TITLE: THE COMPLAINTS OF ISRAEL
AND GOD’S RESPONSES
THEME: GOD’S
REPONSES TO OUR COMPLAINTS
TOPIC: BEWARE THE 7 COMPLAINTS
OF JOURNEY
TEXTS: BOOK
OF EXODUS AND NUMBERS
I. Introduction:
Would God
tolerate complaints? Let’s check this video…
II.
THE
1ST COMPLAIN OF ISRAEL: RED SEA CROSSING
a.
Stage 1 of Journey: Out of Egypt: Out of Bondage
b.
RED SEA EXPERIENCE – Exodus 14: 10-14
·
When the people saw the raging Egyptians running
after them, the Israelites cried out in fear!
·
They exclaimed that it is better for them to
serve the Egyptians that to die in wilderness.
POINTERS TO REVIEW:
·
They were slaves in Egypt
·
They cried in pain for they were being tortured
by the Egyptians
·
They witnessed the miracles of God through Moses
for them to depart from Egypt to Promised Land
·
They were able to plunder the Egyptians
·
Protection on the first stage of journey through
a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day.
INSIGHT: In one sweep of danger they remembered Egypt: the
place of bondage and the superficial benefits it offers.
APPLICATION:
1.
In Christian life, when we are faced by the
enemies, the people and the devil, we felt discouraged.
2.
We remember the old days – everything what’s in
the past
3.
In Israel’s case, the life in Egypt were filled
with strife, suffering and bondage
4.
Yet they chose to go back because they were
filled with fear, the Red Sea before them and the Egyptians behind them.
5.
They have forgotten that the God who led them
out of Egypt is the same God who gave the Egyptians the 10 plagues
6.
As a matter of fact, God has a lot of amazing
miracles waiting for them to discover
GOD’S RESPONSE:
Verse 14 says, “Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”
The instruction was clear, to go forward not back ward…
APPLICATION:
1.
What’s behind you are the old things
2.
God wants to take us out from the things of old,
because the things He prepared for us are the best in life, fresh and new.
3.
God has in stored amazing and wonderful things
for the people of Israel His chosen nation to a land flowing with milk and
honey where they would not be a slave but of royalty.
4.
That is the same with us whom God has taken out
of darkness into His marvelous light, for us not to be slaves of the devil but
to be free forever!
5. What
God requires from the children of Israel and what God requires of us is the
same: to go forward!
CONSEQUENCES:
·
If we move backward, we will be enslave for the
rest of our lives
·
There is no hope of seeing the Promised Land
·
If we move forward we’ll witness the “great
walls of water,” God’s protection and display of power as the Holy Spirit
envelope us
·
We’ll experience a beautiful future with our
God!
III.
THE
2nd COMPLAIN OF ISRAEL:
a.
Stage 2 of Journey: Testing and Covenant
Instituted – Exodus 15: 22-26
After crossing the Red Sea, the
Israelites journeyed for 3 days and reached “Marah” and they complained against
Moses because they cannot drink the water because it was bitter.
APPLICATION:
·
How easy for us to complain when after we have
experienced the goodness and miracles of God in our lives, Marah comes in, the
bitterness of life: sickness and pain, suffering and toil.
·
We easily forgot that God is walking amidst us,
these Marahs are sometimes God’s tools to test us because He wants to make sure
if we are worthy of the Promise Land if we passed the testing.
GOD’S RESPONSE:
Exodus 15:25-27 “…God showed him a tree…”
·
This is a prefigure of the cross of Jesus which
could heal the Marahs in our lives, when the plank of wood was thrown into the
water it was made sweet.
·
God showed us that through the work of Jesus, we
can overcome all trials, pain and sickness in life because Jesus overcame them
for us on the cross.
·
There is no exception for those who put their
faith and obedience in Him.
·
He instituted a covenant of blessing for the
people of Israelites in verse 26.
INSIGHT: It is amazing thing to know that even though the
people failed, God still healed the waters of Marah, we can see that even if we
failed God many times, His lovingkindness will endure forever, He will heal us
and restore us to Himself. He is always the one who desires blessings for those
who diligently seek Him
CONSEQUENCES:
·
God will not put none of the diseases of the
Egyptians for those who obey Him,
·
For those who disobey, they will receive a curse
·
Sickness is a product of what we sow
·
It is the result of disobedience to God
·
It is the result of testing which must produce
perseverance, patience and hope
IV.
THE
3RD COMPLAIN OF ISRAEL:
a.
Stage 3 of Journey: Remembering the Good Life –
Exodus 16: 2-3
Cravings of meat and
bread
Remembering the old things that
bring superficial satisfaction, they craved for meat and bread which were only
of this world. The bread and meat of this world are the love of money,
luxurious life, fame and other addiction.
APPLICATION 1:
·
The bread and meat of this world can lead our
life to ruin it can lead to a life of pain, sickness, loneliness and depression
that is why God is offering the best, one can receive: JESUS. [Isaiah 55:1-3
and John 6:32-35
·
When God took the bread and meat of this world
from us, He is giving us the Bread from heaven – John 6:32-35 and the meat
which is the solid food: the knowledge to discern both good and evil – Hebrews
6:14
·
These things will satisfy the longing of our
soul
GOD’S RESPONSE:
Exodus 16:12 “…You shall eat meat
and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am
the Lord your God.”
APPLICATION 2:
·
Since God has provided food for the Israelites
to eat, He instructed them to gather an omer or 3 quarts, one pint a day, the
full omer to be eaten daily nothing to be left over for the next day.
·
God taught the Israelites the value of
contentment with full dependence on God that is why He asked them to gather a
certain amount for each family. God’s blessings are new every morning that is
why Jesus’ words were simple to think about the trouble for this day.
·
Sometimes all it takes for one to be bless is
his/her acceptance of things, too much attachment to the riches of this world
means poverty in God’s eyes
·
Those who crave for more are those who are in
want and are never satisfied
·
But those who depend on God for their daily
living are more contented because of His daily provision.
·
It’s not about the bankbook: it’s about the
heart!
·
God is teaching us to gather what we need on a
daily basis because He wants to develop our faith on Him: rely on Him for tomorrow.
CONSEQUENCES:
·
For those who trust God for daily provision they
were blessed
·
But for those who get more that they need –
rotten result.
V.
THE
4TH COMPLAIN OF ISRAEL – From the wilderness of Sin to Rephidim
a. Stage
4 of Journey: The Crazy Cycle – Exodus 17: 1-7
“NO” Water to drink
INSIGHT: The people have witnessed the provision of the Lord
and yet they always complain about the same thing: water. If these people have
learned from their experience, they would not or no longer complain…they always
end up with the crazy cycle.
APPLICATION:
·
If there is no money, no food, and it seems that
God is so far away, we panic then we resulted to complaining.
·
In this case, the Israelites saw the fact that
there is no water indeed that was the reality!
·
But they failed to see what’s in there and who’s
in there…
·
Nothingness or lack replaces the presence of God
in our lives, but if we search Him in this place of nothingness – God is
working things for us if we have the right attitude and sometimes even if we
don’t!
GOD’S RESPONSE:
“Behold, I will stand with you on
the rock of Horeb and you shall struck the rock and water will come out of it.”
INSIGHT: God wants us to be out of the crazy cycle, He wants
us to learn the lesson He is teaching us, He wants us to step to a higher level
of faith that we may see the wonders and miracles which are sure to happen if
we live by faith, when God told Moses to stand on the rock – God was not there
literally but He was there working in spiritual realms.
APPLICATION:
·
Standing on the rock is standing on the true
foundation: JESUS – if we are founded in Him, even if we come to a point of
nothingness we will never be shaken.
·
Striking of the rock, asking God to respond: the
rock is said to be 15 ft. long, 10 ft. broad, and 12 ft. high with holes on it.
When Moses struck the rock, water gushed out in all the holes to supply the
6,000,000 people or more including the livestock. The water stopped flowing
until the next miracle in Numbers 20: 8-11
·
God is working in the spiritual realms, if we
stand and pray, things are sure to happen the way God wants it to happen.
·
Imagine what God can do if we stand on the rock
and pray: stand by faith and pray and the channels of heaven will open for you.
·
The reason why we can’t get answers is because
the channels from the throne of God are clog by all worries, doubts and
complaining attitude.
VI.
THE
5TH COMPLAIN OF ISRAEL: SINAI
a. Stage
5 of Journey – IMAPTIENT IN SINAI
b. Complaints
against Moses’ delay - Exodus 32:1
The people complained against
Moses’ delay and they decided for themselves to set up god that will go before
them.
INSIGHT: What do we do if we are on the waiting list? Are we
going to do something to relieve our boredom or are we going to help God get
answers for us even if it means separation from Him?
As for the Israelites, they failed to wait patiently for God
and for Moses, they made an agenda of their own and started to corrupt
themselves.
APPLICATION:
·
God wants to develop our godly attitude that is
why He puts us in the waiting counter, He is patiently working on our attitude
that is why sometimes His answers are delayed.
·
In Israel’s case, they failed to wait, they have
seen the wonders of God and His mighty miracles but because of being impatient,
they declared a god for themselves which is a great insult to YAHWEH.
·
Remember that when they came to Sinai, God
revealed Himself to the multitudes with thunder, thick clouds and mighty
trumpets and the people trembled in fear! It’s sad to know how fast they have
forgotten these that they themselves set up an idol to worship.
EVALUATION:
·
There is always purpose in God’s delaying
pattern. Let’s not look on the situation, it is wise to ask God and ourselves
these questions:
What are the things this situation is teaching
me?
What does God want from me in this situation?
What are the things I need to change?
What do I need to learn from this circumstance?
INSIGHT: Proper evaluation of one’s self may allow us to
discover ourselves and God, if we are willing, God will show it to us, the
things that is behind the waiting…
GOD’S RESPONSE
·
God has enumerated the sins of Israel v 7-8
·
God has evaluated Israel’s condition v 9
·
God was determined to destroy Israel if it were
not for Moses.
APPLICATION:
·
If during our waiting period, we have turned
aside 90º to the point of corruption
and setting up of idols, God has always the discretion to put us under the
discipline – whom God loves He chastens.
·
This
is the same while waiting for Jesus to come, if we go back to our agenda,
setting up idols and corrupting ourselves – we may lose our inheritance from
the Lord.
CONSEQUENCES
·
Moses anger rouse and he asked for those who are
the Lord’s stand by him and the Levites stood by his side and they killed the
Israelites who led the people to sin about 3,000 men died that day.
·
Since the people’s impatience led them to sin
against God they have received the judgment of the Lord – this is true if we
turn to other means while we wait on the Lord
VII.
THE
6TH COMPLAIN OF ISRAEL: KADESH BARNEA
a.
Stage 6 of Journey – Backing Out of Promised
Land
b.
Complain no. 6 – Fear of the enemy Numbers 14:3
“Why has the Lord brought us to
this land to fall by the sword…would it be better for us to return to Egypt?”
INSIGHT: The Israelites were at the entrance to the Promised
Land, but because of their fear, they want to go back to Egypt.
APPLICATION:
·
Fear paralyzes us, it blurs our vision, it
discourages us and it blocks our view of God.
·
The fearful Israelites wanted to go back when
they were already at the entrance of the Promised Land; they operated by the
visible presentation of what their eyes can see.
·
Fear is the opposite of faith, fear works
through our senses. But faith works in the spiritual realm, it works in the
invisible. It is faith that can topple the giants, it is faith that can move
mountains, it is faith that can conquer the land, it is faith that can make the
vision work, it is faith that can turn the enemies upside down and it is faith
that can please God.
GOD’S RESPONSE Numbers 14:11
“How long will these people reject
Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have
performed among them?”
·
God must have come to the point of giving up on
the Israelites, after what He has shown them, their unbelief and rejection
caused so much pain to Him.
·
God is a God of love, but He is a just God who
will surely punish those people who reject Him.
·
He desires that we must not react in fear; that
we must not react in complaints, but that we must react in total dependence on
Him.
·
What made God angry in this case was the
rejection and attachment of the Israelites to Egypt when He was offering them a
better life.
CONSEQUENCES
·
Those who complained against God died in the
wilderness.
·
Their wanderings turned to 40 years as God’s
means of punishment.
·
Only those who have faith were able to cross and
conquer the Promised Land
VIII.
THE 7TH
COMPLAIN OF ISRAEL: KADESH BARNEA
a.
Stage 7 of Journey: Oppositions in Leadership –
Numbers 16
b.
Complain no. 7 – Complaints Against God’s
Appointed
INSIGHT: Korah was from the line of the Levites and Dathan
and Abiram were Reubenites, they conspired by pleasing the people, as if they
spoke on behalf of God for they used the name of God in their accusations
against Moses.
However, Korah’s intention was clear, he wants to get the
leadership from Aaron, and he charmed the people by speaking nicely to them to
get their support, using the name of God, wherein for a fact Korah was enraged
to be subordinate to a much younger leader from his clan, Elizaphan. Korah was
questioning the leadership of Aaron as priest.
APPLICATION
·
There are times we question the position of our
leaders, we think we are better than they, we complained against their
decision, authority and their appointment.
·
We thought that when the majority goes for us we
are on the winning side, just like Korah, the people of Israel were on his
side, so he was confident to stand against Moses and Aaron in front of the
tabernacle.
·
But he has forgotten that the Lord was the One
who appointed Aaron on the priesthood position not Moses or the people.
·
Korah must have felt that he was so important
because he received the support of the Israelites, but those who have supported
him are on the wrong side, he doesn’t have the Lord on his side.
·
It’s too sad to know that Korah was working on
the tabernacle and yet he didn’t value the work that was assigned to him, he
crave for more – a position that he would be the center of honor and praise.
·
But God looks at the heart, He knew what’s in
his mind and His motives that is why He embarrassed his expectation.
CONSEQUENCES
·
Korah and his companions were embarrassed before
God and the people.
·
Korah received his punishment for influencing
the people into rebellion against Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership.
·
Those who joined them after witnessing their
punishment received a judgment from the Lord, a plague that killed them all.
·
God honored Moses by acting upon his word and
causing Aaron’s rod to bud as a sign of his confirmation on the priestly
position.
INSIGHT: When God put someone into the leadership position –
the Lord will surely authenticate it before the people. It’s not about the
accomplishment, it is about the character of the person, and how he/she honors
God in his /her work.
Moses is a very good example of a leader with a heart, he
intercede for the people, he acts in humility, he honors God with all the
miracles, proclaiming that the miracle was done though him by God Almighty.
CONCLUSION:
·
These seven are the deadly complains of the
Israelites who fell by the sword, who died on the wilderness, who received the
plague, who received curses, who were swallowed up alive by the earth, who
failed to enter the Promised Land. Their carcasses remained in the wilderness
just as the Lord said.
·
Beware of these so that we will not be able to
suffer the same fate like them.
·
As we journey in our Christian life,
∞
we may stand before the Red Sea – go forward,
∞
we may pass the Marah, pray to God to make the
water sweet;
∞
we may settle in the Wilderness of Sin, crave
for the bread from heaven and the solid food of the word of God,
∞
we may camped at Rephidim, stand on the Rock and
strike with prayer so that the channels of heaven will be open for you,
∞
we may settle at Sinai – wait patiently for God
∞
we may camped at Kadesh Barnea – do not fear the
giants – conquer by faith and obedience
∞
we may stay long at Kadesh Barnea – pray for the
leaders, support them and do not cause division
·
Let’s learn from their mistakes and seek God in
every situation so we will no longer complain but turn it to praise and thanks
to God!
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