are not as healthy as others are. Instead of giving thanks to God for putting a roof over our heads, for providing us with bread and butter to put on the table, for keeping us alive, we are always complaining. And like the Israelites, we cannot stop complaining. May the Lord forgive us.
Fundamentally, our complaints are not caused by the outward circumstances but by the inward responses to the outward circumstances. Most of the time, people do not think much about murmuring and complaining; after all, they are just words. We are just voicing out our unhappiness. But the truth is that our complaints reveal what is truly in our hearts, the true conditions of our hearts. And what is truly in our hearts will affect our lives and the people around us as well.
If you are a person who is always complaining, you will want to know what are the dangers of a complaining spirit, right? This is what we want to learn from today's passage. The title of our message is "The Danger of a Complaining Spirit."
I. Their Complaints Were Untrue and Without Basis
The first thing we can learn about the children of Israel is that their complaints were untrue and without basis. Let us begin with verse one, Exodus chapter 16, "And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt." Though Elim was a place of abundance, there was plenty of water, and the 70 palm trees tells us that there was a great supply of underground water. Most likely, it was a fertile land. But it was not the promised land, so the children of Israel had to move from Elim and they came to the Wilderness of Sin, which was between Elim and Sinai.
Verse two, "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness". Verse three: "And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt" — which means it would be better for us to die by the hand of the Lord in Egypt — “when we sat by the fleshpots” — fleshpots are the cooking pots used to cook meat — “and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
This time, the children of Israel murmured and complained because they were starving, and there was no food. But it was not true that they were running out of food. How do we know? Remember, they had come out of Egypt with their livestock, so at this point in time, they still had their animals. Look at Exodus 17:3. There again, they murmured against Moses because they had no water to drink. The Bible says, "And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” So, obviously, they still had their flock of sheep, cattle, and other animals. They could drink the milk if necessary. They could even kill the animals and eat the meat. Therefore, they were not really starving. If they were not starving, then what was the issue? Psalm 78 tells us their real problem.
Maybe you can turn with me to Psalm 78 and let me read for you. Verse 18, "And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust." Look down to verse 30, "They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths," which means they were not separated from their lust. They were so much into their lust that even while they still had meat in their mouths, they were already desiring for more or desiring for better things. In other words, they were craving for food they desired. They were not starving for the food essential for their survival. They were confused about what they wanted with what they needed.
Dear friend, oftentimes the source of our discontentment is that we are confused about what we want with what we need. When we say we need money, food, and clothes, we are not talking about the basic needs. We are talking about more money for investments, for enjoyment, and pleasure. We are talking about food as in fine dining. We are talking about branded clothing. We are not talking about cars for transportation, but what model of cars we want to drive. We are not talking about technology for work and communication, but the latest gadgets for us to show off, and the list goes on and on. Those are the things we want, not the things we need. Now we are not saying that those things are sinful. They are not sinful in and of themselves. If you are able to afford it and it is God's portion for you to have it, there's nothing wrong. But when it is not, and you still want it, you still desire to have it, and you will do everything you can to receive it, even at the expense of God and His Word, that is sin.
Like the Israelites, they were not really starving. They still had their animals with them, but they craved for those things, and their desires caused them to murmur and complain. So, the next time you and I murmur and complain about our situations, we need to ask ourselves, “Why do I complain? Am I complaining about my needs or my wants? Even if it is my needs, I should not be complaining. I should pray and trust God to provide. How much less should I complain about my wants?”
II. Their Complaints were an Exaggeration
Secondly, their complaints were an exaggeration. The Israelites complained that their situation was worse than it actually was. They did something that complainers would often do: they exaggerated the advantages of their former situation. In other words, they were saying, "Remember the good old days, how we sat by our cooking pots and ate our meat, how we ate the bread until we were full?" Do you think the Pharaoh would have fed them with all the meats and bread that they could ever eat? Most certainly not. If the Pharaoh had even given them extra food, the purpose would be to make them work longer and harder. Nevertheless, that was what they said, or that was what they conceived in their minds. In reality, they were delusional. That is why it was much easier to get them out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of them.
Can you see it is a heart condition? Isn't it true that when we have a complaining spirit, the grass always seems greener on the other side, although it is not? We are delusional. Recently, I have a friend who left his previous church because it has deviated from the truth of God's Word. He started to attend this new church, which is biblically and fundamentally strong in the Word of God. This new church has many ministries. It has a very good Sunday school program, youth program, adults program, elderly program, and other spiritual activities. It is a vibrant church. Initially, this friend of mine was happy. Then he became unhappy because he made some suggestions, but the leaders did not accept his suggestions, and he started to murmur and complain. He started to say good things about his former church, that it was much better in his old church than this new church. But all the things he said about the former church were not true. He has forgotten the very reason why he has come out of that church because it has deviated from the truth of God's Word.
See, I'm not saying that every time we murmur and complain, we are delusional, but sometimes we are. Our complaining spirit may cloud our spiritual perception about things so much that we simply say untrue things to justify ourselves or our actions. Like the Israelites, who said, “We were better off in Egypt. Back then, we ate meat and we ate bread to our satisfaction.” Most certainly, that was not true because they were slaves.
III. Their Complaints Led to False Accusation
Thirdly, their complaints led to false accusations. The Israelites murmured against their spiritual leaders, Moses and Aaron, accusing them of attempted murder, if not genocide. Look at what the Bible says, "for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger." This was ridiculous because these men had dedicated their lives to serving God's people, and yet the same people they were serving were accusing them. Remember when God first called Moses to go and deliver the Israelites out of Egypt, he was unwilling, hesitant, and apprehensive. Why? Because he felt that he was not equipped to accomplish that awesome responsibility until God provided Aaron to be his mouthpiece. Finally, Moses obeyed and went. From then onwards at every step of the way; he was fighting for the interests of the Israelites. He had only one mission, and that was to deliver the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt. Now they turn around and accuse him of bringing them into the wilderness to kill them with hunger. Can you see what a complaining spirit can do to the people?
So many pastors, preachers, elders, and deacons are disappointed and demoralised because they have committed their lives to serve the people. They want to help the people grow spiritually. They want to teach the truth of God's Word, and they have been faithfully doing that. But instead of receiving words of gratitude and encouragement, they only receive false accusations. It is always wrong to make false accusations against anyone, how much more to those people who are committed to help us. God forbids.
IV. Their Complaints were Directed to God
Do you think God does not know about those false accusations? Surely, He does. In fact, although those complaints were made against Moses and Aaron, the reality is that they were directed at God. This brings us to our final point, “Their Complaints were Directed at God”. When the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron, what they were really doing was that they were complaining against God. Moses and Aaron knew that. Look down to verse 8, "for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.” In other words, you are not murmuring against us. Who are we? We are just God's servants. We are just His messengers. When you murmur against us, you are actually murmuring against the One who sent us.
Notice, the Israelites said several things which were open rebellion against God. Very wicked things to say about God. Firstly, they wished they had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt, which means if they were going to die anyway, if the Lord was going to kill them, it would have been better to die in Egypt. So they were like saying, "Lord, we are going to die at your hands anyway. Why do you have to bring us into the wilderness to kill us by way of starvation?" That was a very strong accusation directed at God.
As verse 8 says, "Your murmurings are not against us," says Moses, "but against the Lord." Essentially, they wished that they had never been saved. Remember the great question which led to the Exodus was about the worship of God. Whom would they worship, God or Pharaoh? God wanted them to serve Him alone. Therefore, He said, "Let my people go, that they may serve me, worship me." But now the Israelites were saying, "We would rather serve the Pharaoh. We would rather return to Egypt and die there." They were rebelling against God's plan for their salvation. It was God's plan to save them out from Egypt, and more than that, it was His plan to bring them into the promised land. But here they were, saying and accusing God of bringing them into the wilderness to die. How wicked.
This is an important point for all of us to consider and remember before we ever murmur and complain. All our complaints and discontentment are ultimately directed at God. We must bear in mind that, usually, when we complain, we think we are only taking out our frustrations on someone, on something or on a particular situation, right? But we forget that we are actually directing at God. You see when we take out our frustrations on the spiritual leaders, we are directing at God who has ordained those leaders. When we take out our frustrations on our husbands and wives, we are directing at God who has blessed us with those spouses. When we take out our frustrations on our jobs, we are directing at God who has provided or not provided for us.
A complaining spirit always indicates a problem in our relationship with God. And if you and I know that there is a problem in our relationship with God, what should we do? If we are always complaining and murmuring and we realise that this is a spiritual problem, we must repent. And what should be our attitude? In conclusion, let us turn to 1 Timothy 6:6-8. Paul said to young Timothy in verse 6, 1 Timothy chapter 6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." This should be our attitude. By godliness, we mean Biblical godliness. The best way to define godliness is the knowledge of Jesus Christ in our hearts and in our minds, that is being lived out in our lives. This godliness is not just a means of gaining something valuable. By itself it is supremely valuable because faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest gain.
Remember, Jesus himself said, "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” What can be more precious than the soul which would last for all eternity? What can be more precious than all the spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, the peace that passes all understanding? That is the greatest gain. But if godliness in itself is already great gain, why did Paul add those words "with contentment" onto it? You see, to have contentment is to realize that we are completely dependent upon God. We are completely sufficient in Christ. If we may put it this way, a Christian is not self-sufficient but Christ-sufficient.
If you and I have the knowledge of Jesus Christ in our hearts, in our minds, in our lives, and Christ alone is sufficient for us, that is the greatest gain. The Apostle Paul then went on to give two undeniable truths about the human life, which we all must understand.
Firstly, we cannot take anything with us. Look at verse 7, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." The construction of this sentence is very interesting because the first statement seems to be proven by the second statement. The fact that we came into this world with nothing surely, definitely, and most certainly, we would bring nothing out of this world. For example, if you have brought something to the table, surely you can take it with you when you leave the place.
The fact that you live with nothing demonstrates that you came with nothing. This is an undeniable and unchangeable truth. Every human being who has ever lived on the face of this Earth enters and leaves this world the same way: nothing in, nothing out. From our first parents, Adam and Eve, who came into this world with nothing, they left this world with nothing. God said unto Adam, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:19). Job knew this truth very clearly when he lost everything. Remember how he lost all his oxen, his sheep, his donkeys, his camels, his servants, his children, and all his possessions. And he fell on his face and worshipped God, saying, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither" (Job 1:21).
The second undeniable truth about the human life, which we must understand is that if we came with nothing and we live with nothing, then everything we have accumulated in between, it doesn't belong to us, right? Perhaps a better explanation for this is that you and I are just stewards for what we have, and you can either be a good steward or a bad steward in the eyes of the almighty God. The only thing we can leave this world with is the thing we have done or not done in our Lord's name. Whatever we have done in the Lord's name, we will be rewarded. Whatever we have not done or have done contrary to His name, we will be judged. These are the two undeniable truths about human life: nothing in, nothing out, everything we have in between, whatever we have accumulated, doesn't belong to us.
Dear friends, if only we understand this simple reality that we have brought nothing into this world and it is certain that we are going to bring nothing out of this world, then you and I can also live with simple expectations. That is the reason why verse 8 says, "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." This is the outcome of godliness with contentment. The only thing we expect and hope for, the only thing we need, are the things necessary to sustain us in between. God promised to meet our needs, and when He provides for us food and raiment, we are happy. We will not be murmuring and complaining.
So, dear friends, the danger of a complaining spirit is that oftentimes, our complaints are untrue and without basis. Oftentimes, our complaints are but exaggerations, and our complaints would lead us to false accusations. But most importantly, our complaints are ultimately directed at God. Instead of having a complaining spirit, you and I should have the attitude of godliness with contentment is great gain. I pray that all of us would have this attitude, that we are sufficient in Christ Jesus, the knowledge of Christ is in our hearts, in our minds, and is lived out in our lives. Nothing in, nothing out, everything we have in between does not belong to us, and we are willing to use them for the glory of God. What we need, what we hope for, are just those things to sustain us in between. So, when God provides for us food and raiment, we are happy. We will not be murmuring and complaining. Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, we thank Thee for enabling us to consider this short passage in Exodus 16:1-3. Indeed, so often, we are just like the Israelites. We complain about all kinds of things. We move from one thing to another. We complain about our homes, our jobs, our health, and we become so unhappy. Thou hast taught us through Thy Word about the danger of a complaining spirit, that oftentimes our complaints are untrue and without basis. Our complaints are but exaggerations. We look to our former situations and we simply say untrue things to justify ourselves or our actions. We are delusional, just like the Israelites. Our complaints would also lead us to make false accusations. We accuse our spiritual leaders, we accuse our spouses, we accuse the people around us, our bosses, our friends. But ultimately, Thou hast taught us that our complaints are directed at Thee and Thee alone, O Lord. We have received so much blessings from Thee. How can we be so ungrateful to murmur and complain?
Thou hast taught us through the lives of the Israelites how they moved from complaining about water to complaining about food, and throughout their 40 years in the wilderness, they did not stop complaining. O Lord, forgive us if we have always been complaining. We do not want to live our lives on the face of this Earth complaining and complaining. Instead, we want to have the attitude, like the Apostle Paul hath counselled young Timothy, that godliness with contentment is great gain. That we have the knowledge of Jesus Christ in our hearts, in our minds, and we live out this truth in our lives. We are content because we are completely dependent on Thee. We are completely sufficient in Christ, and we are happy. May Thou teach us this very important truth, remind us always because as humans, we always forget. We pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.
THE BOOK OF EXODUSGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassExodus 1:1-7
From Prosperity to PersecutionFrom Prosperity to PersecutionExodus 1:8-14
God’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesGod’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesExodus 1:15-21
The Faith of JochebedThe Faith of JochebedExodus 1:22-2:10
Moses in EgyptMoses in EgyptExodus 2:11-15
Moses in the Desert of MidianMoses in the Desert of MidianExodus 2:16-25
Moses and the Burning BushMoses and the Burning BushExodus 3:1-9
Who Are You?Who Are You?Exodus 3:10-15
Who Am I?Who Am I?Exodus 3:10-15
God’s Message to Israel and EgyptGod’s Message to Israel and EgyptExodus 3:16-22
What If They Still Don’t Believe?What If They Still Don’t Believe?Exodus 4:1-9
Send Someone ElseSend Someone ElseExodus 4:10-17
Moses’ Return to EgyptMoses’ Return to EgyptExodus 4:18-20
When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseWhen Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseExodus 5:10-21
When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesWhen We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesExodus 5:22-6:5
Having to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceHaving to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceExodus 6:6-12
Faithful or UnfaithfulFaithful or UnfaithfulExodus 6:13-27
What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceWhat God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceExodus 6:28-7:7
The First Plague - The River of BloodThe First Plague - The River of BloodExodus 7:14-25
The Second Plague - The FrogsThe Second Plague - The FrogsExodus 8:1-15
The Third PlagueThe Third PlagueExodus 8:16-19
The Fourth PlagueThe Fourth PlagueExodus 8:20-32
The Fifth PlagueThe Fifth PlagueExodus 9:1-7
The Sixth PlagueThe Sixth PlagueExodus 9:8-12
The Seventh PlagueThe Seventh PlagueExodus 9:13-35
The Eighth PlagueThe Eighth PlagueExodus 10:1-20
The Tenth PlagueThe Tenth PlagueExodus 11:1-10
The First PassoverThe First PassoverExodus 12:1-13
The Feast of the Unleavened BreadThe Feast of the Unleavened BreadExodus 12:14-28
Departure From EgyptDeparture From EgyptExodus 12:29-42
This Do In Remembrance of MeThis Do In Remembrance of MeExodus 12:43-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Exodus 12:48-49, Colossians 2:11-12
Redemption and ConsecrationRedemption and ConsecrationExodus 13:1-2, 11-16
Precious Lord, Take My HandPrecious Lord, Take My HandExodus 13:17-22
Between the Desert and the Red SeaBetween the Desert and the Red SeaExodus 14:1-14
Crossing the Red SeaCrossing the Red SeaExodus 14:15-31
The Song of PraiseThe Song of PraiseExodus 15:1-21
Will You Obey Or Not?Will You Obey Or Not?Exodus 15:22-27
The Danger of a Complaining SpiritThe Danger of a Complaining SpiritExodus 16:1-3
God’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsGod’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsExodus 16:1-10
The Test of FaithThe Test of FaithExodus 16:11-20
Lessons About the SabbathLessons About the SabbathExodus 16:21-36
Do Not Test GodDo Not Test GodExodus 17:1-17
Lift Up Your HandsLift Up Your HandsExodus 17:8-16
The Blessedness of ReunionThe Blessedness of ReunionExodus 18:1-12
Why Do We Have Leaders?Why Do We Have Leaders?Exodus 18:13-27
I Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsI Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsExodus 19:1-6
Approach God Fearlessly or FearfullyApproach God Fearlessly or FearfullyExodus 19:7-15
God Reached Out And SpokeGod Reached Out And SpokeExodus 19:16-25
Thou Shalt Have No Other GodsThou Shalt Have No Other GodsExodus 20:1-3
Thou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesThou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesExodus 20:4-6
Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameThou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameExodus 20:7
Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayThou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayExodus 20:8-11
Honour Thy Father And Thy MotherHonour Thy Father And Thy MotherExodus 20:12
Thou Shalt Not KillThou Shalt Not KillExodus 20:13
Thou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryThou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryExodus 20:14
Thou Shalt Not StealThou Shalt Not StealExodus 20:15
Thou Shalt Not LieThou Shalt Not LieExodus 20:16
Thou Shalt Not CovetThou Shalt Not CovetExodus 20:17
The Response To The Ten CommandmentsThe Response To The Ten CommandmentsExodus 20:18-21
How God Wants Us To Worship HimHow God Wants Us To Worship HimExodus 20:22-26
Why Would God Allow Slavery?Why Would God Allow Slavery?Exodus 21:1-11
The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeExodus 21:12-17
The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeExodus 21:18-36
The Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsThe Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsExodus 22:1-15
The Character Of GodThe Character Of GodExodus 22:16-20
Reaching Out To The Down-And-OutReaching Out To The Down-And-OutExodus 22:21-24
The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodThe Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodExodus 22:25-31
Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthTruth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthExodus 23:1-9
Remember Who God IsRemember Who God IsExodus 23:10-19
What Must We Do To Have VictoryWhat Must We Do To Have VictoryExodus 23:20-33
How We Ought To Worship GodHow We Ought To Worship GodExodus 24:1-4, 7
On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?Exodus 24:4-8
Responding To God’s InvitationResponding To God’s InvitationExodus 24:9-18
The Right Attitude Of GivingThe Right Attitude Of GivingExodus 25:1-8
There I Will Meet YouThere I Will Meet YouExodus 25:9-22
Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Exodus 25:23-30
Let Your Light So Shine Before MenLet Your Light So Shine Before MenExodus 25:31-40
If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceIf Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceExodus 33:12-23
