Getting Through a Crisis

Have you ever been in a crisis?  What helped you get through the crisis? Today we examine Israel in crisis in the wilderness...

Unfortunately, the fire at Taberah which affected the complainers on the outskirts of camp did not reach the hearts of the people, for in the next verse of Numbers 11 we read, “the rabble with them began to crave other food.” The Israelites wailed, saying they had plenty in Egypt, lots of variety, and fish at no cost.  They were complaining about the bread from heaven.  The Lord became exceedingly angry.  Moses was greatly troubled.  Moses asked God what he had done wrong to deserve the burden of these people.  They kept wailing for meat.  They were angry at Moses!  Moses asked God to put him to death.  This is a real crisis! 

  

This complaining is reminiscent of last week's blog.  Also, we see in Exodus 16 when Israel initially complained about food and Exodus 21 when the people first spurned manna as detestable.  Provision of food is the mark of God’s love and care for his people. Appreciation of God’s provision and trusting Him to provide are signs of worshiping God’s wonders and grace (fellowship offering of OT, the Lord’s Supper in NT).   Jesus taught us to pray, “give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11) as part of the Lord’s prayer (known to some as the believers’ prayer). (Expositor’s Commentary) This prayer reflects trust of God's children that He will care for them.

How did this crisis start?  The rabble who are not of the Israelite nation started this grumbling in the first place.  We learned back in Exodus 12:38 that “many other people went up with them.”  These are the rabble referred to in Numbers 11:4. Unbelievers think and reason with their heads only.  Their thoughts are not on God’s ways.  Those who know the Lord understand that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8).  We need to obey God and trust Him.  1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise...”  If we are wise in the world’s wisdom, that is nothing compared to God’s wisdom. 1 Corinthians 3:19 says, “the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.”  As believers, we need to have a spiritual viewpoint and a Biblical worldview. Every situation we encounter, every decision we make, every person we interact with present opportunities to serve God and glorify Him.  An illustration of this is seen every Sunday. Many unbelievers cannot understand why a Christian would get out of bed early every week to go to church. They do not understand our love for God and devotion to fellowship and discipling others. 

We cannot trust in what is seen.  What is seen will fade away, be destroyed, or crumble.  What is eternal is what matters most. Faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). If we “trust in the Lord with all our heart,” He will direct and guide us. (Proverbs 3:5-6) We learned more about complaining in our last lesson. This complaining is continuing regardless of consequences already meted out by God Almighty.  How can we stem the tide of complaining in our own hearts? We need to change our perspective and be grateful to God. If we can’t find anything to be thankful about, we need to look harder. If the person you are talking to is the one complaining, can you nicely change the direction of the conversation to be positive? 

A friend will listen sympathetically to complaining but then will say something positive to discontinue the flow of negativity, and you should do the same for them.  We all need to recognize when complaining is growing and can potentially get out of control.  We want to be a positive influence on others, not negative. If we take our complaints to God, He can help us gain perspective.  Reflecting on His past faithfulness is a great help in tough circumstances. 

ANALYSIS OF THE CRISIS 

So, back to our crisis…the Israelites are wailing at Moses.  Moses wants God to put him to death.  The wailing for meat and false picturing of the situation in Egypt is reaching a deafening level.   

Let’s look at each piece of this scene: 

1. The Israelites are angry at Moses.  Why?  They pictured that Moses was the one who must take care of them.  They had already forgotten who had brought them out of Egypt into the desert.  Are we like that?  Do we get angry at a person when the situation is not their fault at all?  Do we blame our friends or spouses for relationship problems that could be in our lives to show us where we need to change? 
2. Moses wants God to put him to death.  Why?  The burden of these people are too much for him to bear.  He feels that God is calling him to carry these people in his arms like an infant.  He does not want to face his own ruin.  Moses is taking too much credit and letting this affect him too personally.  God does not take issue with him for this but it is a warning to us not to be tempted to think we have to do big things without God’s help and that death is desirable to a tough situation. We are never alone. God is always with us, working beside us. 
3. The wailing for meat is incessant.  Why?  They are unappreciative!   “It is very provoking to God to undervalue his favors…”(Matthew Henry)  They distrusted the power of God.  They had flocks with them; they could have eaten meat they had.  Perhaps it was the leeks and fish they were really craving.  We should never think we deserve more than we have.

Israelite imaginings of Egypt are not the same as their real experience.  It is a human tendency to glamorize something in the past.  When it is the world versus spirituality, this is even more true.  Have you ever wished to go back to the worldly way you used to be?  Does it seem easier than following God?  Does it ever seem desirable to do what you want rather than to trust God? Why not rather analyze your desires.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will turn your desires into godly ones.

 

One of my biggest struggles lies in fearing what is ahead.  I often find myself thinking about something bad that could happen.  Trusting God regardless of my current or future circumstances is an area in which I need to grow. When I find myself thinking the worst, I try to pray and ask God for His peace. 

Whether real or imagined, there is a crisis here in the Israelite camp. So, what does God do with the Israelites’ crisis?  He tells Moses to get 70 elders of Israel together.  God is going to give Moses some help.  In Exodus 18, Jethro gives advice to Moses.  Jethro is Moses’ father-in-law. He cared about Moses and wanted him to have help in judging all of Israel’s disputes and problems. Moses had appointed judges to help him give the people justice on their disputes, questions and problems. Yet now Moses said he was carrying the burden all alone.  Those judges helped with problems among the people but not large disagreements with Moses and with God.  God Himself was going to give Moses some assistance now.  Moses chooses the men so that he is pleased with them.  Also, the masses are too volatile right now for a vote.  

Moses was experiencing the equivalent of pastoral burnout (NIV Application Commentary, p. 584).  Sometimes we can get tired in the work.  Much is asked of our pastors and ministry leaders; it is easy to be burdened by the work, especially if the people are not appreciative of your labor. Jesus is there to give us strength and renew our vigor. Jesus fed the 5,000 (A miracle recorded in all 4 gospels) with just two fish and five small pieces of bread.  He also fed 4,000 (Matthew 15:29) with equally meager provisions.  Jesus never asks us to do something He has not already done.  If we feel overburdened, we can look at these examples of His ministry to know that He is for us, He is with us, and He knows how we feel. God took the Spirit and put it on the 70 so they could help Moses.  

QUAIL 

God told the people (via Moses) to consecrate themselves for tomorrow they would eat meat.  This command was prior to giving this authority to the 70.  The people needed time to bathe, change their clothing and otherwise consecrate themselves.  Two problems were presented to the Lord at once.  After resolving Moses’ burden of the people, God moved on to the people’s complaint about the food.  God told the people they would eat meat for a whole month until they loathed it because they had rejected the Lord.  Moses again shows self-righteousness by questioning the Lord. Essentially he says, “I can’t tell them that, Lord!  How can that be fulfilled?”  Moses’ faith is hitting a low point. Doesn’t he remember the miracles of God?  This miracle will give him a reminder and encouragement.  

Wind drove quail in from the sea.  They piled three feet deep in every direction or they flew as low as three feet to be easily caught (this is debated).  People gathered them for two days.  The amount of meat they gathered was 40-60 bushels per family! The meat was in their mouths, and before it could be consumed, a severe plague hit.  They buried the people who had craved other food. [The] “scene must have been similar to a riot: people screaming, birds flapping their wings, everywhere the pell-mell movement of a meat-hungry people in a sea of birds.” (Expositor’s Commentary, p. 795) 

The people insisted on having their own way.  They didn’t trust God.  This falls under the old adage: “be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.”  God knows that our faith takes time to grow.  He needed the Israelites to learn to trust Him or the upcoming battles would not go well. Psalm 106 says: “In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test.  So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them.” (Ps 106:14-15)  “Graves of Craving mark the end of chapter 11-what a contrast to chapter 10!” (Expositor’s, 795)