The Consequences and Cure for Complaining, Part 2

Turn with me in your Bible, if you would, to Numbers chapter 11. Numbers chapter 11 as we continue looking at the causes. The consequences and the cure for complaining. I always like it when the Bible speaks so relevantly to our lives. I mean, after all, Paul would write in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 that these things are written for our instruction. What things? The very fact that God killed the grumblers in Numbers chapter 11. Now, Paul would not have to remind us to do those things if we weren't mumblers and grumblers.

But because we have just a little bit of tendency to do that, He needs to remind us to look at the example in Numbers chapter 11 and how it applies to our life.

We recognized last week that the cause for their grumbling was centered around the plan of God. They didn't like Where they were going. And we told you last week that the second reason people complain is because of the provision of God.

They don't like what they are getting. And that is today's lesson. You see, we get to the point where we don't like where God is taking us. Israel didn't like that they had to go through the wilderness of Peran. They didn't like the scorpions that were there, the snakes that were there, the heat that came down upon them. They didn't like the environment. They didn't like the adversity they were facing. So they began to mumble and grumble and groan and moan again, and God finally got tired of it.

God is slow to anger, but at this day, enough was enough. So God would consume those on the outskirts. And you would think that everyone else would get the message. That would stick in their mind and realize that they themselves would not grumble. But when you get to verse number four, they begin to grumble again. But this time it's not about the plan of God. It's about the provision of God. We don't like what we're getting. And therefore, they began to complain. And you will recognize this in your life as well.

But have you ever complained about God's provision in your life? Maybe he hasn't provided you the right house, or a big enough house, or a car you need to drive, or an income that suffices. I can recall the time when my wife and I were married almost 20 years ago now.

And for those of you who don't know, I was married previously, and my first wife died of cancer after about four and a half years of marriage.

And then I found Laurie and or the Laurie brought Laurie to me, I should say, and we got married. And you know, it was very interesting because when Sandy and I were married, we got all this nice new bedroom furniture and nice new bed and everything. It was beautiful, you know. When Lori and I got married, I didn't have enough money to buy anything new. So Lor went into the same bedroom that Sandy and I had with the same dresser and same end tables, same bed, same everything. And one thing I noticed about Lori is that she never ever complained about those kinds of things.

We had the same dishes, same silverware, same furniture, same everything that Sandy and I had. And so when Lori and I got married, she just kind of fit into the picture. That's a hard thing for a woman. But you know, she never mentioned it. And after about 12 years of marriage, I finally was able to save up enough money to buy some new bedroom furniture.

And when I finally purchased it and got it to the house, the first thing she said to me was, You know, you didn't have to buy us anything new.

So I know I didn't. She said, I was perfectly fine with what we had. I said, yeah, I know that. I said, but it was never ours. It was Sandy's and mine, but it was never ours. And so When I had the opportunity to buy it, I wanted to get us something new. But what happened over those first 12 years was the fact that Lor never complained about what she didn't have.

And her sisters were buying homes right and left, and they had only been married for a couple of years, and they bought brand new homes. And we went from one rental to the next rental to the next rental to the next rental. And in the first 12 years, we moved 12 times.

Always finding a cheaper place to live so we could save more money. But she never complained about the rental. She never complained. About the provisions of God. And I'm bringing this up because last night we were talking about this on the way home, and I reached over and grabbed her hand and I said, You, honey, I want to thank you that you're not a complainer. I want to thank you that you are God's provision to me, and that over these last 20 years God has provided in such a wonderful way through you to teach me about how I should live my life, to teach our children, to raise our children, to nurture our children, to love our children.

And I said, You are God's provision to me, and I want to thank you for being that. And we had a great time just talking about the 20 years that we've been together. For some of you, that's not a long time. You've been together for 55 years. So we'll get there one day, Lord willing. But, you know, it's been a great 20 years. But it's been God's provision to me. You know, we can begin to complain that our spouse isn't what. Our spouse needs to be, and we begin to complain about the provision of God.

We can begin to complain about what we don't have. Instead of seeing what we do have, we always look at what we don't have and wish we had that, or that it was bigger, or better, or prettier, or newer.

We find ourselves grumbling and complaining all the time. It's almost as if it's part of breathing. One of the guys at our church came to me. A week ago and said, Well, you know, with this series on Proverbs on Wednesday night, you know, we're told we can't get angry, and then we were told we can't lie, and now we're told we can't complain. What can we say? What can we do? You know, we can't do anything anymore. And that's the significance of the Word of God because it's so relevant to our lives.

And I think that for all of us, myself included, that we so easily begin to say, you know what, I wish I had that. How come I don't have that? How come we don't get that? And so these are lessons we need to learn. Are we content with such things as we have? Because the things that we have are the things that God has given. And we need to recognize that he is the provider of all things. He is the Yave Yere. He is the God who does provide. And when we complain and grumble about his provision, mark it down.

He's not very happ. Numbers chapter 11. We'll pick up the narrative in verse number 4. And the rabble who were among them had greedy desires, and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic But now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this man.

Now the man was like coriand seed, and its appearance like that of bed. The people would go about and gather it and grind it between two millstones or beat it in the mortar and boil it in the pot and make cakes with it. And its taste was as the taste of cakes baked with oil. And when the dew fell on the camp at night the man would fall with it. Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent. And the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased.

Verse 18. We'll pick up the other verses next week, but verse 18. God says, say to the people, Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow you shall eat meat.

For you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Oh, that someone would give us meat to eat. For we were well off in Egypt, therefore 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 a whole month. Until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why did we ever leave Egypt? Verse 3. Now there went forth a wind from the Lord.

and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side. All around the camp, and about two cubits deep on the surface of the ground. And the people spent all day, and all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail. He who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people.

And the LORD struck the people with a very severe plague. So the name of that place was called Kib Hat, because they there they buried the people who had been greedy. From Kiriath Hat, the people set out for Hazaroth. And they remained at Haz. Three things I want you to notice about the multitude that murmured.

We went from the group that grumbled. They were the ones on the outskirts. And we told you that the fire only consumed those on the outskirts. There's over two million Jews. That's a lot of people. So, the fire consumes those on the outside of the group. Maybe those in the inside didn't exactly know what was going on until they saw the fire come down from heaven, realized that there was a judgment of God. Maybe they didn't get the fact that those people were grumbling because when you get to verse number four, now you have a multitude that murmurs.

There was a group, now there's a multitude, every man in his doorway, weeping, because They didn't appreciate the provision of God. Three things I want you to notice about the multitude that murmured.

Number one, their desire. Number two, their discontent and number three, their death. First of all, their desire.

What did they say? They said very clearly, listen, the diet of manna is not what we want. any. In fact, what we do remember is what we had back in Egypt, the luscious food that was there. That's what we want. This manna, we're tired of it. We want what we used to have. And the Bible says that those who led the murmuring were what the Bible calls the rabble who were among them, the riff who were among them.

Who is that? Well, if you go back to the book of Exodus, Exodus chapter 12, it says in verse number 38, And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and the herds. and a very large number of livestock. This mixed multitude that went with the Israelites were some of the Egyptians. And the gospel warns us about the tares that will be sown among the wheat. That during the church age, there will be a multitude of unbelievers. Who associate with believers. And the fact is, they will look like the believer.

I mean, they go to church, they sing the songs, they do what Christians do, and they're a part of what's happening in the church. But in reality, they've never experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. But they go to church and they're among the Christians. And Christ tells us in the parable of the wheat and the tares that these tares will grow alongside the wheat, and they will look just like the wheat. They will look just like Christians, and you won't be able to tell them apart until the harvest.

That's how deceptive Satan is. That's how deceived they are. That's why the Bible warns us against false teachers. False brethren, a false gospel. That's why Paul warns us about the problem coming from within, not from with. So, we need to realize that what happens sometimes in the church is that people who begin the murmuring, the complaining, and they begin to arouse others in the church. A lot of times, not all the time, but a lot of times, they are the unbelievers, not the believers. And these people complained about the provision of God, and it caused the other Israelites, that's what it says.

It says that the rabble who were among them had greedy desires, and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, Who will give us meat to eat? So they infected the Israelites. And that's why it's important to realize that when people begin to grumble and mumble, the longer you hang around them, guess what? You too will become a complainer. The Bible says that God's provision was called the bread of heaven.

Over in Psalm 78, it says this: verse 24: And he rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave them food from heaven. Man did eat. The bread of angels, he sent them food in abundance. It's called angel food. God gave this to him in a miraculous way six days a week. Every morning there was a miracle. Lust causes you to forget. It really does. They remembered their diet, but they forgot their despair in Egypt. They forgot those things. And all of a sudden, they became very discontent with what God had miraculously given to them every single day.

And that's why the Bible goes into detail here in Numbers chapter 11 to talk about how it is they dealt with the manna each and every day. Because the Lord wants you to know that there was a multitude of ways that they could fix it. And God knew, God knew that this was important. And so he gave them that supernatural miracle every single day. And yet, it wasn't good enough because of their lustful desires. And the Israelites provide for us an example of discontentment. They did not like the provision of God.

So God says, okay, okay, what do you want? You see, the worst thing God can do is give you what you want. See, we forget about that. If God would just give this to me, if God would just allow me to win the lottery, you know? And the worst thing you can ever do is win the lottery, it'll sink you. As sure as anything. And these people, they got what they wanted. Listen, how God talks to them about this, and this is going to talk about their death. I know it sounds a little negative, but that's what happened, right?

So let's just call it the way it is. Plus, it rhymes with discontent and desire, so it ends up really good. Verse 10 says, The Lord was angry. The anger of the Lord was kindled. See, again, God's angry. And they, and it wasn't like they committed some big mortal sin. It wasn't a big sin, it was just a little sin. See, that's why we don't look at grumbling as a big thing, because it's just a little thing.

But you know what? In the eyes of God, it's a huge sin because it goes against His plan and His provision. His sovereignty that rules over all, you're saying, is inade. It's not good enough for me. I deserve something better. So listen to what God says, verse number 18.

Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow you shall eat meat. You have wept. In the ears of the Lord, saying, Oh, that someone would give us meat to eat, for we were well off in Egypt. Therefore, the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. Can you imagine the people's response? Man, if we would have known this, we'd have complained six months ago. Now, God wasn't being deceptive here. Because they were going to meet their God. And God was going to reveal Himself to them. And God was going to give them the desires of their heart.

Remember Psalm 106, verse number 15. He gave them the desires of the heart, but sent le to their souls, or a wasting disease, the text says, among them. Told you before that my mom quoted that verse to me more than any other verse growing up in my house. You say, Come on, mom, it's not that bad. She goes, Oh, let me tell you something.

It is that bad. You better pray not my will, but thine be done. That's what you ought to pray. And yet, I realized that she was right. The worst thing God could ever give me was what I wanted. Because what God gave Israel was exactly what they wanted. And so he tells Moses, tell them to consecrate themselves. And God will begin to prepare them for judgment. See, they think they're going to prepare to meet their God, and God's going to provide for them what they've asked for. God is preparing them to demonstrate His holiness.

His justice, his judgment upon sin. So God tells them, I'm not going to give them a day's worth of food. I'm not going to give them 20 days' worth of food. I going to give them a month's worth Food. I'm going to give them everything they wanted. So look what happens: verse 31. Now there went forth a wind from the Lord. Brought qu from the sea and let them fall beside the camp. Verse 31: about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, all around the camp. About two cubits deep on the surface of the ground.

That's three feet deep of quail. So that the least of what was gathered, the least of what was gathered was ten homers, 4 gallons. 60 bushels. That's the least. And they spent their energy day and night gathering this stuff together. Man, they think, wow, this is great. Look at all this koil.

Look what God has given to us. God so, oh God, you are so good to us. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. And they go out and they're gathering all day, all night, and all the next day. They are intense upon filling their lustful desires. They want it so bad. They keep gathering more and gathering more and gathering more. They, oh man, this is so good, man. We are going to enjoy the great meal of our lives. This is going to be so much better than Egypt. I can't wait to sink my teeth into each piece of meat.

Well, they had that opportunity. And when God brought his judgment, it was sure, it was swift, and it was severe. And just as they get ready to eat and they stick their teeth into it, God causes a severe plague to come upon them. And they die. They die. You know, the Bible says in James chapter 1, verse number 15: when lust is conceived, it brings forth sin.

And sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. And that's what they experienced. They experienced Death. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, they had waited so long. They had gathered together. They had prepared it just perfectly. And now, as they began to fulfill their lustful passions, finally meet.

Sticking their teeth right into it, bam! Swiftly the judgment came. The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 29, verse number 1: that he who hardens his neck against much reproof will be broken.

Without remedy, will be swiftly broken without remedy. Now, think about that. Listen to the psalmist's commentary on this. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he directed the south wind. You see, whenever you d the provision of God, you are saying that God is not powerful enough to give you what you need. If God was all-powerful and could do whatever he wanted to do, he could do this for me. In fact, it says over in verse 19 of Psalm 78, they spoke against God and they said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

How are we going to eat? Is God powerful enough to prepare a table in the wilderness? Can God feed us? Well, of course He can. If God leads you, He'll take care of you. And so.

It says He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he directed the south wind, when he rained meat upon them like the dust, even winged fowl like the sand of the seas. Then he let them fall in the camp in the midst of their camp, round about their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled. And their desire he gave to them. before they had satisfied their desire. While their food was in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them and killed some of their stoutest ones.

And sub the choice men of Israel. The psalmist says: when the food was in their mouth, and God had given them what they desired, before they were truly fully satisfied. The anger of the Lord rose against them and killed some of the stoutest ones, that is, the young, vibrant ones, the strong ones. The ones that had a future. The ones you look at and say, Boy, that young man is going to be great one day.

He's going to follow the Lord God of Israel. He's going to serve. Look at him. He recites the. The law of God every day. He's going to be good for God one day. And the choice men of Israel, the stoutest men of Israel, fell by the wayside. Now, picture this. Here you are as an Israelite. You've seen the quail come. You've joined in on the murmuring, the complaining, the moaning, and groaning. And God says, okay, you can have it.

And you're thinking to yourself, wow, man, this is amazing. We complain, and God's given us what we want. This is a good deal. I love this God we serve. He is an amazing God. And they're gathered around, they've cooked the meat, they're ready to eat it. And all of a sudden, the plague hits, and boom, they're dropping like flies. And you're watching all this, and you're thinking to yourself, whoa, what happened? What's going on? What would you do? You know what I'd do? I'd say, you know what? I'm out of here.

I'm not having any part of this. I'm going to make sure that I praise God with my mouth. I'm going to honor Him with my words. I'm going to thank Him for His provision. I'm going to thank Him for His plan because it's a great plan, and I'm so thankful that I'm not dead. But I read Psalm 7, the next verse, and this is what it says. Spite of all this, they still sinned and did not believe in his wonderful works. Can you believe that? Absolutely amazing. They'd seen firsthand the judgment of God. The fire of God consumed those on the outskirts, and the plague of God.

Consumed the stoutest of men, the choicest of men, as they fulfilled their lustful desires. And instead of them saying, Oh, I'm not going down that path, the Bible says, and they Still sinned.

That's why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10, these things are written for our instruction. To him who thinks he stands, take heed. Lest he falls. Because we sit back and say, those imbe, Is, man, they're a bunch of losers, man. They just didn't ever learn their lesson. We would learn our lesson. No, we don't. Just when we think we've learned our lesson, just when we think we have stood strong, take heed, Paul says, lest you too fall by the wayside. Folks, this is a lesson we all need to learn, myself included, that God is serious about sin.

Even the ones that we don't think are very important, He thinks are important. Because they are against God and they blaspheme the character and nature of God. So the next time you're driving. To work, or the next time you're at work, or you're at home, or wherever you are, and you begin to say, you know, I don't like this. I wish, you know, I wish it was this way. I don't like this anymore. Ask yourself: what is it about God's provision you don't like anymore? What is it about God you despise? What is it about His plan you will not accept?

And begin to remember all that God has done. All of us need to be a people of praise. God has given us so much. The Bible is very clear. They sinned because they did not belie His wonderful works. You see, my grumbling is not about the people around me and what they don't give me and what they don't do. My grumbling at the core is about what God will not do for me. And I'm really truly angry at God because he has a plan that I don't like and I don't want to go there. And he's given me something that I no longer want, or he hasn't given me something that I think I need.

And I'm mad at God. That's the issue of grumbling and complaining. That's why when you read Romans 1, they had unthankful hearts. So the Bible says God gave them over to degrading passion.

To their lustful desires because they weren't thankful. They weren't grateful. And for us, we ought to be a people of great praise, saying, Thank you, Jesus. For being my bread of life. Thank you for being my daily sustenance. Thank you for being my God. Thank you, Lord, for taking me from the pits of hell. in saving my soul that I might represent the kingdom of Almighty God. Let's pray together.