God continues to reprove Israel because of the ways they have treated Him. Their heart was not right with God. They provoked Him, grieved Him, tempted Him, and limited Him. They did not remember the deliverance of the Lord when He brought them out of Egypt. Yet God remembered that they were but flesh and had compassion on them. We should all glory in such a good and gracious God.

What Does It Say?

1. Their heart was not _________ with God, neither were they steadfast in His ______________.
2. They often did ___________ Him in the wilderness and ___________ Him in the desert.
3. “They remembered not his _________, not the _________ when he delivered them from the enemy.”
4. In judging Egypt, God gave their increase unto the ________________, and their labor unto the ___________.
5. God made His own people to go forth like _________ and He guided them in the wilderness like a _________.

What Does It Mean?

1. In verse 39, God remembered that the Israelites were “but flesh” and compared them to “a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.” What does He mean by comparing our flesh to a wind? Consider the following verses and tell what you think they mean: Job 7:6My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
   See All...; Job 9:25-26 [25] Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. [26] They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
   See All...; Job 14:1-2 [1] Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. [2] He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
   See All...; Psalm 39:5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
   See All...; Psalm 90:9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
   See All...; James 4:14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
   See All....
2. God fought against Egypt (because they held God’s people in bondage) by “sending evil angels among them” (v.49). What do you think this means? Compare this with 1 Kings 22:15-23 [15] So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. [16] And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? [17] And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. [18] And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? [19] And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. [20] And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. [21] And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. [22] And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persude him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. [23] Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
   See All.... What questions do these passages bring to your mind? Note: Do not worry if you do not have a complete answer to this. Sometimes it is good to ask the questions and then let them work in your heart over a period of time
3. God “made a way to his anger” (v.50). God often uses descriptive language to create a picture of a truth. Describe the picture that this phrase brings to your mind. How can you use this picture to explain the anger of God?

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. The Israelites flattered God with their mouth and lied to Him with their tongues (v.36). How is it that men flatter God? How does this verse compare with Isaiah 29:13Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
   See All... and Ezekiel 33:31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
   See All...? How do we sometimes flatter God or lie to Him? What should we do to correct this?
2. When the Israelites turned back and tempted God, they limited the Holy One of Israel (v.41). This is a strange statement. How can man in his weakness limit the work of Almighty God? Read about the ministry of Jesus in Matthew 13:53-58 [53] And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. [54] And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? [55] Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? [56] And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? [57] And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. [58] And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
   See All.... How do these two passages compare? Why do you think God allows His work to be limited by man? Name some ways in which man may limit the work that God does.

Suggested Memory Verses

Psalm 78:39For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
See All..., Psalm 78:41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
See All..., Psalm 78:52But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
See All...