To me these terms sound synonymous. I think maybe a groan sounds like uuummrrgg and a grumble sounds like hurmghurmghurmg.
But in fact there is a great difference between being a grumbler and a groaner. I will explain what this difference is. This difference, and which side you're on, has considerable ramifications in your life. It's a difference between living a life in the blessing of God's mercy or the curse of God's judgment.
God loves groaners. In both the Old & New Testament God is for the groaners.
Exodus 2:23-24 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Romans 8:23
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Groaning is something people do when they are in a painful situation.
In our example from Exodus the people are oppressed slaves.
In Romans it mentions believers who believe and have the spirit, but are still dealing with the corruption of this world and this body not fully resurrected.
In each case there is a hope in God's mercy. In Exodus they cried out for help. They would not have cried if they didn't believe that God could help for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Heb 11:6).
The verses following Romans 8:23 describe a believers hope and patience.
Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
God loves to be gracious and merciful to those who hope in him and call to him in the midst of their trials.
Grumbling is also something people do when faced with painful situations. Some translations use the term murmur for grumble.
Exodus 17:3
But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
This is the passage that got me thinking about the whole subject. The Bible states clearly, as I will demonstrate more, that these people were in the wrong. In fact they were in grievous sin. When I read this last night it got me wondering: Why does God love the groaners in Exodus 2 and hate the grumblers in Exodus 17?
The difference when we look for it is clear. It is the difference between doubt and hope. It's the difference between giving up and persevering.
A few verses later the attitude of these people is described further.
Exodus 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
These are the same people who months earlier had walked through the Red Sea on dry land. They had seen all the mighty plagues on the Egyptians. Yet they asked, "Is the Lord among us?"
Later passages in the Bible look back to the grumbling Israelites in the dessert in judgement, because of Exodus 17 and other episodes:
1 Corinthians 10:9-10 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Psalm 78:21-22 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath;a fire was kindled against Jacob;his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.
Doubt is a serious sin. God's anger arises against those who do not trust his saving power. It isn't enough for us just to believe the right facts about God. God actually wants us to trust him and will judge us if we don't. James says, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8)
But I know that I have been like the Israelites. I can relate to those people. How would I react if I saw my daughter without water in the dessert?
Just the other night I was grumbling to God. The difference between me and the Israelites is my life and my child's life weren't in danger. I just wasn't getting what I wanted. "God why are you doing this to me? Why can't I have ____?" As I said this I knew in my heart that God was not pleased with this whiny grumbling.
After everything that the Lord has done for me I like the Israelites was wondering if he was really with me.
God despises this grumbling and doubt.
Let us repent of our doubting and ask God to give us more faith to trust in him.
God calls us to trust his saving power. The good news is that God can be trusted.
Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
If we are believing in God and trusting in his promises God is for us.
Just like all who have trusted in God before us we will groan. God calls us to groaning. Our groaning (when we can put it into words) should sound something like this:
Lord I don't like this trial, but I know that you work all things together for my good, and I will hope in your mercy
Lord I don't want to face this nevertheless let your will be done.
So be a groaner. call out to God in faith. Don't grumble and give up in despair.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Jesus (Matt 19:26)
