In the previous lesson, we studied how the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” (Numbers 11:4-6) The Lord God had fed them for nearly two years and two months with the bread from heaven, but now they were complaining and asking for meat.
Rightly so, when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched. (Numbers 11:1-2) But the Lord God, because of His grace and mercy was going to give the people what they asked for; however, He warned them, the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the Lord who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?”’” (Numbers 11:18-20)
We've studied enough to know ALL that the Lord God did, and how mightily He did to deliver the children out of Egypt; yet, at the end of the day, they just like so many of us, when times get hard and things don't go the way we want, start remembering our past life as not being as bad as it was. Christ Jesus once said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
When we surrender our lives to God through faith in Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, there should be no looking back, other than to give God thanks and praise for where He's brought us from. Let's never forget Lot's wife, who disobeyed the Lord God's command when He told them to leave Sodom and Gomorrah and never look back; But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26)
Nor should we try to go back to the place, lifestyle, relationships or behaviors that the Lord God has delivered us from. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6)
The only possible exceptions to looking back and going back is if we do as the Apostle Paul testified he did, For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. (I Corinthians 9:19-23)
The Apostle Paul was trying to explain that our goal should be to try and relate with all people, so that we can lead them to Christ Jesus, that I might by all means save some. That does not mean we are to behave like them or go back to our former ways; but we are to meet people where they are in their relationship or lack of a relationship with God, and by sharing the gospel of Christ Jesus with them, help lead them to where we are, into an eternal relationship of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
But as for the children of Israel and the mixed multitude who were among them, the Lord God was going to answer their plea for meat. However, before doing so, He made a very important statement, “Has the Lord’s arm been shortened?" Meaning, is God limited in His powers and abilities? Of course, the answer is NO! We must be very careful that we don't put God "in a box, on a shelf". He is the great I AM; for in Him we live and move and have our being,... (Acts 17:28) We exist within Him, not the other way around. God is Spirit,... (John 4:24) But, He is so gracious towards us who accept Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, ...because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)
He would pour out His Holy Spirit back then also, so that the chosen elders would speak His Word to all the children of Israel. So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. Then the Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again. (Numbers 11:24-25)
But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” (Numbers 11:26-27)
So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!” Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” And Moses returned to the camp, he and the elders of Israel. (Numbers 11:28-30)
Even though people were not filled with the Holy Spirit until after Christ Jesus death, resurrection and ascension back to the Father, people were empowered by God's Holy Spirit to prophesy and to perform certain tasks that the Lord God assigned for them to do. What's interesting here is that the Lord God didn't limit His Spirit to just the elders who had gone out to the tabernacle, but others within the camp were given the Spirit to prophesy also.
The Apostle Paul shared a powerful lesson with the church in Philipi; But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,...; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18)
The point the Apostle Paul was making is the same point Moses was making to Joshua. No one of us is more special than any one else with God; For there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:11) God used Paul in a mighty way, to spread the gospel to all the Gentile nations, but He could also use many others, whether in pretense or in truth, to spread the gospel of Christ also. And God has used Moses in a mighty way to lead the children of Israel from Egypt, in ways we may never witness again on this side of eternity, but He could also use the seventy elders, and two men who remained in the camp to prophesy in the camp.
Even though people were not filled with the Holy Spirit until after Christ Jesus death, resurrection and ascension back to the Father, people were empowered by God's Holy Spirit to prophesy and to perform certain tasks that the Lord God assigned for them to do. What's interesting here is that the Lord God didn't limit His Spirit to just the elders who had gone out to the tabernacle, but others within the camp were given the Spirit to prophesy also.
The Apostle Paul shared a powerful lesson with the church in Philipi; But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,...; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:12-18)
The point the Apostle Paul was making is the same point Moses was making to Joshua. No one of us is more special than any one else with God; For there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:11) God used Paul in a mighty way, to spread the gospel to all the Gentile nations, but He could also use many others, whether in pretense or in truth, to spread the gospel of Christ also. And God has used Moses in a mighty way to lead the children of Israel from Egypt, in ways we may never witness again on this side of eternity, but He could also use the seventy elders, and two men who remained in the camp to prophesy in the camp.
But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague. So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving. From Kibroth Hattaavah the people moved to Hazeroth, and camped at Hazeroth. (Numbers 11:33-35)
Let us never forget, there is always forgiveness of sins, but the consequences will come! Therefore, we must be very careful what we ask God for and how we respond to what He allows in our lives. He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; and by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; and He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them, and struck down the choice men of Israel. (Psalm 78:26-31)
They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. (Psalm 106:13-15) Let's make sure we learn from the children of Israel's mistakes. Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food,... Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. ... (I Corinthians 10:1-2, 6)
And do not become idolaters as weresome of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (I Corinthians 10:7-11)
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (I Corinthians 10:12-13)
Let us never forget, there is always forgiveness of sins, but the consequences will come! Therefore, we must be very careful what we ask God for and how we respond to what He allows in our lives. He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; and by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; and He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them, and struck down the choice men of Israel. (Psalm 78:26-31)
They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. (Psalm 106:13-15) Let's make sure we learn from the children of Israel's mistakes. Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food,... Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. ... (I Corinthians 10:1-2, 6)
And do not become idolaters as weresome of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (I Corinthians 10:7-11)
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (I Corinthians 10:12-13)
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