I have to be honest, I went quite a ways into adult life without knowing or understanding that grumbling was a sin. I think I chalked it up to just being human. When God convicted me of this through His Word, I had an uphill battle! Grumbling was a habit. Not only that, grumbling was everywhere. People did it at work to bond. Family members did it to commiserate. Friends used it as a springboard for conversation. Not grumbling actually felt awkward at first; I was in a bad rut.

My children’s spouses joke that our family has its own language. We say funny words or make references to places and moments that only make sense to us. Is your family like that? Here Jude was definitely referencing something that was super familiar to the Messianic Jews of his day, but is not on most of our readers.

I read a hilarious little book once called Shakespearean Insults. The Bard definitely had a way with words. In these two verses, Jude as well used eloquence to cut to the core of these ungodly people. Let’s look at a few references that are used in other places in the Bible as well.

Did you know there were talking animals in the Bible? In the story of Balaam (Numbers 22-25 and 31:16), we read a fascinating account. On his way to curse the Israelites, this prophet for profit, was stopped by an unmovable donkey. Balaam was so mad that he started to beat the poor animal.

Today we will look at the person Jude mentions named Korah. Korah was from the same family line as Moses and Aaron. One day, Korah decided that he would be a better leader for God’s people than Moses and Aaron. He incited 250 others against them. Moses was heartbroken at this, and God was angry. God destroyed Korah and those who rebelled against Moses by causing the earth to open and swallow them up.