Numbers 11
-The people look back at the nice things they were afforded
in Egypt with nostalgia as the saga continues in the wilderness. They had
somehow forgotten their slavery and mistreatment, which had lead them to cry
out to God for deliverance in desperation (Exodus 2:23-24). They were stuck in
the pit of complaint, and begged with weeping for something other than the
blessed manna that the LORD had been providing day in and day out miraculously.
The LORD demonstrated His anger with their immaturity initially by sending
fire, which consumed some of the outside of the camp in the place thereafter
called Taberah (burning). The Scriptures clearly say that this rabble of greedy
folks with desire for luxury was the cause (Numbers 11:1-9).
-At that point God and Moses had a hash out session where we
find that the LORD’s anger “was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased.”
Moses blamed God for being hard on His servant by not giving him favor and
laying this heavy burden of leadership on him over the people. He further
pointed out that it was not him that conceived all this people and brought them
forth. Moses felt like a mother of a nursing infant that was helpless and lacked
any ability to care for itself. He acknowledged that the LORD was fulfilling
His promise, but he pined that he was not capable of providing for them in this
situation. The conflict ended up with Moses beseeching the LORD to kill him if
God was dealing with him in wretchedness (Numbers 11:10-15).
-Then, the LORD instructed Moses to gather seventy of the
elders and officers of Israel to the tent of meeting in order for them to take
their stand there with the prophet. God promised to come down and speak with
Moses there and cast His Spirit (wind, breath) upon them all so that they could
bear the burden of the people along with Moses so that he would no longer have
to bear the burden alone. He was told to tell them to consecrate themselves,
for tomorrow they would have meat to eat for they had wept in the ears of the
LORD. God was providing, even in their complaint and immaturity, and He was
attempting to teach them a lesson. He promised them a full month’s worth of
meat to the point that they would be sick of it too. His reasoning in His
omniscience? “Because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept
before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt (Numbers 11:16-20)?’” Moses
had a hard time fathoming this supply due to the sheer numbers of people and
what it would take to feed them this amount of meat, even though he had
witnessed God’s provision of manna up until that point. He offered to slaughter
the flocks and the herd for this even though he knew realistically that would
never complete the need for what God promised. He also reasoned away an attempt
to get fish gathered up for this, but this too was insufficient. Then the LORD
said to Moses, “Is the LORD’s power limited? Now you shall see whether My word
will come true for you or not (Numbers 11:21-23).” Moses told all the people
the word of the LORD and gathered the seventy men stationing them around the
tent. “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the
Spirit who was upon him and placed Him
upon the seventy elders. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied.
But they did not do it again (Numbers 11:24-25).” Two men had remained in the
camp rather than being at the tent of meeting as they were supposed to be.
Their names were Eldad and Medad. The Spirit rested on them nonetheless and
they prophesied where they were at in the camp. Here we see the omnipresence of
Almighty God too. Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8), who was the
attendant of Moses from his youth, said, “Moses, my lord, restrain them.” Moses
replied back wisely, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s
people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” After this
they returned to the camp (Numbers 11:26-30). An outpouring had occurred. God
was giving prophesy to more than just the elite. He was spreading His power out
to the leaders of the people. He was making a statement. This also pointed as a
shadow to another dispensation when the Holy Spirit would be given to all
believers in Jesus Christ (Acts 2).
-“Now there went forth a wind from the LORD and it brought
quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on
this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp and about
two cubits (about 3 feet) deep on the surface of the ground.” The people scrambled
to partake of the fresh meat, and they had plenty. The God-given birds were
spread out all around the camp. But, while the meat was still between their
teeth and chewed all the way up, the LORD’s anger was kindled against the
people, and a very severe plague killed some of the Israelites. The place was thus
named “Kibroth-hattaavah” meaning “the graves of greediness.” From that place
they ventured out for Hazeroth and remained there (Numbers 11:31-35).
-*Application* God has provided all that we need and we
should be ever thankful for His miraculous and supernatural gifts showered down
upon us each and every day. We should never let ourselves get greedy or look
back with nostalgia to a time or place that was not really as good as it may
now seem. Go forward with God. Trust Him and seek His Spirit. He is readily
available to all who seek Him (Matthew 7:7-8). Let us not grumble or complain,
we know that God is never pleased with that.
Verse to Memorize:
Numbers 11:23
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