FAITH OR FEAR
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The theme of this lesson may be summed up by the words of the apostle Paul, (2 Corinthians 5:7) "For we walk by faith, not by sight". God calls us to follow Him by faith, to trust His promises and obey His commands. If we walk by faith, we cannot fail, but if by we walk by sight, we cannot win.
Despising God's Blessings (Numbers 11:1-15) These verses remind us of small children on a trip. Just shortly after the trip gets started you hear: "I'm hungry,' "I'm thirsty" and "are we there yet?" Three days journey from Sinai and the people began to complain. Their manner was insufferable, and a lot of harsh things were said. It is sad how quickly some folks get tired of following the Lord's way. (Numbers 11:1-3)"And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them”. In His anger, the Lord devoured those in uttermost parts of the camp. This likely refers to hesitant to follow the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire. The name Taberah (tansy-raw) means burning (verse 3). After all that God had done for them, should anyone wonder why God was displeased? Moses' intercessory prayer quenched the fire of the Lord's judgment.
There was a mixed multitude of people that went up with Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12.38). "Mixed multitude" is from two Hebrew words, ereb (ay-reb), Which is used to speak of a mongrel race or mingled people and the word rad meaning in abundance. The term "mixed multitude" in Numbers 11:4 is from the Hebrew word aspesuph (as-pes-oof) and it is only used here. It refers to a wanton or promiscuous assemblage of riffraff This multitude was made up of Egyptians and other foreigners who followed Israel out of Egypt. These foreigners had little knowledge of Jehovah, the true and living God. They had witnessed the power of God through the words and miracles they saw Moses do. However, they were the first to complain about what they felt was a bad situation and this led to evil. And their view quickly began to spread to others. The Israelites allowed those who offered testimonies for any cause that would pervert the children of Israel to join in with their expressed disapproval. The wrong crowd too often influences us. We are often easily swayed by peer pressure. This is another reason why children of God need to choose their friends and companions wisely. Jehovah warned Israel, and you need to take heed as well, not to follow the crowd when it is doing wrong; and do not allow the view of others to sway you into offering testimonies for any cause that will pervert justice. (Exodus 23:2) “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment". To do so will always bring trouble with it. Although you must live in this world, you do not have to become partakers of its evil. (John 17:14, 15) "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil". Paul recorded the words of God in his second letter to the church at Corinth concerning being unequally yoked with unbelievers. His admonition was, (2 Corinthians 6:17)"Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you".
One who longs for evil things of their past and disparage the blessings of the Lord are deserving of His judgment. They had forgotten the grueling work and the sting of the taskmaster's whip. They were moaning the loss of fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic (Numbers 11:5). Jehovah provided bread from Heaven, called manna in a miraculous way. It came fit Heaven and rested on the night dew so it remained clean as God intended (verses 6-9). Instead of thanking God for His provision, they stood in the door of their tents weeping. (1 Corinthians 15:33) "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners", Their wicked attitude and action angered the Lord and caused Moses to become displeased (Numbers 11:10), The honor of leading God's chosen people had become a heavy burden, Their murmuring took an adverse effect on Moses. (Numbers 11:11)"And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?". Moses was struggling during a weak moment. Lackadaisical, cold and indifferent church members do not realize the burdens they lay upon a faithful and loving pastor. How many pastors have said or at least thought, (Numbers 11:14) "I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me". Children of God need to heed these words, (Hebrews 13:17)"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. for that is unprofitable for you'. The leaders of God's people will answer for how they lead. Those they are leading will answer for how they follow.
Seventy Elders Prophesy (Numbers 11:16-35)
God answered Moses' prayer for help with the call of seventy elders. In Hebrew zagen (zaw-kane) was more than just an old man. The word carries the idea of dignity, privilege and proven. They were to meet with the Lord around His sanctuary. It is to this number of elders that the Jewish Talmud traces the origin of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin Counsel was the highest tribuna during the Greek and Roman periods. In New Testament times, members of the Sanhedrin were selected from three classes, the chief priests (high priests, the scribes and the elders, "And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone" (Numbers 11:16, 17).
The people
Quail Numbers 11:31. Small, game birds which God sent to Israel in the wilderness to satisfy their hunger and unjustified desire for meat. (See Psalm 105:40.) God judged Israel and many people died because of their lust. The place was called Kibroth-hataavah or graves of lust.
They Buried the People That Lusted (Numbers 11:34):
Kibroth-hattaavah was the place of another tragedy during the trek from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea. Kibroth-hattaavah means graves of lust or graves of craving. It was here God again took the lives of those who complained against Him. The food God had provided was not good enough, these people craved or lusted after flesh. God gave to them what they asked. He sent quail to them in an almost unbelievable quantity. The man who did not do very well in gath-ering them still picked up ten homers or about sixty bushels. The scene must have been one of disorder to say the least, one of complete chaos to say the most. People running as fast as they could to gather as much as they could to gorge themselves to satisfy a fleshly need while God provided for them every day. Those people may have briefly tasted that meat, but before they could swallow, God killed them. They were then buried at Kibroth-hattaavah.
Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses' Marriage (Numbers 12:1-16)
"The camp moved northward to Hazeroth. Here a power play of a different Sort unfold. It is a pitiful sight to watch children of God succumb to self-conceit and envy. It is plausible that Zipporah had passed away. She was a descendent of Midian, who was a son of Abraham by Keturah "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him...Midian" (Genesis 25:1, 2). The context could possibly indicate that Moses had recently married another woman. A marriage that Miriam and Aaron opposed. With the possible death of Zipporah, Miriam was moved with envy, and perhaps some spite, to gain a more prominent place of leadership. "And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it" (Numbers 12:1, 2). The Lord came quickly to the defence of His chosen leader. "And the LoRD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out" (verse 4). He honored Moses above other prophets. To the others, He came in visions and dream, but He spoke with Moses "mouth to mouth" (verse 8). There was no mediation. Moses was faithful in all things in God's house, therefore they spoke face to face. "And the LoRD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend" (Exodus 33:11). This was yet another reason for the Lord to say, "Touch not mine anointed, and do mY prophets no harm" (1 Chronicles 16:22). Those who turn to jealousy need be reminded here that they are dealing with a jealous God. He does not take lightly challenges against His chosen ones. "God is jealous, and the LoRD revengeth; the LoRD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies” Nahum 1:2). The result of envy was uncleanness in the camp. Sin that began in the heart was exhibited in the flesh Miriam became leprous and that made it necessary for her to be put outside the camp. The envious church member will soon be on the outside of the Lord's fellowship. Aaron confessed that what they did was foolish and sinful. Moses cried out for God’s help. Miriam's jealousy disrupted the fellowship and journey of the entire camp. She could have been plagued for the rest of her life. God spared her that anguish, yet the camp had to wait seven days for her cleansing (Numbers 12:10-16). Once Miriam was cleansed and returned to camp, Israel moved and pitched in the wilderness of Paran, which is a desert area in Arabia meaning, place of caverns. One rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel. This is true of sin in the camp or church.
Miriam Became Leprous (Numbers 12:10):
The punishment of Miriam is recorded here in response to her speaking against her brother Moses. The Lord came down upon the Tabernacle in the cloud and called Miriam and Aaron to Him. God sternly explained to them that He is the One who decides to whom He will speak. He would speak to Moses because it was His will to do so. Miriam and Aaron should have respected the fact that God had chosen Moses to be the one receiving the commandments from God. Because Miriam had not respected this, God struck her with leprosy. This was a death sentence. Moses intervened and prayed for her. God made her suffer for seven days as she was separated from the camp. The Lord will not tolerate anyone questioning His wisdom, and He many times protects those who have given their lives to serve Him.
Giants, Grasshoppers and God (Numbers 13:1-14:45)
Israel witnessed the mighty hand of God repeatedly. But the story that began with deliverance quickly turned to one of tragic failure. They had been gone from Egypt about sixteen months. Apparently, this was long enough for them to forget how they cried for a deliverer because of their taskmasters. The encampment was now near Kadesh-barnea. This was their nineteenth camp since leaving Hazaroth (Numbers 33:18-36). They were now camping on the southern border of the Promised Land. It became the borderline of decision. Many today are standing at their Kadesh-barnea, and the day of decision has come. Will I continue to follow the Lord, or will I do an about-face and return to Egypt and the world? There are a number, of sins that seem to be common among God’s children. They are the sins of murmuring, ingratitude, selfishness, complaining and worry. Are we like The nine cleanse lepers, who forgot to return and thank Jesus for cleansing them. There is a saying, “I complained that I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet.”
'Here at Kadesh-barnea the twelve spies were chosen. One from each tiribe (Numbers 13:1-16). Note that Moses called Oshea Jehoshua (Joshua), meaning, savior or deliverer. Moses sent the spies up into the mountain and told them what to look for and what they needed to report He also told them "be ye of good courage (verse 20). Their assignment was to check out the people, were they few or many? Weak or strong? Did they live in tents or fortified cities? Was it a good land that truly flowed with milk and honey? Their spying carried them from Zin, just north of Kadesh-barnea all the way north to Rehob on the road to Hamath, a distance of about three hundred miles. It was time for the first harvest of the grapes. After forty days, they returned with a cluster of grapes that took two men to carry, along with pomegranates and figs. Passing by Hebron they spied the children of Anak, who was the father of a tribe of giants (verses 21-25).
The first reports were good and encouraging. They showed the fruit of the land and confirmed it flowed with milk and honey (verse 27). God already told them this. But He often does more for us than we deserve in order to strengthen our faith. He permitted the spies to go and see the land for themselves. The report should have bolstered the Israelites to precede without any hesitation. However, there is one word that is stated that changes the course of events. Nevertheless* is from the Hebrew word ephes, which means to cease or end. it is used meaning to act with no effect. And the rest of the report caused Isreal to do just that, cease and act with no effect. The ten unfaithful-cowardly—spies compared Giants the Israelites to grasshoppers along side the giants at Hebron. There were also Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites and Canaanites dwelling in the Land. But it was not the inhabitants of the land who would defeat them. It was their own lack of faith in the God who brought them out of Egypt by a mighty hand.
Two men, Joshua and Caleb, brought the report of faith. They proved themselves worthy to be leaders. They were not looking at size or numbers. They were relying on the promises of God. If the members of a church has a faithful pastor, they should be doubly thankful for him (1 Timothy 5:17). Remember that God told Gideon to send the fearful and the indifferent back home (Judges 7:3-7). Human reasoning said, that they were not able. The heart of faith found in Caleb said, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able" (Numbers 13:30).
Faithful Reports and the People's Folly (Numbers 14:1-45)
The folly of the people denied the good reports. They were ready to pick another leader and return to Egypt. This caused Moses and Aaron to fall face down before the entire congregation of Israel. Joshua and Caleb were so disturbed by the actions of Israel that they "rent their clothes" (verse 6). This was a sign of their grief at the mutiny they were witnessing. It has been the heartbreak of too many pastors to hear the cries of the people we cannot do that; we do not need to do that and we cannot afford that. It reveals the nature and attitude of a less than faithful child of God. Joshua and Caleb could see no reason to hesitate. The same God that parted the Red Sea, drowned Pharaoh's army, led them by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire, defeated the Amalekites and fed them bread from Heaven could surely and easily take care of the giants in the land.
Joshua and Caleb tried in vain to rally the people behind them. As the people of Israel got ready to stone them, the glory of the Lord appeared in the Tabernacle. "But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LoRD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel" (verse 10). What does it take for some people to wake up spiritually and trust in the Lord? They claim Him as their Savior but are unwilling to trust Him as the Lord of all. They had gone so far in their rebellion that the Lord was ready to disinherit them and make a greater nation with Moses. Moses' plea was basically to not give the nations Reason to blaspheme God’s name. The Lord heard depletion of Moses, and his prayer touch the heart of the Lord. “I have pardon according to the word”(verse 20) the word “pardoned” is from salach (saw-lakh’), meaning to forgive or to be forgiven. However, the sin of Rebellion carriers with it some serious consequences. They had witnessed the glory of the Lord and many wondrous miracles. Yet this was the tenth time they tempted the Lord and did not heed His voice. Therefore, the whole of Israel, twenty years old and upward" (verse 29) that murmured was doomed to fall in the wilderness. Forty years, they would wander in the wilderness, be consumed and die there (verses 22-35).
The ten spies who brought back the evil report died by the plague sent by the Lord (verses 36, 37). Joshua and Caleb not only survived the plague, but they "still lived," (verse 38) and they would be the leaders when it came in taking the land from the Canaanites. "And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly (verse 39). Sad, but it was too little too late.
Hearing this sad report from Moses, did not bring a true repentance, which is witnessed by their actions the very next morning. They thought they were ready to invade the land of promise, but they were warned, "The LORD will not be with you" (verse 43). But, like many times before, they did not heed God's Word and set out to do things their way. For their willful sin, the Lord rebuked Israel by allowing the Amalekites and Canaanites to strike and break their camp. "Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited [from the Hebrew word kathath (kaw-thath') meaning to strike, beat down, to break in pieces or to crush] them, even unto Hormah" [the banning or ban-place] (verse 45). This name was given in memory of the massive destruction of rebellious Israel.
It Is So Easy To Forget
Israel found it easy to forget the goodness and mercy of the Lord, especially their deliverance from Egypt. "The children of Israel went out with an high hand" (Exodus 14:8). But when they saw the sea in front of them and Pharaoh's army fast overtaking them, they cried out against Moses for bringing them out of Egypt. "Hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness. For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness"(verses 11, 12).
Do you find it easy to forget what the Lord has done for you? There are times when you need to take a glance back at His many blessings on you. This will enable you to remember His love and mercy, and this will strengthen your faith as you face the everyday problems of life.