Rumbling and Grumbling

February 14

Read: Numbers 11:1-20

As Israel traveled through the desert, God provided them with manna on a daily basis. For this manna they had to do no work other than gather it up. Each morning, as they arose, the gift of God lay fresh on the ground, easily available and capable of meeting every nutritional need for the whole nation. Manna was a miracle and a blessing direct from the hand of God.

In Numbers 11, Israel decides that manna is no longer good enough. A percentage of the people, called the mixed multitude, began to wish for the food they had left behind in Egypt. They wanted the variety, the tastes, the delicacies of Egypt. In verse 4, the Bible says they “fell a lusting”. Will somebody please give us a little meat to go with this manna?

In verse 10, we see the responses of both God and Moses. The anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses also was displeased. The complaining of the people actually reduced Moses to whining, and the first thing the Lord did was take some of His Spirit away from Moses and place on the seventy elders. Then He gave the people their request. For a month, they got meat to eat. They stuffed themselves until they were sick of it.

In Psalm 106:5 the Bible tells of this time, “And he (God) gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” It is unfortunate but true we in the church have learned little from Israel’s bad example. Week after week God provides us with preachers, musicians, and teachers, using them to supply everything we need for our spiritual well-being. And almost every Sunday, the “mixed multitude” shows up. They will complain that the song service is boring, the preaching is unexciting, or the temperature in the building is uncomfortable. Fed on a diet of television and top forty Christian music, they have “fallen a lusting” after the things of Egypt. And, like Moses, many pastors and Christian leaders have surrendered, giving them what they want.

There are so many lessons here. But the bottom line is pretty clear. Don’t let a few complainers shift your focus to the world. Egypt is not where the blessings reside. Keep your eyes on God, be grateful for His blessings, and follow Him faithfully. And be careful what you lust after, God may give you what you think you want.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom