CENTRAL THOUGHT
As God’s people, let us learn to trust Him always and to deal with criticisms objectively.
TEXT: NUMBERS 11:1-35
INTRODUCTION:
Moses received God’s call to deliver the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Through him God delivered Israel with a mighty hand (Ex. 5:1, 6:13) and led them out of Egypt through the Red Sea; he sang songs of praises (Ex. 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” (Num. 12:3). The enormity of the work 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 and gave them the enablement. God endowed the seventy elders with the same spirit that was upon Moses (Num. 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 leadership position.
- Comment on God’s response to Moses’ complaint and accusation.
- Discuss Moses’ reaction to God’s promises 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 concerning how to treat true men of God today.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1.) WHAT GAVE RISE TO THE COMPLAINTS IN NUMBER 11:1-9?
The complaints among the children of Israel arose from their perceived monotonous diet of manna that God had provided for them.
This incident is one of 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 complain and blame God for fostering on him the leadership of these difficult people. Is the lust and greed we exhibit today actually different from what we read about the Israelites in the passage under consideration?
The answer is no, because we most often 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 2A.) WHAT WAS GOD’S RESPONSE TO MOSES’ COMPLAINT?
NUM. 11:16-20
God’s response to Moses’ complaint was not judgmental. 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 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.
Furthermore, God’s response to the mixed multitude was judgmental 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 becomes loathsome unto them. This is the result of insisting on the permissive will of God- meat to satisfy their lust.
QUESTION 2B.) 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 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 3A.) COMMENT ON MOSES’ REACTION TO GOD’S PROMISE TO SUPPLY MEAT TO HIS PEOPLE. NUM. 11:18-22
Moses’ reaction to God’s promise was full of doubt as if he was the one who would make the provisions 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 fish in the sea, will that satisfy them? He forgot that God knew the exact population of the Israelites before He made the promise; his statement suggested doubt in God’s ability. 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 3B.) DID GOD FULFILL HIS PROMISE? NUM. 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 judgment rather than blessings in our lives.
QUESTION 3C.) DISCUSS WHETHER WE SOMETIMES DOUBT GOD IN SIMILAR MANNER TODAY.
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, e.g 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 members should identify areas where we are prone to doubting God.
QUESTION 4.) WHAT WAS THE CONTENTION MIRIAN AND AARON HAD WITH MOSES?
NUM. 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 mouthpiece of God. This contention greatly displeased the Lord and it brought instant judgment on Miriam. She became leprous, white as snow.
QUESTION 5A.) WHAT WARNING IS THERE FOR US ON HOW TO TREAT MEN OF GOD?
PSA. 105:14-16; ROM. 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 Judgment on another “Man’s” servant? His master, the Lord, is mighty to support him and make him stand. God whom we serve can take any length to defend His servants who depend on him and put their trust in Him like Moses who was faithful in God’s house. For their sakes, He reproves kings and rulers (Gen. 12:17; 20:3-7). In 1 Chron. 16:8-22, He said, “… touch not my Anointed and do my Prophets no harm”. God can call for famine, disaster, calamities, pestilences, etc. among all those who arbitrarily and falsely charge His servants. Let us stop from any form of murmuring, complaining and senseless criticisms against men of God, especially about things we have little or no knowledge about. God will surely defend them to the utter most.
QUESTION 5B). WHAT WAS MOSES’ REACTION TO THE CRITICISMS FROM MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY THAT ARE WORTHY OF EMULATION? NUM. 12:3,7,13
- Moses did not respond to the criticism of Aaron and Miriam. This is contrary to what we see today when some Men of God rush to defend themselves even when their actions are indefensible.
- When Miriam 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 word of God is for all God’s people, and as leaders, it is our responsibility to lead and coordinate other people of God 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 Sam. 30:6b).
Moses’ reaction to the criticisms 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 own hands by placing curses on people. Hand it over to God and do not avenge yourself. (Rom. 12:19).
MEMORY VERSE:
Num. 12:3
“ Now that man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MONDAY: WHEN CRITICIZED FALSELY, BE CAREFUL NOT TO TAKE VENGEANCE FOR YOURSELF. Rom. 12:19-21
TUESDAY: HONOR THOSE WHOM GOD HAS PLACED OVER YOU.
Rom. 13:1-5; Prov. 8:15
WEDNESDAY: WHAT KIND OF TESTIMONY CAN GOD GIVE ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER?
Num. 12:7; Heb. 3:2, 5-6; Job 1:6-8
THURSDAY: BEWARE OF LUST AND SENSUAL DESIRE FOR PHYSICAL APPETITE.
Num. 11:18-20, 31-35; Psa. 106:13-15
FRIDAY: DESIRE THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO DO GOD’S WORK EFFECTIVELY.
Acts 1:8; Num. 11:24-29
SATURDAY: GOD ALWAYS DEFENDS THOSE SERVANTS WHO PUT THEIR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE ON HIM.
Num. 12:1-12