Prayer Journal

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

David wasn't there when Moses led the Hebrew children out of Egypt across the Red Sea and into the desert. How did he know the people were complainers unless someone told him or someone read to him from the writings of Moses we call the Law, or the Torah. (e.g., Ex 15:24; Nu 14:29)

Torah is a Hebrew word meaning "to aim at; teach; point out; direct; lead; guide; make straight." Moses wrote it to do all those things for those who would come after him. David may have read it, but I imagine he also experienced it first hand when he led God's people some 600 years later.

God punished the grumblers in Moses' day and the New Testament writers also tell us that God is still in the business of exposing and punishing those who grumble. In fact, Jude says those who do such things do not have the Spirit but are divisive people who follow their instincts rather than obeying God's word. (Jude 16;19)

What is a grumbler? It's someone who makes low, unintelligible sounds in the throat, often mumbling so their discontent can't be heard or their complaint addressed. In other words, it's the "silent" expression of protest against authority designed to make a person's discontent known, while at the same time avoiding any dialog.

Believe it or not, many "good hearted" Christians use grumbling as a way to promote unity. They feel that keeping their discontent at bay promotes unity within the Body, while the expression of it may expose enough supporters to validate their complaint at which time they will rise up and be vocal.

Unfortunately, the church promotes grumbling by ignoring those with contrary opinions and discouraging public discussion for fear it might become loud and rowdy, resulting in a bad witness to the world. The result is one public position held as absolute and the silent opinions of others that are never vocalized. Add the number of apathetic members to the silent ones and you arrive at a fairly good sampling of the average church congregation: 1) those who lead without accountability; 2) those who follow blindly for the sake of unity; 3) those who disagree but keep their opinions quiet and 4) those who just don't care. If you're a church member, you're more than likely in one of these groups.

When we consider that all four categories above are wrong, it isn't hard to visualize why the church today lacks the evidence of God's movement in and around it.

Just Thinkin'... WebServant

Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright © 1998-2003 James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
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I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
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* The sick
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* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
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* Widows
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* My church
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* Other churches
* Persecuted church
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* Myself