FROM ORDER TO COMPLAINTS. Numbers 11 Complaining people. Strange as it may seem, often following some of our highest spiritual experiences, we fall into our weakest and most fleshly moments. There seems to be something in us that takes spiritual blessings for granted, and we start to complain about things in general that, for some reason, aren't what we anticipated or, in our carnal desires, we wanted. When will we ever learn that God's ways are not ours and His thoughts are not ours? If we, as believers, look at things around us as a template for our joy and satisfaction, we will never cease complaining. When God gets angry, it is very serious business. How much more blessed and of greater value it is to us when we count our blessings and thank God for His "goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men."
The Israelites may have been just tired after traveling across the wilderness for three days. Man's character and fallen nature that has passed upon every man took over common sense and spiritual interests. The first ten chapters of Numbers repeatedly reveal God's goodness and wisdom, His working, and His will, but now there comes page after page of scripture exposing man's ingratitude, failure, disobedience, and the results of sin.
Murmuring and complaining by people indicate a lack of trust in God, skepticism about His plans and provisions, and the righteousness of His judgments. The compassion and care of the Lord for Moses, His servant, were evident in the Lord’s promise of the Lord’s provision by the Lord’s power. Lack of faith can result in death and destruction.
Three days after the Lord miraculously delivered the Israelites at the Red Sea, they complained. Again, just three days’ journey from the place where they received the law, built the Tabernacle, and experienced God's presence among them, they began complaining. The complaints of a few people have the potential to breed discontent among many. To not trust the Lord is to despise Him and ignore His grace.
The only remedy when the judgment of God because of our sin comes upon us is a true acknowledgment of sin, real repentance, and turning in faith again to the Lord Jesus Christ. We will find His intercession and mediation on our behalf full and sufficient when we go in faith in Him. There is no easy way to escape the consequences of our actions, and to think the lack of faith is unimportant. That is to completely misunderstand the holiness and righteousness of God. God does not overlook sin in unbelievers or believers. He is expecting us who follow Him through this wilderness to live holy, righteously, and godly lives in this present world.
The children of Israel had been long enough out of Egypt and had been eating the manna long enough to know the value of manna over fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. Manna was beautiful to look at, had a pleasant scent, and was flavorful to the taste. Israel had been bountifully supplied daily by the Creator, who created food for all their needs!
It wasn’t likely when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt; they had a lot of meat to eat. The food of slaves was very plain. Their problem was not with the food God had provided but with the dryness of their souls. They are like so many other people who think the needs of one's soul can be met with "eat, drink and be merry." The souls of God's people will never be satisfied with the insatiable demands of our old nature.
When we forget what God has done for us, we begin to exaggerate what happened in the past. What claims the most attention and interest in a child of God? What is it that I really want most in my life? The Egyptian pleasures and deceptive flavor of its unsatisfying food attract those who forget who they are and whom they are following through this wilderness. I expect the mixed multitude that blends in with God's true children have more influence than we realize. A “mixed multitude” of people usually are only marginally committed to the Lord.
The failure of faith in the Lord is a chronic problem for many of God’s people. They confess to trusting in the Lord and His provision, but then they complain and worry. That lack of trust in the Lord provoked His righteous wrath toward Israel. Sin comes from selfishness and self-centeredness. "What's wrong with this? Why can't we do that? Others do it, so why shouldn't I?" These are the sounds of the voices of the mixed multitude who know about God but do not know God.
As I watched the scene in my mind and saw the fire die out, first, I thought, "Finally, this complaining is over." But no, now all over the camp, started initially by the mixed multitude and then spreading to others, comes the sound of weeping from people acting like spoiled children. The broken cisterns fail, and none but Christ satisfies us. We sing, but why the resentment? Why the frustration? They had just come from a time of great blessing and great joy at Mount Sinai, and now, after three days of journeys farther on, the same people are complaining. What happened?
The mixed multitude with mixed principles deceived the true children of God then, and they do the same today. Satan has used the mixed multitude that knows the words and ways of the people of God to deceive and undermine the Lord's people rather than openly attack them. False professors among us are like tares among the wheat; like wood, hay, and stubble that appears larger than gold, silver, and precious stones. False brethren may be among us, and we may be totally unaware that they are false.
The only way open to us to deal with the appetite people have for the world is to feed on the manna from heaven. When God's people are eating of that which satisfies Christ Himself and all we have in Him, then we are spiritually healthy and strongly nourished to fulfill every desire God has of us. The food of Egypt leaves people unbalanced, under-nourished, and sickly - even with bad breath! But what can we do about the mixed multitude? Sometimes, we have to leave them until the harvest, lest the wheat still growing and maturing is disturbed until it weakens and won't bear fruit.
It is possible for a mature leader like Moses to be almost overcome with the care of God's people to whom he had been entrusted. Moses was "faithful in all his house," but he was not above feeling the weight of responsibility he had, and it was almost too much for him to bear. Even the strongest among us can feel the weight and faint when we look at the people and not at the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who gave us this care and allows us to assist Him in the work of shepherding the sheep. The wilderness journey of God's people is, at times, hardest on those who are responsible for their spiritual well-being. We need to remember that God fits us for the responsibilities He gives us, and then He gives us the power to accomplish what He intends.
The big problem comes when we claim the work as our own work; the difficulties we have to face are ones we have to face alone. Even more serious is if, or when, we claim the victories are ours and the blessings that come are because of our efforts, our labors, and our suffering. Never let us forget that it is God who calls us into His service. It is God who equips His servants to do His will. It is God who works through His servants to accomplish His will. It is God who enables the work to be performed through feeble hands and clay lips. It is God who deserves all the praise and glory. It is then that our complaints stop, and we can sing with truth, "To God be the glory, great things He hath done."
What is behind the curled lips and complaining words expressing dissatisfaction? Did I expect to claim some prize without the strain of taking action to meet my own needs from the fullness of God’s provision? Is it possible I am so immature that I think there is no cost to gain the goal God set before me without some hurt, loss, labor, or difficulty? This is the wilderness I live in. For God's people, this is not home. The flashy treasures and pleasures of earth are in my past, and the world claims for me that they are done, finished, and over! Now, I am passing through a barren desert where potential dangers and fears abound on every hand. But the promise is sure: I'm just passing through, and the manna, the bread from heaven, is still there for me to gather daily.
Complaints of the weather, the heat, and the cold only reveal a lack of faith. The needed supply of spiritual food is here, and God is leading me by His grace to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Voices around rise to complain about almost everything. “It’s too hot or too cold;” and “There’s too much or too little” usually come from those who are not real children of God and are therefore not satisfied with the fullness of divine blessings that are available to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. They are not really content with anything they have; they live only for what they feel.
All of those who by faith have tasted and seen that everything the Lord does is good don't need the pleasures and sins of the world. Christ, Himself, is our spiritual food. What things look like on the outside can appeal to our fleshly desires, and our senses can be easily deceived. The life-giving word may seem very simple, but from it, real blessings we receive. Our spiritual health and successes that count do not come in a flash of light. What began as dim light and simple food develops and gives us spiritual insight into divine truths and objectives when we take time to see things as God sees them. We can see beyond what seems hard at the moment to the lasting benefits that will inevitably come. Each trial and pressure, each step taken by faith, matures us as we travel toward home.
Even those who are mature and in places of leadership are not immune to events that try to bring us down. Our preaching may seem to be in vain and shepherding wasted, but ahead is a future crown to give to our Lord. He's the spiritual Ark, who guided us to this resting place where we find rest in our souls when we take His yoke on us. When this work is done, and this journey is over, with joy, we will follow this path and maybe even sing, “All the way my Savior leads me, what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercies, who through life has been my Guide?”
The weight of responsibility. The defeats and failures of God's people in the Old Testament are not detailed in the New Testament, but Moses wrote about them, and in his own writing, he accurately details the difficulties he had himself. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" [1Cor.10:11]. What was behind Moses' uncharacteristic outburst of anger?
In the very best of God's people, wilderness living and pressures from brethren can trip us up and bring out what is inside us. None of us are exempt from failure, and our only source of strength and the wisdom needed to guide others properly is God Himself. It may be when we least expect it that the world, flesh, and/or the devil will attack us. We can never allow our fellowship with God to wane and cool.
When God, in His sovereign plans for His people, puts a person in a place of leadership or responsibility of any kind, He fits the person for the job. He gives the needed grace to occupy the position and make appropriate decisions that have to be made - sometimes quickly. But we are still creatures of the flesh, and it is possible for us to get our eyes off of God's sufficiency and our own natural insufficiency. "It is God who worketh in you, to will and to do of His good pleasure." The divine enablement to accomplish work for God is not just needed for a few leaders. It is needed by all of us who have put our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The unity of the body of Christ is known only to God as to its operation.
The frustrations of leadership are often God’s opportunity to teach us our limitations and need of God when we think we are doing the work instead of God using us to do His work through us. Like Moses, a prayer of distress may lead to complaints rather than to expressing our weakness and need of God. Intercession on behalf of others is not to list complaints before the Lord but to seek solutions and ways to perhaps be involved in God’s plans for others.
God’s answer to Moses’ prayer was to show mercy to Moses by having seventy others share his responsibility. Included in His answer was a curse upon the people for their ingratitude and complaints. They would be given so much meat to eat that they would become physically sick of it. As a true intercessor, Moses wanted the best for all of the people of God, but there were some things people had to learn for themselves.
Even with great leaders like Moses, Elijah, or David, there's still a human tendency to take on the work that God intends to do through us as a channel of blessing from Him to others. If we ever feel that too much is expected of us, we need to remember that God will accomplish His purposes either through us or someone else. The seventy men chosen to assist Moses did not increase the spiritual power needed to lead God's people but instead divided it into seventy parts. Moses was no longer pressured by the burden of being God's sole vessel for leadership.
The best of men can lose the strength and stability that strong faith gives us when we forget what God is doing in us and through us. When we try to limit God or make Him conform to our small expectations, our deceptive flesh tricks us. God understands far better than we do what we need. But if we are unhappy with God and His provision, He has ways of teaching us, not only through what we receive when we complain but also by showing us in any way necessary who He is. All our resources are in God.
Moses' disbelief and questioning of God teach us that we are never immune to the consequences of a lack of faith. Faith must be nurtured. That is why history is valuable—it reminds us of how God has acted in the past and that He governs the present and the future. Remembering what God has done strengthens our confidence in what He is capable of and willing to do, even now.
The Spirit that was on Moses and used him to fulfill God's work now also came upon those seventy men who were called to serve the needs of the people. The Holy Spirit still empowers and guides us today to carry out our responsibilities. He knows what people need and who can be trusted to meet those needs. Self-confidence can hinder the work of the Spirit of God. He is grieved when we assume our knowledge of an event or need equals that of the all-knowing God. He is quenched when we step in to do what God has reserved for Himself. There is great value in learning to fully trust God for the right response to His work and to use our God-given abilities to do His will.
Other men now demonstrated God's willingness to use them. The grace and humility of Moses in doing God's will were now shared with others. Moses was not filled with envy when he saw God using others to help accomplish what he previously did himself. By God's grace, we can rejoice with anyone God chooses to use in His service and be thankful for who they are and what they do. What we are unable or unwilling to do will not be left undone because of complaints about overwork. The spirit of grace and humility in our hearts must be cultivated for our service to be acceptable. When the Spirit of God works within us, we are given the grace to do what we are called to and rejoice sincerely for what others do in their service to God. Narrow-minded self-centeredness is a major obstacle to finding joy in God and His blessings.
There is no limit to God’s power. He uses methods and ways far beyond our understanding to accomplish His will, whether in deliverance, providence, or judgment. Not everyone will respond to or do the things of God in the same way we do. It is not right for us to be grieved because God's gifts and acts of grace through others are different from what He chooses to do through us. The Holy Spirit dwells in all believers, regardless of who they are or where they are.
The children of Israel got their meat all right! Their self-interest and complaining led to death, fulfilled their lust for meat, and brought on God's judgment. When we turn our hearts and eyes toward the world for satisfaction, we may get what we want along with the consequences. The warning lesson is to be grateful for what God provides. Leanness in the soul results from feeding on what the flesh craves. The Lord is our portion! What He chooses to give us is what we need. When the lust of the flesh seems to satisfy us until we become glutted, the very thing we desired can turn to disgust, despair, and perhaps even death. "Satisfied with Thee, Lord Jesus, I am blest!"
Complaints. How quickly they arrive; how foolishly they begin. Are hardships weighing you down? Are you going to pray or complain? Where is God? Isn’t He close to us? Why not turn to Him instead of others? Do you always heed the worldly crowd for comfort? Dissatisfaction occurs when our focus shifts from what we have to what we lack. Be thankful for what you possess.
Would you rather have smelly fish, gassy cucumbers, leeks, and garlic breath? Melons taste good, but you can’t survive on fruit alone, which has no real value. What about freedom from slavery – doesn’t that matter? Have you forgotten the scars on your body from the whip? Don’t you have enough manna to eat? It's there for the taking – and it’s good for you. What are you crying and moaning about anyway? It's serious business to make God angry.
Get up early in the morning and witness the miracle! Abundant edible food is available for the taking. Bright and white in the early morning, pick up all you need with no questions asked. Do you believe it is your right to have more than you currently possess? Why do you think you deserve it? You're overlooking what you already have while demanding more. Be cautious when approaching God with such an attitude. You might get what you want, but it could come at a very high cost in the end.
Are you trying to do everything yourself and complaining about it? Haven’t you seen God work powerfully before? Are you questioning God’s ability? Are you relying on your own judgment of the situation instead of God’s? Your perspective in daily life may be that His strength is diminishing. We change – He never changes, and His strength is always available. Does the work you are called to seem too difficult? Are you losing sight of the Source of Power? There are others God is using besides you. There are others available to work. God will empower them to do what you used to if it’s too much for you. Stop complaining and start praying for those coming behind to take over the work. Stand with them, and let them stand with you so people will recognize their leadership. Stop complaining, and be thankful that others can do the work.
Do you have a greedy desire for your team to win? For your influence to be the greatest? When you become preoccupied with anything—good or bad—then it turns into lust. When your perspective shifts from joy in the small things to complaints, it becomes lust. You might get what you lust for, but be careful because it could make you sick. The sickness caused by lust can spread over everything your eye can see, and it might stink! Resolve! No more complaints! Instead, make a deliberate choice to be thankful and give God thanks IN EVERYTHING!