Lack of faith in God’s daily provision shown in Numbers 11 and 12

How easily it is to fail to see God for who He truly is. The Israelites consistently grumbled against God. In adversity what do you do? Is God’s anger kindled against you when you lack faith to trust in His provision? Do you think that God can do all things one moment and then you try to solve all your problems your way? In Numbers chapter 11 the people were grumbling to God and he burned up the outskirts of the camp. How amazing is that. God doesn’t change so when we grumble He is not pleased. I would imagine that the people would stop grumbling but they started up again complaining about the food that God was providing. How crazy is that! God was supplying what they needed but they were not thankful for that. The lie that freedom was found in their bondage in Egypt and not in God had poisoned the peoples thoughts so they didn’t see the truth that their freedom was through and in God.

In Numbers chapter 11 you can see the worn leader Moses as he laments to God about the headstrong and unbelieving Israelites. He wishes for death instead of being a nursemaid for the people. In weariness it is hard to remember the wondrous power that God has. Moses forgets that God’s power is limitless. When the people complained to God about lacking meat in chapter 11 God provided an abundance of quail. There quail was piled three feet high all around the camp for a days journey in all directions there was quail. That is a lot of meat. I hope and pray that I would have been thankful for the food but the Israelites took the food and ate it with out giving thanks to God. God’s anger was kindled and the camp was struck by severe plague.

Following the story of unbelief in Numbers chapter 11 we are given another account of people complaining against God in Numbers 12. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because they felt that God was not just speaking through Moses by saying, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken though us as well?” Here is what God says in response:

Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, shall make myself known to him in a vision.
I shall speak with him in a dream.
Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household;
With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?

Numbers 11:6-8 NASB

God was angry with Aaron and Miriam. Miriam became leprous after God departed and she had to live outside the camp for 7 days and then she became whole again. I am amazed that in the midst of seeing God’s wonder day after day that humans can still grumble and complain about what God is doing or how He does things.

What does Numbers 11 and 12 have for us to apply in our daily lives? I think it is crucial that we focus on God alone and find our satisfaction in Him. It was all too easy got the Israelites to look back upon their lives and think that their bondage in Egypt was better than living by faith daily with God. I’ll admit that it does take time to seek God daily today just as collecting manna for food took a lot of time. Developing a vibrant relationship with God can take time but what we reap in return is more precious than anything. Why should I choose a life of bondage to a life in sin when true freedom is mine in Christ Jesus? Heed the warning in Numbers and seek out and be thankful for that daily feasting we can have in God.