"Do all things without murmurings and disputings:" - Philippians 2:14 (KJV)
Murmuring against providence is admittedly something I have been very guilty of. When I went through a period of extended unemployment, the longest in a decades long career, I murmured. I had taken a stand for the LORD in the workplace working for a Jewish company and paid the price. It sent our finances into a spiral and was exceedingly difficult.
As a husband, father and the head of a household, we're told to protect and provide for those that the LORD has entrusted with our care. That's what made the season of leanness such a struggle for me: it was an attack on my identity and my role as a man.
How does this relate to Biblical Families and polygyny? Why am I writing this?
Because I think women, particularly women who aren't raised thinking polygyny is permissible and/or appropriate, are in a similar struggle. Speaking from personal experience as my wife and I navigate this question of biblical marriage, it seems that adding a second woman to an established family is viewed as an attack on their identity as a woman.
If you would've asked me when it had happened, I would've told you that I was murmuring against my employer. What happened wasn't right or fair, and what they did thoughtlessly affected my entire household.
If you would've asked any of these women responsible for cleaning up the damage caused by the polybomb in a monogamous marriage, I think you would likely hear things such as:
"Why is he doing this to me?"
"This is not how I thought this marriage would be."
"If he really loved me he wouldn't pursue this."
With all of the very real pain of briefly not being able to provide for my family in the way I was accustomed, and with all of the anguish women are experiencing when they need to rethink fundamental ideas around their marriage, I think we're guilty of murmuring.
So here's the great question: when we feel attacked and we murmur, who are we really murmuring against?
"And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD." - Exodus 16:8 (KJV)
In my context, a woman who was prayed for during a brief season late last year was miraculously provided by the LORD, and her purpose in our lives has been confirmed by multiple independent lots cast by people. Little signs and wonders have followed. No one involved, despite how weird the circumstances seem, doubts the hand of God in this. Yet still, there is murmuring.
So to those who are persuaded that they are called to walk this stretch of road and may be tempted to seek after a sign or a miraculous answer to prayer, let it be of some comfort to you that these things will not often help us walk by faith, nor will they heal self inflicted wounds caused by unbelief.
Remember those that pooled together their pieces of jewelry to fashion a golden calf so soon after being led across dry ground and observing the water standing like a wall on either side. Let us not murmur, lest the LORD declare that we must die in the wilderness for our unbelief.
I hope this insight may be of help to others on their journey.
Murmuring against providence is admittedly something I have been very guilty of. When I went through a period of extended unemployment, the longest in a decades long career, I murmured. I had taken a stand for the LORD in the workplace working for a Jewish company and paid the price. It sent our finances into a spiral and was exceedingly difficult.
As a husband, father and the head of a household, we're told to protect and provide for those that the LORD has entrusted with our care. That's what made the season of leanness such a struggle for me: it was an attack on my identity and my role as a man.
How does this relate to Biblical Families and polygyny? Why am I writing this?
Because I think women, particularly women who aren't raised thinking polygyny is permissible and/or appropriate, are in a similar struggle. Speaking from personal experience as my wife and I navigate this question of biblical marriage, it seems that adding a second woman to an established family is viewed as an attack on their identity as a woman.
If you would've asked me when it had happened, I would've told you that I was murmuring against my employer. What happened wasn't right or fair, and what they did thoughtlessly affected my entire household.
If you would've asked any of these women responsible for cleaning up the damage caused by the polybomb in a monogamous marriage, I think you would likely hear things such as:
"Why is he doing this to me?"
"This is not how I thought this marriage would be."
"If he really loved me he wouldn't pursue this."
With all of the very real pain of briefly not being able to provide for my family in the way I was accustomed, and with all of the anguish women are experiencing when they need to rethink fundamental ideas around their marriage, I think we're guilty of murmuring.
So here's the great question: when we feel attacked and we murmur, who are we really murmuring against?
"And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD." - Exodus 16:8 (KJV)
In my context, a woman who was prayed for during a brief season late last year was miraculously provided by the LORD, and her purpose in our lives has been confirmed by multiple independent lots cast by people. Little signs and wonders have followed. No one involved, despite how weird the circumstances seem, doubts the hand of God in this. Yet still, there is murmuring.
So to those who are persuaded that they are called to walk this stretch of road and may be tempted to seek after a sign or a miraculous answer to prayer, let it be of some comfort to you that these things will not often help us walk by faith, nor will they heal self inflicted wounds caused by unbelief.
Remember those that pooled together their pieces of jewelry to fashion a golden calf so soon after being led across dry ground and observing the water standing like a wall on either side. Let us not murmur, lest the LORD declare that we must die in the wilderness for our unbelief.
I hope this insight may be of help to others on their journey.
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