Monday, March 22, 2004

Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play."
(1 Corinthians 10.7 NRSV)

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Paul was warning the early church about the sins that hindered the people of Israel in the time of Moses from being what God wanted them to be. Paul writes, "Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: 'The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.' We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel." Do not grumble? You mean grumbling is a sin? Yes, according to Paul, grumbling is a sin.

No sooner did Israel gather into a congregation than they began to have grumblers. Those of you who have had small children in your family know about grumbling. Sometimes they will complain with whiney voices, "We're starving!" We can be patient with such age-appropriate behavior among small children. The problem with grumblers, however, is that they continue such irritating behavior as adults. Thus, we read in Exodus 16 that the people began to complain and murmur against Moses and Aaron, "We're starving! You just brought us out here to watch us die of hunger." (Exodus 16:1-3)

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Dear Jesus, when I recognize all you have done for me how can I grumble? Help my to not complain but to have a thankful heart. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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