Got a gripe?

October 17, 2006

By Greg Ebie

Korah and 250 of Israel’s leaders had enough with Moses and Aaron. They set themselves against God’s chosen leaders, and if they had their way would have taken Moses and Aaron’s place. But God was on Moses and Aaron’s side.

To prove he had acted faithfully before God and the people, Moses said, “If these men die a natural death like all the rest of us, you’ll know that it wasn’t God who sent me. But if God does something unprecedented — if the ground opens up and swallows the lot of them and they are pitched alive into Sheol — then you’ll know that these men have been insolent with God”

(Numbers 16:29,30, The Message).

No sooner were these words out of Moses’ mouth than the ground opened up under Korah and the others taking them into the grave along with their families.

You might think that would be the end of that dispute. I don’t think I would be ready to say anything critical about Moses after watching those who opposed him die in such a way. Surprisingly, many got up the next morning even angrier than before.

“Grumbling broke out the next day in the community of Israel, grumbling against Moses and Aaron: ‘You have killed God’s people!’ But it so happened that when the community got together against Moses and Aaron, they looked over at the Tent of Meeting and there was the Cloud — the Glory of God for all to see.”

(Numbers 16:41,42)

I would like to say I’m not given to grumbling and complaining, but that would be a lie. We are all prone to letting other people know when we are not happy. Granted, not all of us may confront the one we are most upset with, but we don’t have any problem letting off a little steam and griping to our family or friends.

Yet how often are we aware of God’s presence when we start our moaning about this or that? The glory of God was present for everyone to see when the people started speaking against Moses and Aaron.

Regardless of whether we see Him or not, God is there watching and listening to us as well. Will God be pleased with what we say? Let’s stop and think about that before we start complaining.

D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.