I am currently working through the book of Numbers (I have to go back sometimes because I missed something the day before) for some time now. I am doing it in conjunction with our church going through the Book of Exodus which is a lovely book and is quickly becoming one of my favorites as it is one of the easiest to practice typology on. As I have studied one things becomes blatantly obvious. Israel complains a lot. Thus the focus of this short exhortation.
We see the people fed by God, guided by God and protected by God. Israel’s response to this special work of God? Complain! They complain because they have no meat, they complain when they are thirsty, they complain when the opposition looks undefeatable (word?), Miriam complains about Moses authority, Israel complains about Moses authority, Korah complains about Moses authority and then the people complain about the Lord’s judgment of Korah and his family (don’t think sin doesn’t effect your entire family or church Numbers contradicts that at least 20 times).
What is funny about this is that Moses is only an outlet. Reading Exodus and Numbers together is quite a blessing as you see them say in Exodus 20 Israel says ”all that you say we will do” and the outworking of this Covenant (which they agreed to) is complaining and rejecting the very things they agreed to do. I am blown away by the fact that their beef isn’t with Moses and Aaron, though they are the visible scapegoats, no they are complaining against YAHWEH Himself!
So what we see is God delivers them from bondage (which they cried to Him) saves them by venue of the Red Sea, becomes personal with them and gives His Law, promises to take them in the land flowing with Milk and Honey, gives them daily provision (they are fed by the hand of God), promises to conquer all of their enemies and they say “I would rather be in oppression to Egypt”. Thank God for Moses who consistently show us a picture of Christ by interceding and making atonement for the people instead of stepping aside and letting God pour out His wrath on a stiff-neck people.
Whats funny about this is Paul uses these events to warn the Corinthians about testing not YAHWEH but Christ (Trinity defense anyone?). Here is what he says:
10:1 For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
You see this was not a complaint against Moses and Aaron but this was a complaint against Jesus which in all fairness was a rejection of Jesus Christ who was the cloud, the pillar of fire, the bread, and the rock from which the water flowed from. So what does that say to our complaining? Before I answer that let me provide a short verse.
Do all things without grumbling or questioning,
This verse is found in Philippians 2 and it really begins in verse 12 which contains the “therefore” the therefore is an explanation of the verses that proceed which starts verse 4-11 which is Christ’s humility in His incarnation (entering the physical world). So back to the question; what does our complaining exhibit?
1. It is a rejection of Christ. As He gives us what we don’t deserve (eternal life) and withholds what we do (eternal damnation) when we complain about any circumstance we find ourselves saying ”Christ you haven’t done enough”
2. It is a distrust of the Sovereign Lord. God promises that “all things work to our good”. When we complain it tells God “you are a liar” and haven’t come through on your promises. Thus this sound similar to Exodus through Joshua and the people of Israel?
3. It tells God “hey you don’t know what you are doing”. This compromises God’s attributes on every level. If God saved us to walk in the good works that He created us in (Ephesians 2:1-10) then wherever we find ourselves God places us there. Sort of what Paul was conveying in Acts 17 when he says “He has set the boundaries”!
4. It tells the listener God isn’t faithful and He shouldn’t be trusted. As the sojourner walked with Israel and they complained what would they say about Israel’s God? Not only that Israel was saved out of Egypt to testify of His goodness and in response they complained. We too are saved to be Salt and Light to God’s ambassadors as we complain it taints the faithfulness of God and thus compromises His greatness. One thing that God is serious about is His “name”. He says “my name will be great amongst the nations” Israel and we (when we complain) are defaming His great name.
5. Finally it compromises Christ work on the Cross. As they complained they rejected their Messiah and as we complain we reject our only hope. If we find ourselves consistently complaining we must ask ourselves “am I trusting in the finish work of Christ” or in other words “am I really a Christian”? This is where self examination begins.
In closing if we too test the Lord as a consistent pattern of behavior and find ourselves murmurring and complaining as did the nonbelieveing Israelites we too must ask am I truely regenerate. We can’t shake our fist at our soverign King (regardless of the Hardships, remember Job’s statement) and truely say we trust Him. Entering the physical promise land is a picture of Salvation and those who complained about possessing didn’t enter in because of unbelief (Hebrews 4) we too must trust God to enter into His rest and if we see ourselves mirroring Israel in distrust and complaining we have to say “do I desire to enter His true rest which is found in Christ Jesus”.
