Sometimes the best way to learn “what not to do” is to look at what others did and the resulting conclusion. The study of the children of Israel in the wilderness in the Old Testament is full of insight and wisdom. It becomes particularly powerful when it is discussed in the New Testament. When the apostles look back and discuss mistakes that could have been avoided, a new level of importance is given to the story. 

 We find such a passage in I Corinthians 10: 1-13 NKJV, “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,  all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,  all ate the same spiritual food,  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;  nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

A scorpion is predatory arachnid with eight legs and a curved stinger over the back. Two front pinchers grasp their prey and use their stinger to insert deadly poison. The attack paralyzes and kills the scorpions prey.  

The previous passage list these things as scorpions; lust, idolatry, sexual immorality, tempting Christ, murmuring, and complaining. The first four scorpions are easy to understand but the last two, murmuring and complaining, are often considered tolerable sins. We think “everyone complains and vents” so it’s OK for me to. However, murmuring and complaining are just as deadly to your Christian life as the other poisonous scorpions.

By definition, to murmur means, “a soft, indistinct sound made by a person or group of people speaking quietly or at a distance.” We often call it grumbling.   

By definition, to complain means, “the expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.”

When we embrace a lifestyle of complaining and murmuring, we slowly inject the scorpions poison into our system and it paralyzes, sickens, and eventually kills us. It steals the promise land, God’s provision, and leaves us going around and around in our wilderness experience. 

Instead of murmuring and complaining use God’s word to address the situation. By faith speak what God says instead of what you feel. The truth will set you free and dilute, render harmless the scorpions poison. 

In closing, I want to share a couple of my favorite stories about complaining and the wisdom of not doing it!

“Out West, a cowboy was driving down a dirt road, his dog riding in back of the pickup truck, his faithful horse in the trailer behind. He failed to negotiate a curve and had a terrible accident.

Sometime later, a highway patrol officer came on the scene. An animal lover, he saw the horse first. Realizing the serious nature of its injuries, he drew his service revolver and put the animal out of his misery. He walked around the accident and found the dog, also hurt critically. He couldn’t bear to hear it whine in pain, so he ended the dog’s suffering as well.

Finally, he located the cowboy — who suffered multiple fractures — off in the weeds. “Hey, are you OK?” the cop asked. The cowboy took one look at the smoking revolver in the trooper’s hand and quickly replied, “Never felt better!”

A poor man lived with his wife and six children in a very small one-room house. They were always getting in each other’s way and there was so little space they could hardly breathe!

Finally, the man could stand it no more. He talked to his wife and asked her what to do. “Go see the rabbi,” she told him, and after arguing a while, he went.

And so, the poor man told the rabbi how miserable things were at home with him, his wife, and the six children all eating and living and sleeping in one room. The poor man told the rabbi, “We’re even starting to yell and fight with each other. Life couldn’t be worse.”

The rabbi thought very deeply about the poor man’s problem. Then he said, “Do exactly as I tell you and things will get better. Do you promise?”

“I promise,” the poor man said.

“The rabbi then asked the poor man a strange question. “Do you own any animals?”

“Yes,” he said. “I have one cow, one goat, and some chickens.”

“Good,” the rabbi said. “When you get home, take all the animals into your house to live with you.”

The poor man was astonished to hear this advice from the rabbi, but he had promised to do exactly what the rabbi said. So, he went home and took all the farm animals into the tiny one-room house.

The next day the poor man ran back to see the rabbi. “What have you done to me, Rabbi?” he cried. “It’s awful. I did what you told me and the animals are all over the house! Rabbi, help me!”

The rabbi listened and said calmly, “Now go home and take the chickens back outside.”

The poor man did as the rabbi said but hurried back again the next day. “The chickens are gone, but Rabbi, the goat!” he moaned. “The goat is smashing up all the furniture and eating everything in sight!”

The good rabbi said, “Go home and remove the goat and may God bless you.”

So the poor man went home and took the goat outside. But he ran back again to see the rabbi, crying and wailing. “What a nightmare you have brought to my house, Rabbi! With the cow it’s like living in a stable! Can human beings live with an animal like this?”

The rabbi said sweetly, “My friend, you are right. May God bless you. Go home now and take the cow out of your house.” And the poor man went quickly home and took the cow out of the house.

The next day he came running back to the rabbi again. “O Rabbi,” he said with a big smile on his face, “we have such a good life now. The animals are all out of the house. The house is so quiet, and we’ve got room to spare! What a joy!”