A Warning To Grumblers

The LORD said to Moses: “Place Aaron’s staff permanently before the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a warning to rebels. This should put an end to their complaints against me and prevent any further deaths.” So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. Then the people of Israel said to Moses, “Look, we are doomed! We are dead! We are ruined! Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle of the LORD dies. Are we all doomed to die?” Numbers 17:10-13

THROUGHOUT THE STORY of the wilderness wandering, we read that the congregation of Israel grumbled. They complained about the food that showed up outside every morning, the lack of water, and the route they were taking, and in Numbers 16, we see they grumbled about the leaders God gave them in Moses and Aaron. God had had enough of their grumbling. He instructed the leaders of all twelve tribes to submit their staffs to Moses. They were placed before the Lord in the Tabernacle and left there overnight. During the night, one staff not only sprouted; it budded, blossomed, and produced almonds! In this way the Lord definitively demonstrated his choice of Aaron to serve him and stand in his presence, and he put an end to the people’s grumbling.

So how are we to deal with the grumbling in our own hearts and homes? How should we respond when our kids complain about their schools, curfews, or chores? We can’t exactly bring a dead stick in from the yard and make it bud and produce almonds overnight to show who’s boss. We can, however, remember that we are all —parents and kids —like those old dead sticks, fit only for the fire and unfit to stand in the presence of a holy God. Grumbling and rebellion can be overcome only as we contemplate another tree —the cross. There Jesus took upon himself the curse deserved by all rebels for our grumbling. God has made us alive and is making our lives fruitful! Because he took our rebellion and grumbling upon himself and gave us his perfect record of obedience and gratitude, we are able to do what Old Testament believers could not do: draw near to God’s presence with boldness and confidence.

Lord, in the Cross we see Jesus absorbing the punishment we deserve for our rebellion and grumbling. And in his resurrection, we see the almond branch blossom, the firstfruits of the harvest of eternal life. When ________ complains, grant us the patience and wisdom to extend the same grace you give to grumblers.