Day 72 – The People’s Complaining

• Today we read one of the most striking examples of the grumbling nature of the Israelite people. It’s worth saying, for the records, that Numbers 1-10 – much of which we skipped – does record a more obedient side to the people too. Like many resolutions, it didn’t stick!
• You’ll probably recognise bits of today’s story as it references things that happened in Exodus. We also looked at part of Numbers 11 earlier in our plan, so my notes today will skip that section.
• Describe the attitude of the people of Israel in today’s reading in Numbers 11. God has recently, and miraculously, delivered them out of slavery and shown them many blessings. Why do you think they act this way?
• The people were given the responsibility to collect manna – which was like a cake bread – for their food. How did they feel about that? Why? What does Numbers 11:4-6 show us about the source of the grumbling?
• Collecting manna got repetitive and dull, it seems. Do you do anything that is dull and repetitive? I hope you don’t class this bible reading in that list! If you do, can you rethink your response to God to be more like that of the attitude shown in Philippians 2 passage?
• In this passage, God supplied quail to the people in response to their complaints. What did God say about the meat He was about to supply? Does it make you smile? Look at Numbers 11:19-20 if you’re stuck. The story of the meat concludes in verses 31-35. What happens?
• A problem occurred between Moses and Aaron and Miriam in Number 12. What was it? What was wrong with the attitude of Aaron and Miriam? Do you think that the issue of Moses’ wife was the real reason behind the power struggle we can read about in this chapter?
• What was special about Moses’ relationship with God? Only prophets – of whom we’ll read about later – had as close a relationship with God as Moses did. Several times it was his words to God on behalf of the people that saved them from greater punishment. Moses’ action pales next to Jesus’ though, so happily we can look to Jesus, not Moses, for our grace and truth!
• How do the readings in the Old Testament apply to the reading in Philippians 2? What similarities are there to how we should live in a broken world as Christians, and how the Israelites had to be set apart for God in the wilderness?

The Promised Land was about 11 days walk from Egypt, assuming they were to walk there directly. A couple of months, probably, if you include their detour down to Mount Sinai and a few pit-stops. You’ll probably know that the people remained in the desert for 40 years – nearly all of the original company dying in the process.

If the people had followed God exactly as He commanded them, instead of sinning repeatedly, they would not have been stuck wondering in the desert for all this time. They would have received the law, and then their blessings in Canaan.

Their sin caused them to be in the desert for around 14,500 days longer than they needed to be!

OK – so the figures are not exact, so don’t take them as gospel truth. But the point is the same. If they had held their tongues and obeyed God instead of grumbling, they would have stopped eating manna after a few months. Instead, they brought their afflictions upon themselves, and had only themselves to blame – not God – when things were difficult.

Satisfaction with what we have, rather than complaining about what we don’t, is a trait that is vital to foster in your life. The more we work at being content – and which of us shouldn’t be, with all the earthly and spiritual blessings we have – the more joy we’ll have. Complaining breeds resentment and frustration. Satisfaction, however, breeds peace and fulfilment.

God knows what’s best for us!