Numbers 9-11 The Consequences of Complaining and Craving
Psalm 22:1-5, 21-24 Apparent Unanswered Prayer
21 Save me from the lion's mouth! Yes, from the horns of the wild oxen, You have answered me. 22 I will declare Your name to my brothers. In the midst of the assembly, I will praise You.
23 You who fear YAHWEH, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him! Stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has He hidden His face from him; but when he cried to Him, He heard."
Observations: What should be a great source of comfort to God's people has become one of the most abused Psalms in the Psalter. Cited by Christ on the cross, this is an expression of confidence in apparent crises, designed to give comfort to His followers. Christ quoted the beginning of the Psalm to bring the entire Psalm to mind. There are many parallels in the rest of the Psalm between what had happened in David's life and what was happening in Christ's life. We often do the same, citing the beginning of a reference or song, forgetting the entire context.
22:1-2 It looks like God has forsaken Jesus by not answering His prayers, as the ungodly critics assert in the middle of the Psalm. But read on...
22:3-5ff David and Christ continue to trust because God is the Holy One who answers prayer, as shown by the praise He receives in the temple, and the history of His people, and the personal track record God has with David.
22:21 The verb tense change is significant, from pleading (Imperative) to proclaiming (Qal Perfect – done deed). God has answered.
22:22-25 The individual who is saved praises God because He answered and had not forsaken him, nor hidden his face from Him. (Contrary to what many erroneously conclude because they don't study their Bible in context.)
Questions: How can two omnipresent Beings play hide-n-seek?
Application: When your heavenly hot-line gets put on hold, don't hang up. Trust to the end, you won't be abandoned nor disappointed.
Prayer: Holy God Who answers prayer, may I never doubt Your revealed goodness when You allow circumstances not to my liking, but may I trust Your holy character to always do what's best, when it's best. Amen.
P.S. God saved David from the crises; He saved Christ through it.
Proverbs 6:12-15 Profile of the Perverse
Pr 6:12 “A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth; 13 who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers; 14 in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord. 15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.
Observations: Note the profile of the perverse/crooked person. “Worthless” is literally “Belial,” first used in Dt 13:13 of a demonic/pagan god, and equated with Satan in 2Cor 6:15. A person who serves the dark side winds up being consumed by darkness and is unfit for doing good. The inevitable consequence is irreparable calamity.
Application: Avoid those who scheme in the dark, so you don't share their fate. Better yet, walk in the light.
Prayer: Lord, may I walk in the paths that lead to inevitable blessing, rather than those that lead to catastrophic calamity. Amen.
Judges 17-18 The final chapters of the book consist of two epilogues that chronologically belong earlier in the book. Chapters 17-18 describe theological failure in the nation, and occur near the beginning of the book, since they mention a priest who was the grandson of Moses, and the tribe of Dan had not yet possessed its inheritance (cf. 1:34). Chapters 19-21 (next post) describe moral failure in the nation, and occurred earlier in the book as well, mentioning Phinehas. Both sections relate that there was no king in Israel, and describe how far God's people had departed from His revelation, because “every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
Numbers 9-11
Numbers 9 Passover Exceptions and Close Order Drill
15 On the day that the tent was set up the cloud covered the tent of the testimony: and at evening it was the appearance of fire, until morning. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud stayed, there the children of Israel encamped. 22 Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud stayed on the tent, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn`t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. 23 At the commandment of Yahweh they encamped, and at the commandment of Yahweh they journeyed: they kept the charge of Yahweh, at the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
Observations: 9:11 If for reasons outside their control a person couldn't keep the Passover at the appointed time (first month), God graciously allowed them to observe it the second month, but being holy/undefiled and obeying exactly was still required. Worship at one's own convenience resulted in being cut off.
9:13-23 God “trained” the Israelites to obey by moving when the cloud (Presence of God) moved and camping when He camped, just like soldiers are taught to follow commands without question.
Application: Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do or die. Although God is usually very reasonable and comprehensible, there are times when we don't understand what He's doing. In times like those, if the command is clear, be obey, and trust God with the consequences (like Job).
Prayer: Trustworthy God, teach me to value obedience to You more than life itself. Amen.
Numbers 10 Two Trumpets and...They're Off!!!
10:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Make you two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shall you make them: and you shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps. 3 When they shall blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the tent of meeting. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; 9 When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and you shall be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God: I am Yahweh your God. 11 It happened in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tent of the testimony. 12 The children of Israel set forward according to their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They first took their journey according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
29 Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses` father-in-law, We are journeying to the place of which Yahweh said, I will give it you: come you with us, and we will do you good; for Yahweh has spoken good concerning Israel. 30 He said to him, I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives. 31 He said, Don`t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you shall be to us instead of eyes. 32 It shall be, if you go with us, yes, it shall be, that whatever good Yahweh shall do to us, the same will we do to you. 33 They set forward from the Mount of Yahweh three days` journey; and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh went before them three days` journey, to seek out a resting-place for them. 34 The cloud of Yahweh was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp. 35 It happened, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Yahweh, and let your enemies be scattered; and let those who hate you flee before you. 36 When it rested, he said, Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.
Observations: 10:2 The trumpets were a means of communication and calling upon God.
10:29 Moses persuades his brother-in-law to leave behind his former life and enjoy the greater good of sharing in God's blessings.
10:35 Moses still had God's reputation foremost in his thinking
Numbers 11 Two Tantrums and You're Gonna Regret It
11:1 The people were complaining in the ears of Yahweh: and when Yahweh heard it, his anger was kindled; and the fire of Yahweh burnt among them, and devoured in the outskirts of the camp. 2 The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire abated. 3 The name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of Yahweh burnt among them. 4 The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: 6 but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look on.10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased. 11 Moses said to Yahweh, Why have you dealt ill with your servant? and why haven`t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 15 If you deal thus with me, please kill me out of hand, if I have found favor in your sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. 16 Yahweh said to Moses, Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and talk with you there: and I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you not bear it yourself alone. 18 Say you to the people, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh; for you have wept in the ears of Yahweh, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore Yahweh will give you flesh, and you shall eat. 20 a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome to you; because that you have rejected Yahweh who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? 23 Yahweh said to Moses, Has Yahweh`s hand grown short? now shall you see whether my word shall happen to you or not.
25 Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to Moses, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders: and it happened that when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. 29 Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? would that all Yahweh`s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!
31 There went forth a wind from Yahweh, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp...about two cubits above the surface of the earth. 32 The people rose up all that day, and all the night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails...33 While the flesh was yet between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of Yahweh was kindled against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very great plague. 34 The name of that place was called Kibrothhattaavah, because there they buried the people who lusted. 35 From Kibrothhattaavah the people journeyed to Hazeroth; and they abode at Hazeroth.
Observations: 11:1 By complaining about God's provision (job, mate, kids, etc) one complains against God and rejects Him. He doesn't appreciate it, and will let us know His displeasure.
11:4 People rewrite history to justify their lusts. Their soul was dried up because it delighted itself in temporal things, rather than the eternal pleasures of God. We were not created to be satisfied with created things.
11:15-17 Moses fusses pretty well here. Fussiness is contagious. God splits up the burden upon 70 elders, upon whom also He gives His Spirit.
11:23 God promises a month's worth of meat, an incredible luxury for ex-slaves, and an incredible feat to Moses. But then, God has longer arms than most of us think.
11:25-29 In OT times the Holy Spirit came temporarily upon individuals, usually leaders, to empower them for service. Moses wishes everyone had the Spirit, (a New Covenant, and NT blessing) for then they might be better behaved.
11:33 Kibrothhattaavah, a real mouthful means “graves of lust.” So God delivered the goods and then disciplined the gluttons.
Question: Lam 3:39 Why should the living complain when punished for their sins? (NIV)
Application: Beware of badgering God to fulfill your temporal desires. He just might do so, to your regret. It's better to ask humbly and politely. It's best to learn the secrets of contentment (see Digging Deeper).
See: Ps 106:12 Then they believed his words. They sang his praise. 13 They soon forgot his works. They didn't wait for his counsel, 14 but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland. 15 He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
Prayer: God for whom nothing is too difficult, You know my needs and desires, for You created them. Help me be content with Your provision, and trust that You will give me what's best, when it's best. Your grateful servant, me. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: God graciously trains His people to respond to and trust Him. Nothing is too difficult for the God of Creation. If He doesn't have what we need in stock, He can create it. He doesn't always give us what we want because it would not be best for us. He gets angry when wasting His goodness on an ungrateful, unfaithful people consumed with satisfying their temporal desires and lusts. He is to be feared.
Us in a nutshell: We usually want what's not best for us, like a toddler demanding candy. God sometimes let's us get what we crave and sends the tummy ache along with it. If we were smart, we'd recognize that God wants us to delight first in Him, and then the other things wouldn't matter, even if God sends them our way.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
Numbers complete text Chapter
Chapter 9
9:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Moreover let the children of Israel keep the Passover in its appointed season. 3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, you shall keep it in its appointed season: according to all the statutes of it, and according to all the ordinances of it, shall you keep it. 4 Moses spoke to the children of Israel, that they should keep the Passover. 5 They kept the Passover in the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month, at even, in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. 6 There were certain men, who were unclean by reason of the dead body of a man, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: 7 and those men said to him, We are unclean by reason of the dead body of a man: why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of Yahweh in its appointed season among the children of Israel? 8 Moses said to them, Stay you, that I may hear what Yahweh will command concerning you. 9 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 10 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your generations shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be on a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the Passover to Yahweh. 11 In the second month on the fourteenth day at even they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs: 12 they shall leave none of it to the morning, nor break a bone of it: according to all the statute of the Passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man who is clean, and is not on a journey, and forbears to keep the Passover, that soul shall be cut off from his people; because he didn`t offer the offering of Yahweh in its appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. 14 If a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the Passover to Yahweh; according to the statute of the Passover, and according to the ordinance of it, so shall he do: you shall have one statute, both for the sojourner, and for him who is born in the land. 15 On the day that the tent was reared up the cloud covered the tent, even the tent of the testimony: and at even it was on the tent as it were the appearance of fire, until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel encamped. 18 At the commandment of Yahweh the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of Yahweh they encamped: as long as the cloud abode on the tent they remained encamped. 19 When the cloud stayed on the tent many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of Yahweh, and didn`t travel. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tent; then according to the commandment of Yahweh they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Yahweh they journeyed. 21 Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they journeyed: or [if it continued] by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. 22 Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud stayed on the tent, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn`t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. 23 At the commandment of Yahweh they encamped, and at the commandment of Yahweh they journeyed: they kept the charge of Yahweh, at the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
Chapter 10
10:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Make you two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shall you make them: and you shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps. 3 When they shall blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the tent of meeting. 4 If they blow but one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall take their journey. 6 When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and they shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations. 9 When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and you shall be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God: I am Yahweh your God. 11 It happened in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tent of the testimony. 12 The children of Israel set forward according to their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They first took their journey according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses. 14 In the first [place] the standard of the camp of the children of Judah set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 Over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16 Over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17 The tent was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bore the tent, set forward. 18 The standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 Over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 Over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21 The Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and [the others] did set up the tent against their coming. 22 The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 Over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 Over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25 The standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 Over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran. 27 Over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 Thus were the travels of the children of Israel according to their hosts; and they set forward. 29 Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses` father-in-law, We are journeying to the place of which Yahweh said, I will give it you: come you with us, and we will do you good; for Yahweh has spoken good concerning Israel. 30 He said to him, I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives. 31 He said, Don`t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you shall be to us instead of eyes. 32 It shall be, if you go with us, yes, it shall be, that whatever good Yahweh shall do to us, the same will we do to you. 33 They set forward from the Mount of Yahweh three days` journey; and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh went before them three days` journey, to seek out a resting-place for them. 34 The cloud of Yahweh was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp. 35 It happened, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Yahweh, and let your enemies be scattered; and let those who hate you flee before you. 36 When it rested, he said, Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.
Chapter 11
11:1 The people were as murmurers, [speaking] evil in the ears of Yahweh: and when Yahweh heard it, his anger was kindled; and the fire of Yahweh burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp. 2 The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire abated. 3 The name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of Yahweh burnt among them. 4 The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: 6 but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look on. 7 The manna was like coriander seed, and the appearance of it as the appearance of bdellium. 8 The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. 9 When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it. 10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased. 11 Moses said to Yahweh, Why have you dealt ill with your servant? and why haven`t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that you should tell me, Carry them in your bosom, as a nursing-father carries the sucking child, to the land which you swore to their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to give to all this people? for they weep to me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 If you deal thus with me, please kill me out of hand, if I have found favor in your sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. 16 Yahweh said to Moses, Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and talk with you there: and I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you not bear it yourself alone. 18 Say you to the people, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh; for you have wept in the ears of Yahweh, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore Yahweh will give you flesh, and you shall eat. 19 You shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome to you; because that you have rejected Yahweh who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? 21 Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and you have said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. 22 Shall flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? 23 Yahweh said to Moses, Has Yahweh`s hand grown short? now shall you see whether my word shall happen to you or not. 24 Moses went out, and told the people the words of Yahweh: and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the Tent. 25 Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders: and it happened that when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. 26 But there remained two men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested on them; and they were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. 27 There ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28 Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29 Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? would that all Yahweh`s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them! 30 Moses got him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. 31 There went forth a wind from Yahweh, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day`s journey on this side, and a day`s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the earth. 32 The people rose up all that day, and all the night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails: he who gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. 33 While the flesh was yet between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of Yahweh was kindled against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very great plague. 34 The name of that place was called Kibrothhattaavah, because there they buried the people who lusted. 35 From Kibrothhattaavah the people journeyed to Hazeroth; and they abode at Hazeroth.
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