Tag: Numbers

Loathe to Praise

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And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”

Numbers 21:5 (ESV)

There are a lot of feelings and emotions within me that get stirred up by this singular verse. For the most part, when I hear this complaint from the people of Israel I can only hear my own voice yelling within me the same ungrateful response that is put to Moses. I often think that my complaining is harmless. I see nothing wrong with voicing my displeasure or distaste for a situation or circumstance that I may find myself. Yet, when I contemplate this complaint that the people have against Moses there are several elements of the verse that stand out to me. The people were speaking against God; the people questioned why they were rescued from slavery; the people were not satisfied with what God had provided for them in a miraculous way. This is me every day. I see and experience the grace and mercy of God in my life every day. My loving God gives me life and breathe, food and clothing, health and prosperity. But it is never enough for me. I want more. I want different. I want to find my happiness and joy in the things of this world. Thanksgiving and contentment are far removed from my heart at times.

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Grumbling Together

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Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?”

Numbers 16:11 (ESV)

Who is it that I am grumbling against? I need to be careful to consider this question when I am in the moment of setting my thoughts and words against another. This wasn’t just some lone rebel who had a vendetta against Aaron and the priesthood. This was a man who represented a whole company of people who were grumbling and complaining together. A community of people that had taken it upon themselves to not only find fault with the priesthood of Levi but to gather and commiserate together. This wasn’t a healthy community conversation of trying to encourage and challenge one another. This was apparently only an echo chamber of dissension and dissatisfaction within the company. Their complaining had reached a depth that was impacting their relationship with God. Their grumbling grew and festered from mere unhappiness to outright complaining against the Lord himself.  It was only when the people got outside their circle of influence that the truth of their heart was confronted. It was when the depth of their sin left the hidden recesses of their hearts and overflowed into action that they were confronted with their pride and arrogance. It was here before the Lord that the true state of their heart was revealed and exposed.

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Discontented Craving

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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! (6) But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

Numbers 11:4 & 6 (ESV)

This verse from the book of Numbers is a prime example of what happens to my heart when I am unsatisfied, ungrateful, and ill-contented with the good blessings of the Lord that are given to me.  What is being revealed in this scene from the wandering of the people is how easily my heart can turn from being amazed at the wonderful and miraculous provision of the Lord to a lustful desire and craving for a return to the slavery of comfort and familiarity. The cry of the people is that they desire to return to the days of Egypt where they had a wide variety of familiar foods. Foods that they could pick and choose at their leisure. What they were really wanting was a return to the illusion of control and self-determination. This longing for a return to Egypt was nothing more than a craving to be done with the providence and guidance of the Lord. They longed for a return to the slavery and harsh treatment of Egypt because they were only thinking with their stomachs.

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Choosing to be Yoked

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Journal Entry // April 24, 2022

So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Numbers 25:3 ESV

As I was reading this passage, I became interested in this notion that Israel had yoked himself. He was not forced into this, but freely chose to be yoked with Baal. There are some interesting definitions surround this word yoked:

  • Servitude and bondage
  • An oppressive agency
  • Wooden frame by which two animals are joined for working together
  • Device placed on the neck of a defeated person

All of these definitions draw out the image of a person that has lost their freedom. A person with a yoke is under the control of another. In this case, Israel had yoked himself to a different master and had chosen to give up their freedom in the Lord for servitude under a yoke.

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Murderous Pride

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Journal Entry // April 23, 2022

And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”

Numbers 22:29 ESV

Pride is such a deceptive and pervasive part of our hearts that left unchecked it will bring about reckless disobedience to the Word of the Lord and even possible abandonment of the faith. The story of Balaam sounds an awful lot like the story of Jonah. With Balaam there is an overwhelming sense of unchecked pride in his life. Here is a man who has been granted visions from the Lord and is allowed to prophesy in the name of the God. Here is a man that has a ministry and calling from the Lord to share the word of these visions and to be the mouthpiece of God. Yet, Balaam was a man that also struggled with pride even in the midst of the amazing revelations and good works that he was allowed to be part of.

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Fearless Faith

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Journal Entry // April 14, 2022

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Numbers 13:30 ESV

Fearless faith… This is the type of faith that Caleb displays in this moment. After spending 40 days with these men on a mission to spy out the promised land, I’m sure there were many discussions about the report they were to give. Caleb was surely not caught off-guard by the report of the other spies that was filled with fear and dread. It took a tremendous amount of faith to not only bring a different report, but to quiet the people in the midst of the report and give his objection and encouragement to go take the land at once. I find that so interesting and encouraging. Caleb understood that this was the land of God’s promise to them. It doesn’t really matter who is occupying it. So, let’s stop waiting around and discussing the matter. Let’s go up NOW.

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Looking Backwards

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Journal Entry // April 13, 2022

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 11:5-6 ESV

Am I looking back over my past and longing for those days gone by and not giving praise and thanks to God for the blessings in front of me? Unfortunately, this is more true than I care to really think about. The Israelites had been miraculously brought out of the land of slavery and hardship where they were mistreated and abused. They were given great signs and wonders to announce the presence of God among them. They were even given miraculous bread (manna) to eat every single day. This was a constant reminder of God’s presence and blessing upon them each and every morning. Yet, the people were not satisfied and began to grumble. They grumbled at the miraculous because it became routine.

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