Mumblers & Grumblers // Justin Graves

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Numbers 11:4-6 (NLT)
Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!” Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated.

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I.  Fantasizing about your past won’t help you be fruitful in your present.

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“I will not allow yesterday’s success to lull me into today’s complacency, for this is the great foundations of failure.” - Og Mandino

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Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)
Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.
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II.  Traveling with negative people doesn’t just affect your mood but can alter your destiny.

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Numbers 11:4 (NLT)
Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain.

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“Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution.” - Albert Einstein

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III.  The Egyptians weren’t keeping the Israelites hostage in the wilderness, their attitudes were.  

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Numbers 14: 1-4, 26-30 (NLT)
Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt? Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “How long must I put up with this wicked community and its complaints about me? Yes, I have heard the complaints the Israelites are making against me. Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you.

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Luke 6:43-45 (GNT)
A healthy tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a poor tree bear good fruit. Every tree is known by the fruit it bears; you do not pick figs from thorn bushes or gather grapes from bramble bushes. A good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart; a bad person brings bad out of his treasure of bad things. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
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Philippians 2:14 (NIV)
Do everything without grumbling or arguing

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“It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given.  One or the other becomes a habit of life.” - Elisabeth Elliot

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1.  Be picky about who you travel life with.


Proverbs 13:20 (ESV)
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

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2.  Be purposeful about what you focus on.


Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

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Romans 12:23 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.


3. Be measured in what you say.

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Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

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Proverbs 18:21 (AMP)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.

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Psalm 19:14 (ESV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.