Numbers 11:1-35
Q.1. What caused God to punish the Israelites? What was wrong with the way the people expressed their complaints? – (Num.11:1-9)
The Israelites were tired of the daily Manna from heaven. The going was tough, and they began thinking back to their existence in Egypt, forgetting their mistreatment as slaves … – the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic (Num.11:5). The Lord heard their one-sided complaints, so sent fire that killed some of them (Num.11:1). Their discomfort had made them ungrateful for God’s regular provision of Manna, which was to sustain them for over forty years (Num.11:7-9 c.f. Jos.5:12). Trials can make us lose perspective and become ungrateful to God.
Q.2. What was the difference between the complaints of Moses and those of the people? How did God propose to relieve the burdens of Moses? – (Num.11:10-23)
Just after this, Moses also had a list of complaints that he took to God (Num.11:10-14). However, he never slandered God, but took his burdens directly to Him. Moses told God exactly how he felt, and how it was impossible for him to carry the burden alone. He felt so low, that he asked God to take him home immediately (Num.11:15). God is a big God, Who understood Moses’ feelings of inadequacy. The secret to facing insurmountable odds, is to bring our burdens to God and leave them there. Not only did God promise to provide meat supernaturally … He would give his lonely servant seventy ‘soul mates’ – … I will take of the Spirit who is upon you and will put Him upon them; and they will bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not have to bear them all alone (Num.11:17). Moses still had much to learn about God’s sovereign power. He doubted God’s ability to provide meat for such a massive population (Num.11:18-22). Patiently, God told His servant – Is the Lord’s power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not (Num.11:23).
Q.3. How did God ratify the leadership choice of the seventy elders of Israel? What was the attitude of Moses to the stepping up of younger leaders? – (Num.11:24-30)
Moses obeyed the Lord and gathered seventy of the elders of the people. In order to assure Moses that these seventy would be qualified, God visited them with a special anointing, similar to what happened on the Day of Pentecost – Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again (Num.11:25). When this anointing came on two other men, Joshua was protective of the respected leader (Num.11:26-28). The response of Moses revealed his heart for the Glory of God – Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them! (Num.11:29). We should always minister with the goal to train and add other labourers, who will in turn continue on doing the Lord’s work.
Q.4. How did God provide meat for His people? Why did a severe plague overtake the people?
Quail were provided when a wind went forth from the Lord. All around the camp there were quails, up to a metre deep (Num.11:31). The people collected huge amounts day and night. However, the Lord struck them with a very severe plague (Num.11:33). He struck those who had been greedy. They called the burial place ‘the graves of greediness’ (Num.11:34). The birds had to be bled and adequately cooked (Lev.1:15; 7:26-27; 17:10-13).