Central Thought: As God’s people let us learn to trust Him always and to deal with criticisms objectively.
Hymn: When upon Life’s billows, you are tempest tossed…
Text: Numbers 11 1-35
Moses received God’s call to deliver the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Through him God delivered Israel with a mighty hand (Exodus 5:1- 6:13) and led them out of Egypt through the Red Sea; he sang songs of praises (Exodus 15:1-18), received various instructions from God for his people, and interceded for them at various times.
However, at a point, Moses became overwhelmed by the murmuring, complaints and unguided criticism of the Israelites that were around him, to the extent that Moses himself had to complain to God even though he was a very meek man “above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 13:3). The enormity of the work of God gave to Moses was so much that he cried to God for help. God in His infinite wisdom gave him men to work with him and gave them the enablement. God endowed the seventy elders (70) with the same spirit that was upon Moses (Numbers 11:25). The relevance of this event and how to handle criticisms as leaders is the focus of this study.
Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, we should be able to:
- Identify and explain the reason(s) why Moses complained and blamed God for putting him in a leadership position.
- Comment on God’s response to Moses’ complaint and accusation.
- Discuss Moses’ reaction to God’s promise to supply meat to His people.
- Identify and discuss the contention Miriam and Aaron had with Moses.
- Find out and discuss the warning for us as concerning how to treat true men of God today.
Question 1.) What gave rise to the complaints in Numbers 11:1-9?
The complaints amongst the children of Israel arose from their perceived monotonous diet of manna that God had provided for them.
This incidence is one of the several cases of murmuring and complaining against God and Moses. As a result, God’s anger was kindled against them and the fire of the LORD burnt among them and consumed some of them. They cried to Moses who prayed unto the LORD for them and the fire was quenched. Soon after this deliverance, the mixed multitude wept and complained against God and Moses because they lusted after meat, in addition to the regular manna from heaven. This made Moses to complain and blame God for fostering on him the leadership of these difficult people. Is the lust and greed that we exhibit today actually different from what we read about the Israelites in the passage under consideration?
The answer is no, because most often we think that God is unfair to us by what he allows at some point in time in our lives. We must come to understand that He alone has the perfect view of life and what He allows may just be what we really need at that time.
Question 2. a)What was God’s response to Moses Complaint?
Numbers 11:16-20
God’s response to Moses complaint was not judgemental. To help him with the enormity of the job God requested him to appoint 70 competent elders from among the people. The elders were selected from those who were already functioning as leaders among the people.
God took of the spirit that was on Moses and put it on the 70 elders as well. The spirit taken out of Moses brought new authority for the exercise of their leadership.
Further more, God’s response to the mixed multitude was judgemental in a sense. God demanded that they should sanctify themselves the next day to receive meat. The Lord said to them that they will eat meat for a whole month, until it comes out of their nostrils and become loathsome unto them. This is the result of insisting on the permissive will of God-meat to satisfy their lust.
Question 2.b) What lessons can we derive from God’s response as leaders?
The following are a few of the lessons Christian leaders should learn from God’s response to Moses and the complaining of the Israelites.
- Leaders must be strong and courageous even in the face of fierce challenges from among the people they are leading.
- Resignation and desire for death are not options to overcome challenges in the ministry.
- Teach the people to have confidence in God’s ability to provide for them because He is “Jehovah Jireh”.
- Believers are to be extra careful about what they ask (Pray) for from God, as it might be answered just as it happened to the Israelites who had to eat meat they lusted after for a whole month.
- Believers are to support their leaders rather than murmur and complain against them.
Question 3.a) Comment on Moses’ reaction to God’s promise to supply meat to his people.
Numbers 11:18-22
Moses’ reaction to God’s promise was full of doubt as if he was the one who would make the provision for the people. He told God that there were six hundred thousand foot men, that is, men of war, beside those younger and older men, women and children, and that if they decide to kill all their flocks and harvest all the fishes in the sea, will they satisfy them? He forgot that God knew the exact population of Israelites before He made the promise; His doubt hindered his faith, doubt will always hinder faith. There is no situation which the Lord cannot handle if His people will only believe Him.
Question 3.b) Did God fulfill his promise?
Numbers 11:31-35
Certainly, God fulfilled His promise both to provide meat and judge the people. A divinely propelled wind brought quails from the sea side which were flying at a height of about 3 feet above the ground level for their easy capture. They captured more than enough, but the moment they started eating, God sent a plague among them that led to the death of some of them. We must avoid acts that will bring God’s judgement rather than blessings in our lives.
Question 3.c) Discuss whether we sometimes doubt God in a similar manner.
Sometimes, God’s people doubt God just the same way Moses doubted the Almighty God in the following areas:
- When we focus on the facts on ground in a matter rather than on God’s word ex. ill health, delayed pregnancy etc.
- When pressure is being mounted on us to accomplish a task within a time frame. Some lose hope instead of waiting on God’s timing.
- When a faithful, committed and dedicated Christian dies prematurely even after an intensive fervent prayer session over him/her.
- Class should mention other areas we are prone to doubting God.
Question 4.) What was the contention Miriam and Aaron had with Moses.
Numbers 12:1-2
The contention was over the marriage of Moses to an Ethiopian woman. This led them to challenge the legitimacy of Moses as the mouth piece of God. This contention greatly displeased the Lord and it brought instant judgement on Miriam. She became leprous, white as snow.
Question 5.a.) What warning is there for us on how to treat men of God?
Psalm 105:14-16, Romans 14:4
Men of God are servants of the Lord. To the Lord, their master, they stand, fall, or are upheld. Who are we then to pass judgement on another “Man’s” servant? His master, the Lord is mighty to support him and make him stand. God whom we serve can go any length to defend His servants who depend on and put their trust in Him like Moses who was faithful in God’s house. For their sakes, He reproves kings and rulers (Genesis 12:17, 20:3-7). In 1 Chronicles 16:8-22, He said “…touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm”. God can call for famine, disaster, calamities, pestilences etc. against all those who arbitrarily and falsely charge His servants. Let us stop any form of murmuring, complaining and senseless criticisms against men of God, especially about things we had little or no knowledge about. God will surely defend them to the utter most.
Question 5.b) What was Moses’ reaction to the criticisms from members of his family that are worthy of emulation?
Numbers 12:3, 7 & 13
- Moses did not respond to the criticism of Aaron and Miriam. this is the contrary to what we see today when some Men of God rush to defend themselves even when their actions are indefensible.
- When Mariam became leprous it was not an occasion for Moses to glory in her punishment. Rather, we see him interceding for her before the Lord for healing and restoration.
- His conduct here is exemplary and it should be a guide to us as men of God to criticism whether justified or not. Again, as Christian leaders we should also learn to reflect on criticisms and when we judge ourselves as guilty we should repent and make amends.
Daily Living Application:
The work of God is for all God’s people, and as leaders, it is our responsibility to lead and coordinate other of God’s people to accomplish the work of the Lord. We are to pray for and encourage them in the work so that through team spirit, the work can be completed. Even if no one encourages us, we should encourage ourselves in the Lord like David, especially when criticized by some of our people (1 Samuel 30:6b).
Moses’ reaction to the criticism against him by the mixed multitude and especially his biological brother and sister, (Aaron and Miriam) was remarkable. He did not prove that he is God’s chosen leader. God did that for him. As brethren, we need to be careful how we criticize leaders, for it is God who in His sovereignty puts people in leadership positions. On the other hand as leaders, if we are criticized, we need to take it calmly and not take laws into our hands by placing curses on the people. Hand it over to God and do not avenge yourself (Romans 12:19).
Memory Verse: Numbers 12:3
“Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth”