Murmuring Proceeds From Pride

Men think they have deserved better; and, because they are crossed, therefore they utter discontented expressions against God.

He who is humble bears any thing from God; he knows his punishment is less than his sin, therefore says, "I will bear the indignation of the LORD" (Micah 7:9).

But pride raises discontent; and hence comes murmurings.

Murmuring is a sin that God cannot bear, "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation that murmur against me?" (Numbers 14:27).

The murmurer discovers much ingratitude; a murmuring tongue is always an unthankful tongue;

He considers not how much he is a debtor to free grace, and whatever he has is more than God owes him; he considers not that his mercies outweigh his afflictions;

There's more honey than wormwood in his cup; he considers not what God has done for him, more than such as are better than he;

He has the finest of wheat, when others feed, as Daniel, on pulse. 

The murmurer, I say, does not consider this; but, because he is crossed in some small matter, he repines against God. O ingratitude!

Israel, though they had manna from heaven, to satisfy their hunger, angel's food, yet murmured for want of quails; not content that God should supply their want, but must satisfy their lust too.

O unthankful! Israel's murmuring cost many of them their lives, "Neither murmur ye, as some of them did, and were destroyed of the destroyer" (1 Corinthians 10:10).

Their speeches were venomous, and God punished them with venomous serpents. 

~Thomas Watson~