When we last looked into the narrative of Israel’s journey to the Promised Land in Numbers 10, they had ended a year-long encampment at Sinai, disassembled the tabernacle, and were moving it and all its furnishings to the wilderness of Paran. “Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, ‘Rise, O Lord! And let thine enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Thee flee from before Thee.”‘ Numbers 10:35.
The closing verse of the chapter indicates the ark has arrived at its destination. “And when it came to rest, he said, ‘Return Thou O Lord to the myriad thousands of Israel.”‘ Numbers 10:36.
Moses, being the great leader that he was, was asking the Lord to clear the way for the safe passage of the tabernacle. And, when it arrived after the wilderness journey, he welcomed God’s presence to bless the people of Israel.
The first verse of Numbers 11 begins with the word “now,” indicating what comes after what has just happened. God has used Hobab to guide them through the wilderness without being attacked and to arrive safely at their next stop on the way to the land of promise. That is what has happened; God has been faithful to accompany and guide them as He said He would.
What happened after this? Let’s look at Numbers 11:1 for the Israelites’ response to God’s goodness
“Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.”
Can you believe what you have just read? They have done it again! They have provoked God to anger. What was their sin, and why did it anger God to the point that He destroyed some of them?
To put it plainly, they did not trust God. Here are a couple of reminders of how they have demonstrated their lack of faith in God. Instead of thanking God for delivering them from bondage and asking Him for the food they needed, they complained and blamed Moses and Aaron for taking them away from the “better” life they had in Egyptian slavery. “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:3. What did God do? He provided manna ( bread) from heaven to sustain them.
God provided manna every day to meet their physical needs, but did this convince them to trust Him to take care of them? The gift from heaven followed them to and beyond Sinai. Remember what happened at Sinai while Moses was on the mountain for forty days receiving the commandments and instructions from the Lord? They couldn’t endure the suspense that tested their faith, and their trust in God crumbled into dust, resulting in the replacement of God with a golden calf. This act of rebellion kindled God’s anger to the point that He planned to wipe out these obstinate people and start over. But Moses interceded, and God eventually decided to guide them and be in their midst (in the tabernacle) as they continued toward the Promised Land.
Now, back to what happened shortly after Israel left Sinai and settled in another location. As noted in Numbers 11:1 above, the people are complaining again. What is it this time? “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.” Numbers 11:4-6.
God responded to this complaining and lack of faith by killing some of the troublemakers. Numbers 11:3. If you will read Numbers 11:10-20, you will discover another fascinating conversation where Moses tells God that the task with these people is too much and that God should kill him or give him some relief. God gives Moses a plan to ease his burden and instructs him to tell the people that God was displeased with how they had acted, and would provide so much meat that they would get sick of it.
Moses was to deliver this message from God: “You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor for five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before Him saying, ‘ Why did we ever leave Egypt.”‘
This generation of Israelites did not inherit the Promised Land because they didn’t have faith in God and His plan for them. They never bought into God’s big picture because they didn’t trust Him, and allowed the challenges of everyday living to distract them from what He wanted for them.
What’s happening in your life? How are you handling the challenges you are facing? Are you rebelling against God, or are you trusting God to help you bear the pain and trouble in a way that will honor Him and make you a better person? Better or bitter? You have a choice. God loves you and will help you. Complain or ask for help?