Exodus 16:6-12: a reflection

6Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening, you shall know that the LORD has brought you out from the land of Egypt. 7In the morning, you shall see the LORD’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against the LORD. Who are we, that you murmur against us?” 8Moses said, “Now the LORD will give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you, because the LORD hears your murmurings which you murmur against him. And who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.” 9Moses said to Aaron, “Tell all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come close to the LORD, for he has heard your murmurings.’” 10As Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the LORD’s glory appeared in the cloud. 11The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12“I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At evening you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”

When the people of Israel grumble against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, wanting food, Moses tells them something that reframes their complaint entirely: it is not really against him and Aaron, but against God. Your murmurings are not against us, Moses says, but against the LORD. And who are we? The people thought they were complaining against their leaders, against their circumstances; but Moses points out that their grumbling was ultimately against the LORD, who had led them and was providing for them. Our complaints, though aimed at people or circumstances, are often ultimately against God, who orders our circumstances and leads us. To grumble against the situation God has placed us in, or the leaders he has given, is finally to grumble against God himself. Our murmurings, aimed at people or circumstances, are ultimately against the God who orders them.

Notice how Moses reframes the people's grumbling: it is against the LORD, not merely against him and Aaron. The people directed their complaints at their leaders, at their circumstances, at their lack of food; but Moses sees deeper. Their grumbling was ultimately against God, who had brought them out of Egypt and was leading and providing for them. When we grumble against our circumstances, or against those God has set over us, our complaint is finally against the God who ordered those circumstances and gave those leaders. This is worth seeing, for it changes how we regard our grumbling. What feels like a complaint against people or situations is often, at bottom, a complaint against God's ordering of our lives, a murmuring against his provision and his leading. To grumble against the situation God has placed us in is to grumble against God. Our complaints are not as harmlessly aimed as we suppose; they often strike, finally, at God himself. Grumbling against our lot is grumbling against the God who gave it.

That is worth taking to heart, for our grumbling, though aimed at people or circumstances, is often ultimately against God. We can grumble against our circumstances, our situation, the people God has set over us, thinking our complaint is aimed only at them; but Moses reframes such grumbling as ultimately against the LORD, who orders our circumstances and leads us. What feels like a complaint against people or situations is often, at bottom, against God's provision and leading. This is sobering, and calls us to bring our discontent to God honestly rather than murmuring against the lives he has given. Do not suppose your grumbling is harmlessly aimed at circumstances or people; it is often ultimately against God, as Moses told the murmuring people. Remember that your grumbling, though aimed at people or circumstances, is often ultimately against God, who orders your circumstances and leads you, as Moses told the people their murmurings were not against him and Aaron but against the LORD; for what feels like a complaint against our situation or our leaders is often, at bottom, a murmuring against God's provision and his ordering of our lives, which calls us to bring our discontent to him honestly rather than grumbling against the lot he has given.

Lord, when the people of Israel grumble against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, wanting food, Moses tells them something that reframes their complaint entirely: it is not really against him and Aaron, but against you. Your murmurings are not against us, Moses says, but against the LORD. And who are we? The people thought they were complaining against their leaders, against their circumstances; but Moses points out that their grumbling was ultimately against you, who had led them and were providing for them. Our complaints, though aimed at people or circumstances, are often ultimately against you, who order our circumstances and lead us. Show me how Moses reframes the people's grumbling: it is against the LORD, not merely against him and Aaron. The people directed their complaints at their leaders, at their lack of food; but Moses sees deeper. Their grumbling was ultimately against you, who had brought them out of Egypt and were leading and providing for them. When I grumble against my circumstances, or against those you have set over me, my complaint is finally against you, who ordered those circumstances. What feels like a complaint against people or situations is often, at bottom, a complaint against your ordering of my life. Take that to my heart, for my grumbling, though aimed at people or circumstances, is often ultimately against you. I can grumble against my situation, the people you have set over me, thinking my complaint is aimed only at them; but Moses reframes such grumbling as ultimately against you. This is sobering, and calls me to bring my discontent to you honestly rather than murmuring against the life you have given. Keep me from supposing my grumbling is harmlessly aimed at circumstances or people; help me remember it is often ultimately against you, Lord, as Moses told the murmuring people, and bring my discontent to you honestly instead.