The Heart That Grumbles | Exodus 16

“Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt…” (Exodus 16:3)
Exodus 16:1–3

The Israelites were only one month removed from crossing the Red Sea on dry ground. One month since they had watched Pharaoh’s army swallowed up behind them. One month since they sang with Moses and Miriam, “The LORD is my strength and my song.” And yet by Exodus 16, their voices had changed.

No longer singing, they were grumbling. And their complaint was severe: We would rather have died in Egypt than walk through this wilderness.

It’s easy to shake our heads at them. But before we do, we need to listen carefully — because their complaint echoes in our own hearts far more than we realize.

Grumbling Is Not Harmless
John MacArthur rightly observes that “grumbling is not a minor sin; it is a direct assault on the goodness of God.” It’s not just venting. It’s spiritual rebellion. When we grumble, we aren’t merely unhappy with our circumstances — we’re accusing God of failure, mismanagement, or neglect.

Matthew Henry noted: “Discontent magnifies the former miseries and diminishes present mercies.” When the Israelites thought about Egypt, they didn’t remember the whips, the brick-making, or the slaughter of their sons. No, in their distorted memory, Egypt had full pots of meat and all the bread they wanted.

Grumbling reveals forgetfulness. It shows we’re not meditating on God’s past faithfulness. We’re rewriting our past to justify our unbelief in the present.

William Perkins writes, “To murmur is to accuse God of folly and ourselves of greater wisdom.” It is spiritual arrogance, a reversal of the Creator-creature relationship. When we complain, we place ourselves in judgment over God’s ways.

A Wilderness of Our Own
You may not be walking through the Sinai desert, but your heart knows what it feels like to be in a wilderness. Maybe it’s financial strain. Maybe it’s disappointment or spiritual dryness. Maybe you are dealing with health issues. In those moments, it’s easy to let frustration become complaint — and complaint become rebellion.

Instead, Scripture calls us to remember. The same God who parted the sea is the One who leads us into seasons of need — not to destroy us, but to teach us. His aim is not punishment, but dependence.

Philippians 2:14–15 exhorts believers to “do all things without grumbling or disputing,” so that we might shine as lights in the world. The call to resist grumbling isn’t just about attitude; it’s about our testimony. The world needs to see Christians who trust God even when the manna hasn’t yet fallen.

1. Confess Complaints Quickly
   • If you find a grumbling spirit in yourself today, call the sin what it is. Don’t soften it. Don’t excuse it. Repent of it. Bring your frustrations to God in prayer — but let your complaints be honest cries for help, not accusations against His character.
2. Remember the Red Sea Moments
   • Keep a written record of the ways God has delivered, provided, and sustained you. When temptation to grumble rises, preach those memories back to your heart.
3. Model Grateful Faith for Others
   • In your home, your workplace, and friendships, let others witness your dependence on God in the face of hardship. Your words matter. Gratitude is contagious. So is grumbling.

He does the same with us. So today, don’t harden your heart when the trial comes. Don’t curse the wilderness. Let it draw out your need — and let that need drive you to trust the daily, faithful, patient hand of the Lord.

Let your prayer today be: “Give us this day our daily bread” — and nothing more. That is enough.