MURMURS IN THE WILDERNESS
LESSON 5 ONE OCCASION OF MURMURS
"Nor complain, as some of them also complained..." (1 Corinthians 10:10, NKJV).
The next murmuring done by the Israelites provides the answer to why the wanderings in the wilderness lasted forty years. The trip from Egypt to the land promised by God could have been made in a relatively short time, if the Israelites had been obedient to God and trusted in Him to keep His promises.
This should be a great lesson for Christians who are "wandering in their wilderness" on this earth, while waiting for the promises God has given to those who are faithful unto or until death (Revelation 2:10). Obedience to God will not shorten this "wandering in the wilderness" during the physical life on earth, but it will certainly make this time on earth better and will determine our home in eternity (1 John 2:15-17).
There was to be one man from each of the 12 tribes of the Israelites. The two men who are most remembered of these 12 men are Caleb, from the tribe of Judah (Numbers 13:6), and Joshua (Hoshea), from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8 and 16). Watch for those two names as you study this lesson.
2. In Numbers 13: 17 - 20, Moses instructed the 12 men to find out about the people, the land, and the cities. They were to see what the land _____ ______. They were to see whether the people who dwell in it were ________ or _______, _____ or ________. They were to see whether the land was _______ or _____. They were to see whether cities were like ________ or _______________. They were to see whether the land was _____ or _____. They were to see whether there were ___________. They were to bring back some of the ______ of the land.
3. Numbers 13: 21 - 25, How long were the men gone, and what did they bring back when they returned ?
4. Numbers 13:26-29, How did they speak of the land when they returned, and what did they report about the people and the cities ?
Continuing in Numbers 13:30, we read, "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it."
However the other spies did not agree with Caleb. Please read their reply in Numbers 13:31-33.
5. Why do you think Caleb’s reply and the reply of the other spies was so different?
6. In Numbers 14: 1 - 4, we read the complaint spoken on this occasion.
"So all the congregation lifted up their voices and ______, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel _______________ against _______ and ________, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had _____ in the land of ________! Or if only we had _____ in this ________________! 3 Why has the _______ brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to ________ to _________?’ 4 So they said to one another, ‘Let us select a ____________ and ________ to __________."
Please read Deuteronomy 1:26-33. This is a "re-telling" or review of the lesson we are studying.
7. Deuteronomy 1: 26 - 28, The people _____________ against the ____________ of the _______ and ___________________ in their tents. They said the Lord _______ them and brought them out of ________ to _________ them.
8. Study what Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1:29-31. In verse 32, what did Moses say to the Israelites ?
9. When we murmur / complain, are we believing God’s word ?
Is murmuring / complaining the same as rebelling against God? Prove your answer with scripture.
Read Numbers 14:5 to see the reaction of Moses and Aaron.
Read now the reaction of two of the spies:
Numbers 14:6-9, "But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: ‘The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."
10. What reaction did the Israelites make toward Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:10)?
11. Numbers 14:11-12, What was God’s reply to Moses to the reaction of the Israelites ?
Read carefully Moses’ reply to God in Numbers 14:13-19.
12. Numbers 14: 20 - 29, What was the result of the murmurings and the unbelief of the Israelites?
13. Numbers 14: 24, & 30 - 32, Who was granted an exception to God’s punishment?
14. Numbers 14: 33 - 35, The people would know the rejection of God for how long?
How was this length of time determined?
15. Numbers 14: 36 - 38, What happened to the other 10 spies?
16. Numbers 14: 39 - 45, The Israelites mourned greatly. The next morning they changed their minds and decided to take the land God promised them. What happened?
We, like the Israelites, cannot do things "our way" and always expect to succeed.
"O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23).
FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION
17. Study carefully the following verses:
Hebrews 3:8-12, "Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.' Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;"
Ask yourself if there is any rebellion and unbelief in your heart which is causing you to murmur / complain. Be honest with yourself. Again, this question requires no answer, except to yourself and to God.
Dena
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