ADULT STS LESSON 95

MURMURING IN THE CAMP

MEMORY VERSE: “Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in
the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was
displeased (Numbers 11:10)

TEXT: Numbers 11:1-35; 12:1-16

In fulfilment of His promise to Abraham, God rescued the children of Israel out of the land of bondage
through supernatural signs and great deliverance. He led them through the wilderness and
generously provided manna (angel’s food) to nourish them on their journey to the Promised Land.
Despite God’s love, care and benevolence, on several occasions, they murmured and complained
against Him and Moses. God’s demonstration of miraculous power ought to have elicited their trust
and confidence; instead, they doubted and disbelieved Him. He had promised them sustenance and
security. However, Israel’s failure to wholly trust God led to their undoing. Though they had left Egypt,
they carried the sinful practices of Egypt along with them. They hardened their hearts in unbelief and
thus incurred the displeasure of God as they were consumed in His wrath in the wilderness. The
warning comes to believers: “…To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in
the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness” (Hebrews 3:7,8).

1. DEVASTATING RESULT OF GOD-PROVOKING MURMURING

Numbers 11:1-10,33-35; Exodus 16:2,11-13; Psalm 78:17-22,30-33; 1 Corinthians 10:10; 1 John 2:15-
17

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his
anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that
were in the uttermost parts of the camp” (Numbers 11:1). The chapter opens with a negative tone
depicting the unpleasant and distrustful behavior of the people. They were so accustomed to
murmuring that it became their second nature. Murmuring is sinful and is not condoned by God
from His people. It is a show of ingratitude as well as a display of carnality. It is a negative attitude
that will always incur God’s indignation. Believers are, therefore, warned to be careful and shun all
forms of sinful and carnal conduct, for He “…shall bring every work into judgment, with every
secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). God responded to
their murmuring with fierce judgment; He sent His fire to devour some of the people. The pillar of fire
was meant for their preservation, warmth and direction; but when they sinned, God employed the
same fire to destroy them. Closeness to God is no license for sinning against Him, as He is no respecter
of persons. Realising the grave danger of their sinful act, they cried unto Moses who responded by
praying to God for mercy and the fire was quenched. “And the mixt multitude that was among
them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept and said, Who shall give us flesh to
eat?” (Numbers 11:4). The children of Israel had barely escaped God’s wrath when the mixed
multitude among them caused them to sin. The mixed multitude was the term used to describe the
non-Israelites who joined the people in the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:38), having seen the mighty
works of God among them. This confirms the timeless Scripture that “…evil communications
corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The mixed multitude blended with the people and
began to influence them negatively to rebel against God. Soon, they made the people forget God’s
goodness, mercy, faithfulness as well as His great plan. They made the children of God desire the
dainties of Egypt and despise the manna God had graciously provided for them. They said, “We
remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the
leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at
all, beside this manna, before our eyes” (Numbers 11:5,6). It is sad that they preferred the herbs
of Egypt to the land flowing with milk and honey. Whereas they were mere slaves in Egypt, God was
going to give them their own land, but their blindness of heart prevented them from seeing afar off.
Their lust for flesh and herbs soon resulted in their profuse weeping. The fact that all the families
were swept away by lust shows their level of carnality. “Then Moses heard the people weep
throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was
kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased” (Numbers 11:10). They eventually incurred God’s
wrath. The event surrounding the mixed multitude conveys some useful lessons for God’s children.
One, believers must be careful about the company they keep and ensure they associate with men of
like-precious faith. We should be wise to choose the company of people we relate with, not because
they are members of the same church, tribe, profession or in the same neighborhood, but by the
content of their character and righteousness. Two, we must always remember God’s mercies,
goodness, faithfulness as well as His great plans for us at all times. Three, every Christian must seek
to have the sanctification experience both in precept and in practice. Four, every child of God should
set their affection on things above and not on the things of the earth (Colossians 3:1). Five, we must
request daily sufficient grace to endure affliction and patiently wait on God to meet our needs. Six,
children of God must be contented with what they have while trusting God to enlarge their coast and
meet their needs. Seven, we must seek scriptural means of meeting our needs. Finally, members of
the church must make diligent effort not to displease God and His appointed leaders. The
consciousness that we can choose our actions but not the consequences should guide our daily
decisions even in matters of legitimate needs. God eventually supplied the meat, but “..while the
flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled
against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague” (Numbers 11:33).
As a consequence, God’s fierce judgment descended on the people twice resulting in devastating
destruction. Apostle Paul therefore warns, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured,
and were destroyed of the destroyer” (1 Corinthians 10:10).

2. DUE RESPONSE TO GOD-APPOINTED MINISTRY

Numbers 11:11-32; Exodus 16:12,13; Psalm 78:26-29; 1 Timothy 3:1-10; Titus 1:6-9; Exodus 18:19-26;
Matthew 7:7-11; Philippians 4:19

Overwhelmed by the unpleasant reaction of the people, Moses resorted to prayer. Truly, the task of
leading God’s people as well as meeting their varied needs could be challenging, but leading a group
of disgruntled, carnal and backslidden folks can be daunting and very frustrating, In response to
Moses’ prayer, God provided meat for the people (Numbers 11:31). He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our
Provider. Believers should take their needs to Him in faith and trust in His unfailing promises and
power. By resorting to God in prayer, Moses revealed the limitation of man in accomplishing divine
tasks as well as the need for constant divine renewal of strength. This should serve as a challenge
and an encouragement to God’s servants to take their ministerial challenges always to God who has
called them and who is ever faithful to come to their aid. God’s response was swift and the impact
immediate. He decided to raise co-helpers for Moses who was to select seventy elders among the
people and present them to Him for anointing. This teaches us important lessons: One, no leader,
however gifted, can excel in ministry alone. Two, leaders and workers should be selected with care
and prayerfulness. They should be known, tested and proven to be spiritual. Novices are not qualified
for appointment to leadership position, no matter the need. In the early Church, the appointment of
a replacement for Judas Iscariot was based on those who had “…companied with us [the Apostles
and disciples] all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us” (Acts 1:21). Also,
Apostle Paul, writing on the qualities of a leader instructs that “…let these also first be proved;
then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless” (1 Timothy 3:10). Three,
Moses was to bring them to the tabernacle. This implies that those chosen to lead God’s people must
be separated and consecrated to God. Four, God was to talk with Moses in their presence signifying
the place of His word in leadership and service. Moreover, Moses remained the key leader who received
from God and communicated the same message to the rest of the leaders. This was to give validity to
Moses’ leadership; thus, they were to assist and not replace him. Authority in leadership is derived.
While Moses’ was derived from God, the seventy elders were to derive theirs from Moses. Anyone, like
Korah, Absalom, Adonijah, who violates this principle risks the judgment of God. Five, the authority
and effectiveness of leadership in the church are hinged on the Spirit’s empowerment. That they had
to be touched by God’s Spirit before they commenced their assignment shows that leadership without
the spirit’s endowment will result in futility and endless toil. God has promised the Spirit’s power for
His servants. He still baptizes with the Holy Ghost and with Fire (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49).
3. DIVINE RECOGNITION OF GOD-APPROVED MINISTERS
Numbers 12:1-16; 16:1-5,12,15-18,20,21,28-35; 2 Samuel 15:1,4,10-12; 18:1,9,15: Genesis 49:5-7;
Acts 1:21,22; Philippians 2:14-16

No sooner had God quelled the rebellion, than another problem erupted. This time, it was orchestrated
by Miriam, the women leader and Aaron, Moses’ deputy. She, in company of Aaron, challenged the
legitimacy of Moses’ leadership. That the children of Israel murmured against Moses was quite
displeasing, but to have the duo of Miriam and Aaron embark on this evil mission was shocking and
unexpected. Miriam erred by equating her authority with Moses’. Aaron, who narrowly escaped God’s
fierce judgment for leading God’s people into idolatry, lent his support to this revolt instead of
rebuking Miriam. By this, he manifested weakness and compromise once again. The Scripture enjoins
the believer to “…neither be partaker of other men’s sin” (1 Timothy 5:22). Moses once again
displayed the virtue of great leadership. He did not attempt to defend himself; rather, he
allowed God to do it (Numbers 12:4-8). God is concerned about His servants. He heard and acted
on the rebellion Himself. The consequence of Miriam’s action was swift and unimaginable; she became
leprous; white as snow. Believers are hereby warned to beware of how they treat God’s servants. They
are to avoid familiarity, which breeds contempt. They should respect and obey them. They should
wait on Him to defend them because vengeance belongs to God and He will defend His own. His
judgment will come on those who “despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities” (Jude 8).
Leaders, however, must display the virtues of meekness, godliness and forgiveness as demonstrated
by Moses. Rebels in the church must repent and make necessary restitution to secure God’s
forgiveness and restoration. Although Moses interceded for Miriam, God determined she must serve
the punishment to teach her and others a lesson that nobody despises God’s appointed servants and
gets away with it. Those who are under discipline in the church should humbly bear the punishment
as it is for their good. Leaders should not be in a hurry to restore those who have erred but should
allow them to be fully purged and purified before restoration. The danger of murmuring, whether
against God or His servants, is grave. It incurs divine displeasure, which births unpleasant
consequences. The children of Israel suffered unnecessary and incalculable losses because of this
vice. Believers today are enjoined to: “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That
[they] may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation, among whom [we] shine as lights in the world” (Philippians
2:14,15). They are to submit themselves to God-ordained leadership and walk by faith to enjoy God’s
unbroken fellowship, favour and blessings, and eventually reach the Promised Land.

Questions For Review:

1. What is the danger of murmuring against God and His ministers?
2. What does the phrase ‘mixed multitudes’ mean in the passage and how does it affect the church
today?
3. Mention some useful lessons from the event surrounding the mixed multitudes.
4. How should believers go about having their needs met
5. What do we learn from the selection of the seventy elders that God raised to assist Moses in
leading the people?
6. What is the place of Holy Spirit’s baptism in Christian leadership?
7. What should be the attitude of believers towards God’s ministers?