The Bible warns against becoming hardened by the deceitful news of sin. One of the ways by which sin deceives is to make people think that there will be no consequences. If one or two wrongs are committed and no immediate consequences are felt, chances are that people will think that they will always go scot-free. There had been previous instances where the children of Israel murmured against God without any immediate repercussions. The reason for their murmur was hard circumstances in the desert. The scorching heat, the migratory lifestyle and all its uncertainties took their toll on the people until they cried out. In our text, God had had enough of their murmur, was displeased and swift judgment followed. Their complaints only provoked God’s anger; and His fire consumed some of them.

Resist murmuring because it does nothing to change the condition…Your attitude of gratitude will soon turn things around in those areas that are not working well at the moment.

What happened to them is for our learning. Paul warned us to desist from murmuring as some did in the wilderness and were destroyed. That means murmuring has the same effect now as it had then. Everyone of us is liable to the same temptation; and we must fight this tendency. One way to do this is to consider the unwholesome consequence for those who murmured against the Lord in the past. Resist murmuring because it does nothing to change the condition. The best way to fight the temptation to murmur is to dwell on all the good things that God has already done in your life and give Him thanks. Your attitude of gratitude will soon turn things around in those areas that are not working well at the moment.