Numbers 11 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
We are now in narrative section that you will find easier to read and is more familiar. This section is not necessarily good, but it is fascinating. First, I want to thank my discipleship group for their insight into this chapter. Dave, Holly, and Jacob Hoffman and Lee Thorn were so helpful to me. And here is a quick plug for our adult Sunday morning classes. You are missing out on great discussion if you do not attend our Sunday morning classes. I marvel at the insight others have on the text and the good discussions we start. Now back to our chapter. We start off with the people complaining about their misfortune “in the hearing of the Lord” which sounds like Ex 2:23-25 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” So, the reason they are on this journey is because they complained to God. They wanted out of Egypt and out of slavery. But now they are complaining to God about the lack of variety in their diet.
Now their complaining provokes God who sends the fire of God. This fire is burning tents or some of the Hebrew’s things but not people. But this is just the beginning. Then in v. 4, there is a group, “the rabble that was among them” that were sick and tired of the same old manna. They were so upset, they wanted to go back to slavery, oppression, and Egypt. They thought slavery was better!
Manna, as we read in vs. 7-9, was both tasty and could be prepared in multiple ways. But the Hebrews, or at least some of those on this exodus, were tired of manna. This rabble had enough manna. “There is nothing at all but this manna to look at” v. 6. This is terrible ingratitude and a disrespectful slap in God’s face. They actually spoke longingly about the good ole days of slavery. What a great diet and we enjoyed variety!
Moses heard the people weeping – throughout their clans and at the door of each tent. The idea is this frustration is widespread. And, of course, God is hot or as v 10 ways, “the anger of the Lord blazed hotly.” Now in verse 10, Moses is displeased. Moses’ prayer in vs. 11-15 is impertinent and unbecoming of Moses. Moses seems to unload on God. His concluding sentence is, “ If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in Your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”
Amazingly, God speaks not a word of correction to Moses. One would expect a sharp rebuke from God or at least a warning to not speak to the Creator of the universe that way. Rather, God responds by having Moses pick out 70 known leaders. Moses was to bring them to the tent of meeting. Then God would take some of the Spirit that is on Moses and “put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you” (v. 17).
In the same breath, God tells Moses to tell the people to consecrate themselves because they will eat meat . . . and will they eat meat. But not meat that comes with a blessing from God. They will eat meat “until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”” God is rightly offended by their rebellion, their outright rejection of His purposes and their plans to subvert His plans.
God tells Moses what He will do, and Moses is dumbfounded. Moses cannot believe that God can provide that much meat. “Is the Lord’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not?” Verse 23. Then in verse 24-30, we return to the set aside of the 70 elders and the prophesying of Eldad and Medad.
Then in verse 31 we return to the topic of meat. Quail do migrate over this part of the world but what follows is amazing. Somehow the quail “fall beside the camp” whether they are clubbed to death or captured in nets, there are so many quail they are piled up. 10 homer equals about 600 gallons. So, they have more meat than they know what do with. But God was furious so as v. 33 describes, “while the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.”
There are so many things we can draw from this passage. But I am so glad Someone bore the wrath of God in His body on a cross in my place. I deserve to be in a grave of cravings because I want things I should not want. I am ungrateful, disrespectful, and angry at God. I often reject His purpose for my life. I complain as much and have it far better than the Hebrews during the Exodus. Dear Holy Father, I can so quickly judge the Hebrews during the Exodus, the Jews during the time of the prophets, the church in Corinth, or the worldliness of the churches in the book of Hebrews. Yet, I pamper and protect my own sin because I make every excuse for my sin but extend no grace to others. O, Lord Jesus, change my heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me to joyfully live for Your glory. In Christ’ glorious name. Amen