Midweek Message from the Archive
Check for a Heart Murmur
The story begins like this. “Look what God has done in my life! He turned everything around and now I’m back on top! He performed a miracle for me! God is truly all-powerful and He fought for me.” When the circumstances of our life are going well we give God all the credit, however, what’s our heart-attitude when life circumstances take a turn against us? We may not outrightly blame God but is there a periodic murmur or a grumble in there?
If you’re breathing then the answer is ‘yes’ but don’t be too hard on yourself, it was true for the people of Israel as well. Ex. 15 gives us the account of their deliverance from bondage in Egypt in a type of song. They were joining their leader Moses in rejoicing that God had come through for them. They sang of His triumph, His strength, and His salvation and even called Him a powerful Man of War since He fought for them and gave them victory. Here’s the kicker, after that incredible worship service with tambourines and dancing they were led directly into the wilderness.
Victory to wilderness. Do you see the pattern? One difficult situation after another? Really, God? The Israelites progressed from rejoicing right into grumbling or murmuring. Instead of recounting God’s past faithfulness, as they had done previously, they complained incessantly to their Leader. Eeeks!
Are you familiar with a physical condition called a heart murmur? It’s that low, indistinct, continuous sound a heart produces that alerts a doctor. Is there a connection between our physical heart and our heart-attitude? I think there is. When we follow the pattern of rejoicing in God when times are good and slipping into complaining, whining, and being discontented with life our divine Cardiologist hears that heart murmur.
In Ex. 15 & 16 there are forms of the word ‘grumble’ (also translated complained or murmured) ten times! The Hebrew word is pronounced loon and it not only means to complain but to stop and stay in that condition. When we murmur there’s an undertone of dissatisfaction and discontentment: a mumble under your breath. This Hebrew word is a word play for those of us who speak English. A loon is a dive-bomb bird with a laugh-like cry. We act like a loon when we loon. Is there a time to vent, yes, but be sure your listener doesn’t let you stay there.
In the midst of this story is this phrase, “… and there He tested them.” Don’t worry about this test from God because if you fail you get to retake it: again and again and again. Also, don’t miss one of God’s names in 15:26. I am the LORD, Your Healer. Was God making a connection between disease, sickness, and murmuring? Hmmmm. Be encouraged this week to stop and stay in God’s presence as Jesus recommends in John 15: Remain in Me. It’s a much healthier and happier place to be.
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