The People Murmur When the armies of Israel prospered, they took all the glory to themselves; but when they were tested and proved by hunger or warfare they charged all their hardships to Moses. The power of God which was manifested in a remarkable manner in their deliverance from Egypt, and seen from time to time all through their journeyings, should have inspired them with faith and forever closed their mouths from one expression of ingratitude. But the least apprehension of want, the least fear of danger from any cause, overbalanced the benefits in their favor and caused them to overlook the blessings received in their times of greatest danger. The experience they passed through in the matter of worshiping the golden calf should have made so deep an impression upon their minds as never to be effaced. But although the marks of God’s displeasure were fresh before them in their broken ranks and missing numbers because of their repeated offenses against the Angel who was leading them, they did not take these lessons to heart and by faithful obedience redeem their past failure; and again they were overcome by the temptations of Satan. {3T 342.1}

Folket knurrer
Når Israels hære voksede, tog de selv al ære; men når de blev forsøgt og prøvet af hunger eller krig tilskrev de moses alle deres trængsler. Guds kraft som viste sig på en bemærkelsesværdig måde ved deres udfrielse fra Ægypten og ses fra tid til anden igennem alle deres rejser, burde have indgydt dem med tro og for evigt lukket deres munde fra et eneste udtryk af utaknemmelighed. Men det mindste de manglede, den mindste frygt for at noget skulle komme i fare, opvejede deres goder og fik dem til at overse de velsignelser de fik når de var i største fare. Den erfaring de gennemgik da de dyrkede guldkalven kunne have gjort et dybt indtryk på deres sind som aldrig kunne udviskes. Men selv om mærkerne fra Guds mishag var friske for dem og viste sig i deres brudte rækker og svundne antal på grund af deres mange forhånelser mod den Engel som ledte dem, tog de ikke disse lektier til hjertet og ved trofast lydighed indløste deres tidligere fejl; og de blev igen overvundet af Satans fristelser.