Murmuring is an outward sign of unbelief and it will keep you living in defeat. Just as murmuring led the Israelites further into rebellion against God, it will lead you into rebellion and disobedience. When Satan tempts you to murmur about your circumstances, recognize it as one of his strategies to defeat you and, instead of murmuring, begin to praise and thank God for His faithfulness toward you. Release your faith and trust God to meet your need.

Because of their unbelief, the Israelites rebelled and disobeyed God when they first came to the border of their Promised Land.

• They refused to hear the voice of God.
• They rejected His Word.
• They refused to act in faith on what He had promised.
• They refused to obey.

God had told them to go and take possession of the land, but instead of going forward they rebelled and turned back. Before them was the land God promised. It belonged to them. It was a rich, fertile land with green valleys. It was a land where God promised to bless and multiply them above the nations of the earth. It was a land where God had promised to give them health and prosperity, yet, because of unbelief, they turned back. They said, “…Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt? And they said to each other, We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt” (Numbers 14:3-4, NIV).

Not only did they refuse to hear the voice of God, they rejected Him as their leader. God sent the preincarnate Son of God to go before them to lead, instruct, and guide them. As long as they were obedient to Him, God promised to give them victory over their enemies. They refused to follow God and obey Him, however, and chose instead to follow their self-will. They chose to go back into Egyptian bondage rather than obey God. They chose to satisfy the carnal desires of their flesh instead of pressing forward in faith and taking possession of the land.

To take possession of their inheritance, it would be necessary for Israel to face the giants, to fight against their enemies, and drive them out. Because of their unbelief, they feared their enemies more than they feared God. Instead of going into battle and taking dominion over their enemies, they chose to go back to their bondage and slavery in Egypt. There on the verge of victory, Israel retreated. They forfeited their inheritance and were defeated.

Poised at the threshold of a new year — a new millennium — what will you do?

I will hear God's voice. I will receive His Word. I will act in faith upon what God has promised and obey.