For more than twenty years, LearnTheBible.org has consistently provided free content from a Bible-believing perspective to our thousands of annual visitors. We do not run ads or charge for access to this wealth of Bible study materials, outlines, preaching, teaching, and so much more! Expenses to maintain our hosting, servers, etc. are provided by the generous donations of God's people. If you have been helped and blessed by LTB through the years, would you help us continue to maintain and support this growing ministry by partnering with us with a onetime or monthly gift?
To those who read, listen, and share our content, we are extremely grateful! Please continue to pray for us and "Thank You!" for 20 great years!
The Book of Numbers 0002 - Lesson 6
Scripture Passage:
Numbers 10:35-36; Numbers 11:1-35 Chapter 10 (Continued) (There is currently no audio for this lesson.)
Time to Journey (Continued)
- THE DEPARTURE (Numbers 10:33-36 [33] And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.
[34] And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.
[35] And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.
[36] And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.
See All...) (Continued) - The Prayers of Moses (Numbers 10:35-36 [35] And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.
[36] And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.
See All...) - Rise up.
- When the ark set forward
- Moses said
- Rise up, Lord.
- Let thine enemies be scattered.
- Let them that hate thee flee before thee.
- Return.
- When it rested
- Moses said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousand of Israel.
- This would be a great prayer for God’s people today.
- O Lord go before us.
- In preaching
- In witnessing
- In serving
- O Lord dwell with us.
- In preaching
- In witnessing
- In service
Chapter 11
The Beginning of Woes for the People of God
- INTRODUCTION
- The Turning Point of God’s People
- God’s people have demonstrated obedience in the first 10 chapters of the Book of Numbers.
- Chapter eleven is the complete opposite and demonstrates the heart of all of God’s people, both then and now.
- Division
- The turning point at Taberah (Numbers 11:1-3 [1] 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.
[2] And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
[3] And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
See All...) - The lusting of the people (Numbers 11:4-9 [4] And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
[5] 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:
[6] But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
[7] And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
[8] And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
[9] And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
See All...) - The complaint of Moses (Numbers 11:10-15 [10] 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.
[11] And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
[12] Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
[13] Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
[14] I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
[15] And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
See All...) - God’s response to complaints of His people (Numbers 11:16-20 [16] And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
[17] And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
[18] And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
[19] Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
[20] But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
See All...) - Moses questions God’s power to provide (Numbers 11:21-23 [21] And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.
[22] Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?
[23] And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD's hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
See All...). - The institution of the elders (Numbers 11:24-30 [24] And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.
[25] And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
[26] But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.
[27] And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
[28] And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
[29] And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!
[30] And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
See All...) - The provision and judgment of God (Numbers 11:31-34 [31] And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
[32] And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
[33] And 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.
[34] And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
See All...) - The journey to Hazeroth (Numbers 11:35And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.
See All...) - THE TURNING POINT AT TABERAH (Numbers 11:1-3 [1] 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.
[2] And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
[3] And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
See All...) - The Work of Complaining (Numbers 11:1And 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.
See All...) - Complaining unveils the heart.
- The offended heart complains (John 6:56-61 [56] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
[57] As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
[58] This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
[59] These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
[60] Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
[61] When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
See All...). - The lustful heart complains (Jude 1:16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
See All...). - The words of murmuring identify an ungrateful heart (Matthew 12:34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
See All...; Luke 6:45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
See All...). - Complaining hinders education (Isaiah 29:24They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
See All...). - God sends us through trials that we may learn.
- Murmuring and complaining negates the lesson.
- Complaining troubles the soul (Psalm 77:3I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
See All...). - Complaining adds to the burden of the soul.
- Christ wants us to cast our burdens on Him.
- Complaining breeds lies.
- The people said their soul was dried away (Numbers 11:6But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
See All...). - The people said they had nothing to eat (Numbers 11:6But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
See All...). - The Israelites said that Moses killed the people of the Lord (Numbers 16:41But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.
See All...). - The earth opened up and swallowed Korah’s people (Numbers 16:30-33 [30] But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
[31] And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
[32] And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
[33] They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
See All...). - Then fire came out from the Lord and consumed 250 men that burned incense (Numbers 16:34-35 [34] And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
[35] And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
See All...). - The Israelites said that God hated them (Deuteronomy 1:27And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
See All...). - They said God hated them.
- They said that He brought them out to deliver them into the hand of the Amorites.
- Complaining is contagious.
- In Numbers 11:4And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
See All... the mixt (mixed) multitude begins the trouble. - In Numbers 11:4And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
See All... the children of Israel begin weeping. - By Numbers 11:11And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
See All... Moses joins the group of complainers. - Complaining displeases the Lord (Numbers 11:1And 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.
See All...). - God plans the events in our life.
- Complaining is a direct attack on Him.
- The Complaining of the People (Numbers 11:1And 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.
See All...) - This is the first occurrence of the word “complained” or any form of the word “complain” in the scriptures.
- It appears that this incident is different from the incident found in Numbers 11: 4-33.
- In this incident the Lord responds with fire, but in the next incident He responds with a plague.
- The name of this place is called Taberah whereas the name of the place where the next incident occurs is called Kibroth-hattaavah.
- If this is the case, we have no idea why the people were complaining.
- The Displeasure of the Lord (Numbers 11:1And 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.
See All...) - The complaining of the people displeased the Lord.
- The Lord heard it.
- His anger was kindled.
- The fire of the Lord burnt among them and consumed them that were in the uttermost part of the camp.
- Note: Anger in the scriptures seems to have a strong connection to fire.
- It is kindled (Exodus 4:14And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
See All...; Numbers 11:1And 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.
See All...; Deuteronomy 32:22For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
See All...; Jeremiah 15:14And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.
See All...; Jeremiah 17:4And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
See All...). - A little (Psalm 2:12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
See All...) - Greatly (Numbers 11:10Then 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.
See All...; 1 Samuel 11:6And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
See All...) - It waxes hot (Exodus 32:19And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
See All...). - The Pleading of Moses (Numbers 11:2And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
See All...) - The people cried unto Moses.
- Moses prayed unto the Lord.
- The fire was quenched.
- The Naming of the Place (Numbers 11:3And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
See All...) - The place was named Taberah, meaning Burning.
- It was common to name places of disobedience (Exodus 17:7And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
See All...; Numbers 11:34And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
See All...; Deuteronomy 9:22And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath.
See All...). - We should mark and remember the places where we failed the Lord so that we will not fall into the same errors again.
- THE LUSTING OF THE PEOPLE (Numbers 11:4-9 [4] And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
[5] 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:
[6] But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
[7] And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
[8] And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
[9] And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
See All...) - The Failure of the People of God (Numbers 11:4And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
See All...) - Begins with the mixt (mixed) multitude
- Egyptians or Egyptian-Israelite mixed people who followed Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:38And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
See All...) - A picture of false followers of God who still long for the things of the world (2 Timothy 3:1-7 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
[6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
[7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
See All...; 1 John 2:19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
See All...) - They “fell a lusting” (James 1:13-16 [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
[14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
[15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
[16] Do not err, my beloved brethren.
See All...). - We are tempted when we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed.
- Lust, when it is finished brings forth sin.
- Sin, when it is finished brings forth death.
- The children of Israel are affected.
- They cry for flesh to eat (Psalm 78:18And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
See All...). - The Marred Memories of God’s People (Numbers 11:5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
See All...; Psalm 106:13-14 [13] They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: [14] But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
See All...; Ecclesiastes 7:10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
See All...) - They remembered the fancy foods (6 items).
- They forgot the heavy burdens (Exodus 1:11-14 [11] Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
[12] But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
[13] And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
[14] And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
See All...). - They forgot their cry for deliverance (Exodus 2:23-25 [23] And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
[24] And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
[25] And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
See All...). - They forgot their deliverance from the Egyptians (Exodus 14:29-31 [29] But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
[30] Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
[31] And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.
See All...). - The Manna from God (Numbers 11:6-9 [6] But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
[7] And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
[8] And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
[9] And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
See All...) - What was it?
- It was as coriander seed (Numbers 11:7And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
See All...; Exodus 16:31And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
See All...). - The color as the color of bdellium (Numbers 11:7And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
See All...) - It was a small round thing (Exodus 16:14And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
See All...). - The taste as the taste of fresh oil or as wafers made with honey (Numbers 11:8And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
See All...; Exodus 16:31And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
See All...) - How to prepare it (Numbers 11:8And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
See All...) - Ground it in mills
- Beat it in a mortar
- Baked it in pans
- Made cakes of it
- Its uniqueness
- A layer of dew was provided for it to rest upon (Numbers 11:9And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
See All...). - It is called “angel’s food” (Psalm 78:25Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
See All...). - It is called the “corn of heaven” (Psalm 78:24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
See All...). - Manna ceased when they could eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan (Joshua 5:12And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
See All...). - THE COMPLAINT OF MOSES (Numbers 11:10-15 [10] 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.
[11] And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
[12] Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
[13] Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
[14] I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
[15] And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
See All...) - He Complains of the Burden of the People (Numbers 11:11-12 [11] And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
[12] Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
See All...). - Why have you afflicted me?
- Why have I not found favor in your site?
- Have I conceived this people?
- Have I begotten them?
- You have asked me to
- Carry them in my bosom as a nursing father
- Unto the land which you swore to their fathers
- He Complains of the Burden of their Provision (Numbers 11:13Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
See All...). - Where am I going to get this flesh to feed them?
- They are weeping unto me.
- He Complains of the Pressures of his Burden (Numbers 11:14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
See All...). - I am not able to bear this people alone.
- It is too heavy.
- He Complains of the Burden of His Own Wretchedness (Numbers 11:15And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
See All...). - Kill me, if I have found favor in thy sight.
- He would rather die than face the troubles he has with the people of God.
- Moses is the Key to the Coming Judgment.
- The people are at fault here just as they were in the Numbers 11: 1-3.
- Moses interceded for the people in Numbers 11:1-3 [1] 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.
[2] And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
[3] And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
See All... and the judgment was minimal. - Moses joins in the complaining here and the people were smote with a “very great plague.”
- GOD’S RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS OF HIS PEOPLE (Numbers 11:16-20 [16] And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
[17] And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
[18] And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
[19] Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
[20] But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
See All...) - Seventy Elders for Moses (Numbers 11:16-17 [16] And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
[17] And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
See All...) - Gather seventy men of the elders of Israel.
- Bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation.
- I will take of the spirit that is upon thee and put it upon them.
- They shall bear the burden of the people.
- That you do not bear it alone
- Flesh to Eat for the People (Numbers 11:18-20 [18] And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
[19] Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
[20] But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
See All...) - Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow (Numbers 11:18And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
See All...). - Ye shall eat flesh (Numbers 11:18-20 [18] And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
[19] Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
[20] But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
See All...). - Not one day
- Not two days
- Not five days
- Not ten days
- Not twenty days
- But a whole month
- Until it comes out your nostrils
- Until it is loathsome to you
- Ye despised the Lord (Numbers 11:20But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
See All...). - MOSES QUESTIONS GOD’S POWER TO PROVIDE (Numbers 11:21-23 [21] And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.
[22] Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?
[23] And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD's hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
See All...) - Moses Questions God (Numbers 11:21-22 [21] And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.
[22] Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?
See All...). - The people
- There are 600,000 soldiers (Numbers 1:45-46 [45] So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;
[46] Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
See All...). - You said
- You will give them flesh.
- They will eat it a whole month.
- The provision
- Shall the flocks and herds be slain for them?
- Shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them?
- Parallel to the New Testament (John 6:7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
See All...) - God Questions Moses (Numbers 11:23And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD's hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
See All...). - Is my hand waxed short?
- You will see whether my word will come to pass or not.
Proverbs 23:28
She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.