against the Lord – Praying Pint

42.m. “Wilderness” – 2. Meat and Bread from Heaven – Grumbling

Exodus 16:1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’” And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. And the LORD said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’”

The provisions of Israel, brought from Egypt, were spent by the middle of the second month, and they murmured. It is no new thing for the greatest kindness to be basely represented as the greatest injuries. They so far undervalue their deliverance, that they wished they had died in Egypt; and by the hand of the Lord, that is, by the plagues which cut off the Egyptians. We cannot suppose they had plenty in Egypt, nor could they fear dying for want in the wilderness, while they had flocks and herds: none talk more absurdly than murmurers. When we begin to fret, we ought to consider, that God hears all our murmurings. God promises a speedy and constant supply. He tried whether they would trust him, and rest satisfied with the bread of the day in its day. Thus he tried if they would serve him, and it appeared how ungrateful they were. When God plagued the Egyptians, it was to make them know he was their Lord; when he provided for the Israelites, it was to make them know he was their God. (Henry)

They had just seen the bitter waters instantaneously made sweet to assuage their thirst, and a little while before had been miraculously delivered at the Red sea, when there seemed to be no possible way for their escape; and yet so far were they from learning to trust in that divine, almighty Providence, that had so wonderfully and so evidently wrought for them, that on the very first difficulty and distress they break out into the most desponding murmurings! (Benson)

In the original text the name “Wilderness of Sin” has nothing to do with sin and yet, as the story unfolds, we see that this wilderness had a lot to do with sin. It would seem that starvation was more anticipated than experienced. In other words, they did not live through weeks and weeks of famine, nor did they see their family and friends die of malnutrition. Israel selectively remembered the past and thought of their time in Egypt as a good time. They lost sight of God’s future for them, and they also twisted the past to support their complaining. This thinking is common among those who complain. This is another common practice among those who complain. They insisted that Moses and Aaron had bad or evil intentions. Of course, Moses and Aaron had no interest in killing the people of Israel, and this was a horrible accusation to make. Yet a complaining heart often finds it easy to accuse the person they complain against of the worst motives. Bread doesn’t normally rain from heaven. Yet God promised that He would provide for Israel in this unexpected way. This reminds us that God may provide from resources that we never knew existed. Sometimes He provides from familiar resources, sometimes from unexpected resources. One would think that with the experience of the plagues, Passover, and the deliverance at the Red Sea, Israel would already know that the LORD had brought them out of Egypt. Yet experiences, even great experiences, don’t change the heart as much as we often think. (Guzik)

Nothing is impossible for God. All things are possible for God. God is not limited by what we think is possible for Him to do. He is not limited at all. He can do more than we ask, and much more than we can imagine.

16.j. “Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.”

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing.

Exodus 16:8   Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.”

Numbers 14:27   “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me?

Psalms 106:25    They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD.

James 5:9     Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

1 Peter 4:9     Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Jude 1:16    These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

In Philippians 2:14, Paul said, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Now, that’s convicting, isn’t it? Grumbling isn’t an outward, loud complaint. Instead, it’s that under-the-breath murmuring you do at your job, in traffic, or in church. Make no mistake about it: God hates grumbling.

Why does God hate grumbling so much? One reason is that grumbling is a sign of ingratitude toward God. In Exodus 16:8, Moses said to the Israelites, “Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord.” When you complain, you are really saying, “God, You don’t know what You’re doing. I could do a lot better job if I were in charge.” Another reason God judges grumbling is that it robs other Christians of their joy when they listen to your complaints. Grumbling spreads like a disease. When Paul said, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing,” he was talking about your job. He was talking about your homework. He was talking about your chores. He was even talking about your ministry in the church. What is the benefit of doing all things without grumbling? Paul said in Philippians 2:15-16, “So that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.” The reason God wants us to live obediently is so we can stand out in this dark world that has lost its thirst for God.

You may remember the children’s song, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” That song is cute, but it’s misleading. The word in verse 15, “lights,” is not a little light. It literally means “luminary.” God wants our witness for Christ to be a big, shining light–like a star or a planet–not to illuminate ourselves, but to illuminate God. That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” That’s what happens when we live obediently. When we live a distinctive life, it causes God to be glorified. (Robert Jeffress)

11.p. “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.”

Nahum 1:9 What do you plot against the Lord? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time. For they are like entangled thorns, like drunkards as they drink; they are consumed like stubble fully dried. From you came one who plotted evil against the Lord, a worthless counselor. Thus says the Lord, “Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds apart.”

Psalms 2:1-4   Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,  “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”  He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

Ezekiel 38:10-11    “Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme

Isaiah 8:9-10    Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered.  Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.

Proverbs 21:30    No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

Who knows the hearts of man, but God? Who knows the intents of actions taken by man, but God? Who speaks with worldly wisdom and knowledge to give counsel to a man that leads them astray? Why is it that man chooses to listen to and follow these worldly leaders giving false promises? Each person chooses to listen and follow after that which fills their heart. The sad part of this is most choose to deny God and willfully will not follow after Him. Proclaiming God does not exist does not free anyone from the consequences of denying to honor, follow, trust, obey and rely on Him. Proclaiming and believing God is love and all mankind will go to heaven upon death will lead many straight into hell. Wide is the doorway to hell and the path is lined with everything to falsely satisfy the earthly soul, totally apart and separated from God. When there is no conviction of sin in the heart of man, there will be no need for a savior, redeemer, and forgiver. When there is no preaching of sin and the need for repentance there will be neglect, complacency, and lukewarm following after and trusting in Jesus Christ. There will be no humble thanksgiving for the atonement and forgiveness of sin. When there is no hunger and thanksgiving for God’s Word and to know and understand the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ more and more, people will become shallow in their belief, understanding, and application of God’s Word in their lives. Hearts and minds that choose to walk in blind, limp, and shallow commitment to Jesus Christ will easily be taken in by those who distort the truth or deny the active power of Jesus Christ in the world today. We do not have to look very hard at the things that are happening in the world today to know the return of Jesus Christ will come and the end is fast approaching. Denying we are in the end times does not make it so, just like denying sin and the need for Jesus Christ does not make it so, just like denying each man will be judged by God does not make it so. If you listen to news media for any short period of time you will seldom or never hear the need for God. You will not hear of living to humbly serve Him. What you will hear is worldly counsel, plots of man, fear, division, confusion, and utter lack of the fear of God. I wonder what our lives would be like if we spent as much tie in God’s Word as we do listening to the meaningless drivel on local and national news. Would our lives be changed? Yes, they would.

45. For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are.

Deuteronomy 9:6 “Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.

Deuteronomy 31:27     For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD. How much more after my death!

Exodus 32:9    And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.

2 Chronicles 30:8    Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.

Psalms 78:8    and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Zechariah 7:11-12     But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.  They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts.

Acts 7:51    “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

Moses called the people to remember. He wanted them to remember their rebellion, stubbornness, folly, and how they provoked the Lord. He called them out time and time again about their lack of reverence, love, trust, faith, and hope in the Lord. They so easily forgot the great things God did with His mighty hand and chose to mock Him with their disbelief, even though they saw with their own eyes all that He did and said.

Jesus called the religious ones, hypocrites, stiff-necked, self-righteous, prideful, blind, deaf, without understanding and true knowledge of God. Note He spent little time with them but did spend much of His time with the lost who had no hope. Jesus died for sinners. He had little time for those who thought they could earn their righteousness before God by what they did.

Be mindful of your heart. How do you know if you are provoking God or if your heart has grown stone hard to Him? How do you know if you are faithful if God’s word is not leading you to a deeper faith? If God’s word is not feeding your heart, mind, and soul something else will and that something else always turns our heart, mind, and soul, away from God. Our ears soon resist hearing what God is speaking into our life. Our resolve to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey is soon lost and replaced with that which seems right in our own eyes.