Numbers 11

Numbers 11:1-35

Numbers 11:1-35; Numbers 12:1-16; Numbers 13:1-33; Numbers 14:1-45; Numbers 15:1-41; Numbers 16:1-50; Numbers 17:1-13; Numbers 18:1-32; Numbers 19:1-22; Numbers 20:1-29; Numbers 21:1-35II. The Journey-From Sinai to Moab (Numbers 11-21)If Numbers 1-10 show God’ s dealings with His people as being manifested in unity, harmony and success, then Numbers 11-21 set forth man’ s actions (man as left to himself) manifesting themselves in murmurings, failure and defeat. This has been true from Eden until today. Numbers 33 gives a list of all stations which the children of Israel reached until they came back to the starting point-Kadesh-barnea. The lesson is that there is no progress made when we are disobedient. There are many ways of considering the contents of these chapters (Numbers 1-10). For our present purpose we will consider them from the standpoint of the eight murmurings recorded therein. “ 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” (Numbers 11:1-3). These verses sound the characteristic note of the entire ten chapters of this section-murmurings and forgiveness.

Numbers 11:4-35

Numbers 11:4-352. The Second Murmuring-Kibroth-hattaavah, which Means “ Graves of Lust” (Numbers 11:4-35) The people complained, first, of the way; now, they complain of the food which God had provided. Doubtless the “ mixed multitude” (Numbers 11:4; cf. Exodus 12:38; Nehemiah 13:3; Genesis 13:5-14; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17) had not really felt the keen pang of the bondage of Egypt nor tasted the joy of the deliverance from bondage. Israel was prone to forget that it is impossible to have the food of Egypt without the bondage and oppression of Egypt. Moses’ prayer and God’ s forbearance with the great leader, as well as His answer to the petition, are exceedingly instructive. Moses really ought to have had more faith. Had he not seen and should he not have remembered the great wonders that Jehovah had wrought in Egypt? God answered Moses’ prayer in allowing him to divide up the duties of his office (Numbers 11:16-30). Moses saved himself trouble, but he lost dignity. The prayer of the people was answered; God sent them fullness of body but leanness of soul (Numbers 11:31-35). God supplied the need of the people by miraculously sending quail. The flocks of quail probably descended in their flight to about three feet above the ground, and so were easily captured. God satisfied their hunger, but He also smote them with a great plague because of their murmuring (Numbers 11:33-35). One often wonders if it would not have been better had their prayer been left unanswered. Shall we not thank God some day for unanswered as well as answered prayer?