Murmuring

Murmuring — the complaining, grumbling rebellion of Israel against God and his appointed leaders during the wilderness period — is one of the recurring themes of the Exodus narrative. The Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron at the waters of Marah (Ex. 15:24), at Rephidim (Ex. 17:3), repeatedly over food (Num. 11:1–4), in response to the spies' report (Num. 14:2), during Korah's rebellion (Num. 16:41), and against the rigors of the journey (Num. 21:4–5). God consistently regarded this murmuring as directed against himself rather than merely against human leadership (Ex. 16:8; Num. 14:27). The consequences were severe: the generation that murmured at the spies' report was condemned to die in the wilderness (Num. 14:28–35). Psalm 106:25 identifies murmuring with unbelief. Paul cites the wilderness generation as a warning to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 10:10), and exhorts the Philippians to do all things without murmuring or disputing (Phil. 2:14), presenting contentment and gratitude as marks of the renewed life in Christ.