Our Tragic Flaws ... God's Grumbling People

December 15
Exodus 11:1-15:27
From the Frying Pan Into the Fire
Read Dr. Spina’s commentary at www.spu.edu/lectio

God’s People…a.k.a. the “Grumblers”

Summary

Powerful!  That’s what these five chapters of Exodus are, testifying to God’s magnificent act of liberating His people from slavery in Egypt.  The final chapters in the Egyptian slavery story are also the first chapters of the distinctive communal worship life of God’s liberated people, with the institution of Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread.  The Red Sea crossing is a majestic act of the LORD, and Moses & Miriam write an epic praise song/poem in response.  God’s people are free at last!  And yet a tragic flaw arises in the collective consciousness of God’s people.

Tragic Flaw

Hamartia – “the flaw in character which leads to the downfall of the protagonist in a tragedy” from the Greek “to miss the mark” (Dictionary.com)

Grumbling

The word “grumble” could be classified as a case of onomatopoeia, a word that phonetically imitates or suggests the source of the sound it describes.  It means “to mutter in discontent, or complain quietly about something.”  Grumbling isn’t the same as groaning.  In Exodus 2:24 and 6:5, we read that God heard the groaning of the Israelites who were enslaved by the Egyptians, and responded with powerful concern.  God welcomes our pain-filled cries for help, sorrowful prayers of lament, even God-directed expressions of anger and disappointment.  Grumbling is another matter entirely: pure passive-aggressive complaining, arising from our ungrateful discontent with our circumstances.

The grumbling of God’s people is particularly poignant when you consider what God had just done for them – liberating them from slavery in Egypt!  And this is where their tragic flaw made its appearance: in a moment that called for GRATITUDE, God’s people GRUMBLED.

In Exodus 15:22-27, the freshly-liberated Israelites travel from the Red Sea into the desert, where they go three days without finding water.  Now, to be fair, this is dangerous territory – three days is about as long as you can go without water before you die of dehydration.  When they found water, it was bitter (marah in Hebrew, the name by which that place is known).  Finding undrinkable water?  Well, that was like adding insult to injury.  The people grumbled against Moses.  In response, Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord equipped Moses to make the water fit to drink.

In addition to this episode, in the Pentateuch we encounter many situations in which the people are grumbling about Moses and Aaron, or even grumbling against God:

• Exodus 16:2, 17:3
• Numbers 14:2, 14:29, 16:41
• Deuteronomy 1:27
• (Jesus’ disciples did the same thing in John 6!)

And yet, we must not miss a most important point: God doesn't tire of these beloved grumblers!  God continues to love them, and lead them, to be the people they were created to be.  On their way to the promised land, God guides them as people of promise.

Personal Identification Questions

• Where might this tragic flaw show up in your story?

 

• What’s your experience with grumbling?  What conditions tempt you into this type of complaining?  When people are grumbling and invite you into the grumble-fest, how might you offer a healthy response?

• Have people ever grumbled against you?  If so, describe the situation and the issues that gave rise to grumbling.  How might you encourage people to channel their discontent in a more productive and healthy direction?

 
Prayer of Confession
LORD, why is it so easy for me to be tempted into grumbling, against other people and even you?
I’m sorry…
For choosing grumbling over gratitude

For joining the chorus of grumblers who find contentment only in complaining

For avoiding healthy ways of communicating discontent & disappointment
Lead me not into temptation, and deliver me from evil.
Amen.

Encouragement

Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV)
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky…

1 Peter 4:8-10 (NIV)

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.