Grumblings Against God

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF NUMBERS:

Consider again the progression of the themes of the five books of Moses. Genesis deals with creation; Exodus with redemption; Leviticus with holiness; Numbers with wilderness wanderings; Deuteronomy with obedience to and the love of God. The order is important. Exodus pictures salvation and Leviticus pictures sanctification. What is the purpose of Numbers? It portrays the importance that various trials have in the growth of the believer. No Christian matures until he or she goes through serious trials and remains faithful to the Lord (Romans 5:3-5; 1Peter 1:6-7). Unfortunately, Numbers is mostly an illustration of what to avoid doing. This truth is spelled out specifically in 1Corinthians 10:6-11 where we are told to avoid the idolatry,, fornication, tempting of God and murmuring of the Israelites in the wilderness. 

The time span of Numbers is approximate 38 years. This is a major contrast to the book of Leviticus which takes place in one month. NOTE: Exodus ends on the first day of the first month of the second year (Exodus 40:17) while Numbers begins on the first day of the second month of the second year (Numbers 1:1). The book of Numbers spans the remaining length of the forty years of wilderness wanderings. Aaron’s death, which occurs in the fortieth year of the wanderings (Numbers 33:38), is recorded before the end of the book of Numbers (20:29-29). 

The structure or outline of the book of Numbers is fairly simple. The word Numbers refers to the numberings, or census-takings, found in the book. There are two separate numberings in the book: one at the beginning of the book (chap.1-4) shortly after the giving of the law on Mount Sinai and a second one towards the end of the book (chap.26-27) and shortly before the Israelites entered the promised land. 

Numbers 13-14 tells of the sin of the people in following the ten spies who gave an evil report of the land. God determines to cause the Israelites to wander for forty years in the wilderness—one year for every day the spies were in the land (14:34). During the 38 remaining years (two had already passed), the old generation would die in the wilderness and a new generation made up of their children would enter the land. The book of Numbers is therefore divided into those chapters which deal with the old generation (chap.1-14), those few chapters which deal with incidents from the wandering years (chap.15-20) and the chapters which deal with the new generation (chap.21-36). 

The section of Numbers that deals with the old generation (1-14) has a record of their numbering (1-4), instructions given to them (5-9) and a record of their journey (10-14). The section that deals with the new generation in like manner has a record of their numbering (26-27), instructions given to them (28-36) and a record of their journey (21-25). The middle section (15-20) deals with incidents from the years of wandering. 

1. THE PEOPLE COMPLAIN AT TABERAH (11:1-3) 

   1. The Complaints of the People (v.1a; Jude 16) 

   2. The Judgment of the Lord (v.1b)

      1. The fire of the Lord (Lev.10:2; Numbers 16:35; Deuteronomy 4:24)

      2. In the uttermost parts of the camp

   3. The Cry of the People (v.2a; 21:7)

   4. The Intercession of Moses (v.2b; Exodus 32:10-14) 

   5. The Place Named Taberah, Meaning Burning (v.3)

      1. The practice of naming places of disobedience (Exodus 17:7; Numbers 11:34; Deuteronomy 9:22)

      2. We should mark and remember those places where we greatly failed the Lord so that we will not fall into the same errors again (2Corinthians 2:11)

2. THE PEOPLE LUST FOR FLESH TO EAT (11:4-9)

   1. The Complaints of the People (v.4-6)

      1. Influenced by the mixed multitude (v.4)

         1.  Egyptians who followed Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:38)

         2. A picture of false followers of God who still long for the things of the world (1John 2:19)

      2. Selectively remembering the “good old days” (v.5; see Ecclesiastes 7:10)

         1. They remembered the fancy foods (v.5)

         2. They forgot the heavy burdens (Exodus 1:11-14)

         3. They forgot their cry for deliverance (Exodus 2:23-25)

         4. They forgot their deliverance from the Egyptians (Exodus 14:29-31)

      3. Rejecting God’s miraculous provision (v.6; 21:5)

   2. God’s Provision of the Manna (v.7-9)

3. MOSES COMPLAINS TO THE LORD (11:10-15)

   1. He Complains of the Burden of his Position (v.10-11)

      1. Both Moses and God are displeased (v.10)

      2. But Moses blames the Lord for giving him his responsibilities (v.11)

      3. Moses questions God’s favor toward him (v.11)

   2. He Complains of the Burden of the People (v.11-12)

      1. They are an unwelcome burden (v.11)

      2. They are a bunch of babies (v.12)

   3. He Complains of the Burden of their Provision (v.13)

   4. He Complains of the Pressures of his Burden (v.14)

      1. Moses focuses on his inability

      2. Moses focuses on his aloneness

   5. He Complains of the Burden of his Wretchedness (v.15; cp.Exodus 3:11-12; 4:10-14) –Moses prefers to die than to face the troubles he has had with the people of God

4. THE LORD RESPONDS TO MOSES (11:16-23)

   1. God Allots Seventy Elders to Help Moses (v.16-17; Exodus 24:1, 9-11)

      1. Moses to choose them from the elders of the people (v.16)

      2. God to put His spirit upon them (v.17)

      3. The elders to help Moses bear the burden of the people (v.17)

   2. God Promises Flesh For the Israelites (v.18-20)

      1. God to give them flesh for a month (v.18-20a)

      2. Until it be loathsome to them (v.20)

   3. Moses Doubts the Sufficiency of the Lord (v.21-23)

      1. Moses questions the availability of the flesh (v.21-22)

         1. The people are too many (v.21)

         2. The herds are insufficient (v.22)

         3. Moses thinks he has to come up with the solution and does not trust in the provision of God

5. GOD’S SPIRIT RESTS ON MEN (11:24-30)

   1. Moses Gathers the Elders (v.24)

   2. God Empowers the Elders (v.25)

      1. The cloud comes down

      2. God’s spirit comes upon them

      3. The elders prophesy 

   3. Two Others Receive the Spirit (v.26-30)

      1. Eldad and Medad prophesy (v.26)

      2. Joshua wants Moses to forbid them (v.27-28)

      3. Moses calms the envy of Joshua (v.29-30)

6. GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS POWER TO PROVIDE (11:31-35) 

   1. The Wind Brings Quails from the Sea (v.31)

   2. The People Gather Them Two Days and a Night (v.32)

   3. God Destroys Many People with a Plague (v.33)

   4. The Place Named Kibrothhattavah, Meaning The Graves of Lust (v.34-35)