Complain-Complain-Complain
Numbers 11-12
Complain-Complain-Complain, Numbers 11-12. God was angry with the people, and though he answered their prayer for meat, He also sent a plague among them. However, God was not angry with Moses because Moses spoke the truth; the people really were too heavy a burden for one man to carry. God answered that prayer by providing 70 men to assist Moses, putting the Spirit of the Lord upon them.
1 And the people complained in
the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard
it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them
and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.
4
Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people
of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We
remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the
melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is
dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”
Numbers 11:1 and 4-6, ESV
1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite
woman. 2 And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses?
Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. 3 Now the
man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of
the earth. 4 And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and
Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of
them came out. 5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood
at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both
came forward. 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among
you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him
in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my
house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles,
and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to
speak against my servant Moses?”
Numbers 12:1-8, ESV
Complain-Complain-Complain
Numbers 11-12
Complain-Complain-Complain: Even Aaron and Miriam Complain
It
was just one of those days for Moses! It seemed as though everyone in
the camp was complaining--even Aaron and Miriam. First the people
complained about all of their misfortunes, then some rose up among the
people and complained because there was no meat to eat, and last of
Aaron and Miriam complained because they were jealous of Moses'
leadership.
Complain-Complain-Complain: Response of God
God was not happy with the people, and neither was Moses, who helplessly stood before the Lord saying,
“Why
have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in
your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12 Did I
conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to
me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to
the land that you swore to give their fathers? 13 Where am I to get meat
to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us
meat, that we may eat.’ 14 I am not able to carry all this people alone;
the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If you will treat me like this, kill
me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my
wretchedness.
Numbers 11:11-15
Complain-Complain-Complain: Do We Complain before the Lord?
When
I complain about things, my husband often gently reminds me that I am
really complaining against God, Himself. Think about the truth of that.
Think of the greatness of God who stoops to each of us helping us carry
our load and keeping us from danger. Is it really all right to complain
against Him?
Complain-Complain-Complain: God's Answer a Mixed Blessing
God
was angry with the people, and though he answered their prayer for
meat, He also sent a plague among them. However, God was not angry with
Moses because Moses spoke the truth; the people really were too heavy a
burden for one man to carry. God answered that prayer by providing 70
men to assist Moses, putting the Spirit of the Lord upon them.
Do you think the complaining of Miriam and Aaron had something to do with this? Do you think they thought the Lord should have appointed them to assist Moses, or even take over his leadership? Read again the words that the Lord spoke to Miriam and Aaron,
“Hear
my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known
to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my
servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth
to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the
Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
Complain-Complain-Complain: Moses Was God's Man for that Hour!
I think the key to these two chapters is summed up by the Lord in the last sentence of verse 8. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
Pray for God's grace that He will be close to you and guide you this day, and keep you from complaining, knowing that all of your complaints are really against Him.
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