Who started the murmuring in the wilderness?
The mixed multitude started the murmuring in the wilderness. They were non-Jewish hangers-on, likely Egyptians and foreigners who went out with the Jews from Egypt, and they were the first to complain. Their lack of spiritual concern caused murmuring then, and similar unsaved elements cause complaints in churches today.
Les explains that the mixed multitude were hangers-on, probably Egyptians and foreigners who had labored in Egypt as well as the Jews, but they were not Jews themselves. They saw a good thing and decided to go along, becoming like parasites. As Israel got into the wilderness experience and they began to murmur, Les points out that the mixed multitude were always the first ones to start murmuring. He applies this to churches today: many problems, splits, and complaints go back to the mixed multitude of Exodus, because the murmurers and complainers are usually the unsaved element in the church, having no real spiritual concern or knowledge.