We are in chapter fifteen of Exodus with our word for today, used for the first time in the Bible. לוּן murmur, grumble, to make complaining remarks or noises under one’s breath. It is used 16 times in the Old Testament. Every time it is used it is from people who are unhappy with their leaders. Our word is used one time when the leaders allow themselves to be deceived by the Gibeonites and so the people had to live with their mistake so they used our word. Joshua 9:18-19 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. The whole assembly וַיִּלֹּ֥נוּ grumbled against the leaders, but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. It is interesting that 15 out of 16 times our word is used it is from the older generation that came out of Egypt and had to wander in the wilderness because of their lack of faith and disobedience to God. Right after God rescues his people from Egypt and destroys their army. And right after they celebrate with worship they turn to complaining when faced with a challenging situation. Exodus 15:23-25 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people וַיִּלֹּ֧נוּ grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. Throughout the people’s journey and their wilderness wanderings they again and again fail to trust God and instead use our word. Here are a couple of examples. Exodus 16:8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your מַלִּינִ֖ם grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” Exodus 17:3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they וַיָּ֥לֶן grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
Jesus gives us a good reminder to trust him and God the father when we run into the difficult challenges of this life. I close with this great words. John 14:1-3 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Matthew 6:31-34 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
