Numbers 11

30 July 2019


Opening Remarks

There are some who run away from the God of the Bible, when they see Bible passages as these. They say how can a God be so in-tolerant / angry?! In our study of the Old Testament we aim to remove these kinds of misunderstandings among the people.


Potential Discussion Questions

  • What “wrongs” did these Israelites do here? What similar kinds of “wrongs” do we do in today’s time?
  • Was it so bad that some got burned down by God? (Is it bad to desire “good / pleasing” things? - v 4-6) Many see passages such as these and run away from God, saying God of Bible is very intolerant and angry. What do you say?
    • How does God respond in TODAY’s time when such “wrongs” are done? Has anything changed?
  • V23:- Why does the all-powerful God (who also loves you to death - i.e., John 3:16, etc) NOT give you all you want, say, as soon as you ask? Instead, why does He allow / bring "deserts" in life?


Suggested Commentaries For The Potential Discussion Questions

  • What “wrongs” did these Israelites do here? What similar kinds of “wrongs” do we do in today’s time?


The Israelites were being tested here, in their faith (We continuously see that pattern - "being tested" - throughout the Bible and even in our own daily lives). And many of them failed the test. They failed in following ways:- (a) Apparently they wanted to go back to the days of severe bondage / oppression in Egypt (v 4-6) - they are so blinded by their flesh / world (i.e., 2 Corinthians 4:4, etc). Given, that now they are free and God, Himself, has been coming to dwell among them (via the Tabernacle) and lead them (i.e., Numbers 9:15-23, etc). This is kind-of a rebellion. Now, one can say, in "direct" words, that it would be better for one to die than to go back to the days of severe bondage / oppression in Egypt, and, hence the death-by-fire judgement by God was justified. (b) They are completely failing to appreciate what God has done for them - freed them from the severe bondage / oppression in Egypt. Instead, they started blaming God for their miseries - extremely foolish / disrespectful / abominable of them. (c) They lost track / focus of God's greatly glorious / amazing / prosperous plan of redemption for them. They were on the way to the greatly prosperous land, flowing with milk and honey, from the land of great oppression and bondage. (d) They stopped trusting God and His goodness for their daily lives and seeking dependence on Him (again, a blasphemy / rebellion). (e) They started walking by sight not by faith. (f) They started putting their desires for sensual gratifications over God.

Now, I do not think it was bad for them to desire some pleasing things, such as meat etc (v 4-6; Recall Matthew 7:11 "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"). But they "went about it" in a completely wrong way. God was anyways taking them to the promised land - the greatly prosperous land, flowing with "milk and honey" (Exodus 3:17). God is not against our legitimate desires for sensual gratification (in-fact, He created our senses along with their legitimate desires for gratification), but we should always keep God above all - and that is what they miserably failed to do here.

Now, in today's time, we Christians are also on the way to the glorious, prosperous "promised land" (new heavens, new earth - Revelation 21-22). In some ways, like the Israelites, we have also been recently freed from severe bondage and oppression (of sin & death). In some ways, like the Israelites, we are also passing through the deserts of life. Like it was with Israelites, God is also with us in all this journey - guiding / leading / protecting us. Like it happened with the Israelites, we will also be tempted continuously to complain and grumble as we pass through the deserts of life. But, un-like the Israelites we must hold fast to God and His promises and not stumble. We must keep walking by faith and not sight. We must keep trusting God and continually seek dependence on Him. We must always keep God above creation (i.e., our legitimate desires, etc).


  • Was it so bad that some got burned down by God? (Is it bad to desire “good” things? - v 4-6) Many see passages such as these and run away from God, saying God of Bible is very intolerant and angry. What do you say?
    • How does God respond in TODAY’s time when such “wrongs” are done? Has anything changed?


Talking of "did these people really deserve this kind of severe judgement of death-by-fire" - Recall, first, God is the ultimate judge of life and His standards of holiness are very high. It is so high, that all would "qualify" to perish / go to Hell (i.e., Ephesians 2:1-3 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked ... and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind", etc). To me, this sounds very scary and I would be following God out of great fear, rather than love, based on this fact. And I suspect these people also felt the same. Now, what would change this among people would be the fact that would be revealed latter - that God would also die for them, so that we all can escape God's ultimate judgement on us because of our sins (i.e., John 3:16)! That would be game changer, and then people would be compelled to follow God primarily out of love than fear. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 9:13 - "Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Also recall Exodus 34:6-7 - “... The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” “. Passages such as these in rest of the Scriptures suggest to me that the Israelites who faced judgment here may have been walking in disobedience without showing adequate signs of repentance for a while. They must have faced this judgement after their time for reconciling with God burned out.


Also read answer to "Does God seem very intolerant or harsh here? Why did God make such a BIG deal about people worshiping a golden calf? Is it hard to love such a God? Many say God of the Bible is very intolerant. How do you respond? " at https://sites.google.com/site/biblechaptercommentaries/book-of-exodus/exodus-32-33 (Exodus 23-33 commentary)


As to "How does God respond in TODAY’s time when such “wrongs” are done? Has anything changed? ", read answert to "Here Moses disciplined people for sin in big ways (He had 3000 killed). How Church members are disciplined for sin in today’s time? " at https://sites.google.com/site/biblechaptercommentaries/book-of-exodus/exodus-32-33 (Exodus 23-33 commentary)


  • V23:- Why does the all-powerful God (who also loves you to death - i.e., John 3:16, etc) NOT give you all you want, say, as soon as you ask? Instead, why does He allow / bring "deserts" in life?

One comment towards answering this is:- Imagine God gave you all you wanted (legitimate desires, such as some good gift), as soon as you asked. How much would you actually enjoy or appreciate it and not take it for granted? As you wait, you are also being prepared to enjoy and appreciate the good gifts from God, that are to come. An article worth reading:- "So, How Shall We Wait?"


Closing Remarks

Do you really believe God is fully capable of taking care of all your needs? If yes, then, how does that affect your daily decision makings?