OBCMUR INTRO SYLL                            OBCMUR-7         

LESSON 7 TWO OCCASIONS OF MURMURS

At the close of this lesson we will have looked at 15 occasions of murmuring done by the Israelites during their years of wandering in the wilderness.   Perhaps there were other occasions that were not recorded in God’s word.  (That, of course, is only a guess.)   If we looked all through the Old Testament scriptures, no doubt, we would discover other occasions of dissatisfaction which caused murmuring.

Think back over each occasion we have studied.    Perhaps each of these would fit into one of the sins spoken of in 1 John 2:16, "For all that is in the world   ---   the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world."

Let’s study now the last two occasions of murmuring.

Please consider:     the complaint, the reaction (or reactions), the reply (or replies), and the result.

N.      A lack of water caused murmuring once again.       Numbers 20:1-12

1.      Numbers 20:1-3,    What was the cause of this complaint?

The Israelites said in verse 3,    "...If only we had ______ when our ______________ died before the Lord!"

2.      The Israelites’ complaint continued in Numbers 20:4-5.   They believed they had been brought into the wilderness to ______.    They asked why they were made to come up out of _________ to this ______ place.

Read the rest of their complaint,    "It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink" (Numbers 20:5).

3.      Read 1 John 2:16.    Which of these sins seemed to cause the most problem for the Israelites?

Give reasons for your answer.

Moses’ and Aaron’s reaction to this complaint was to, once again, go to the Lord with the problem.   When others complain against us, rather than reacting in a manner we might regret later, we should take the concerns to God.

4.      The Lord‘s reply to Moses is seen in Numbers 20:7-8.    Please write verse 8 and study carefully the specific commands God gave to Moses.

5.      Numbers 20:9,  "So Moses took the ______ from before the Lord as He _________________ him."

Was that all God commanded Moses?

6.      Numbers 20:10,  "And Moses and Aaron ___________________ the assembly together before the ______;  and he said to them,  ‘Hear now, you ________!   Must _____ bring water for you out of this rock?"

Who were the rebels?

7.      Numbers 20:11,  Moses then _________ the rock _______ with his rod, and water came out abundantly for the people and their animals.

What problem do you see with what Moses did?

8.      Please write Numbers 20:12 and carefully study God’s reply to Moses and Aaron.

9.      Was God displeased with Moses and Aaron?

Did Moses and Aaron completely obey all the commands from God given in verse 8?

What did the Lord God tell Moses and Aaron in verse 12?

What was the result ?

Consider this carefully:

Moses and Aaron did not obey completely the commands from God given in verse 8.    God stated in verse 12, "...Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel..."

Is there a connection between belief and obedience?

Give scripture(s) to prove your answer.

In Numbers 20:22-29, we read of Aaron’s death.   Before his death, Moses took the priestly garments off Aaron and put them on Eleazar, Aaron’s son, just as the Lord commanded.

10.      Why was Aaron not allowed to enter the land which God was giving to the Israelites?

Please read Deuteronomy 32:48-52.    Near the end of the 40 years in the wilderness, God told Moses to go up on Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan which God was giving to the children of Israel.   Then Moses was to die on the mount, just as Aaron died on Mount Hor.

Read carefully Deuteronomy 32:51, "because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel." 

11.      Thought question:    Do we fail to hallow (sanctify, honor as holy) God today?

 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;"

(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, sanctify: to render or acknowledge to be venerable, to hallow)

 O.      The Israelites murmured as they became impatient and discouraged.

 12.     Numbers 21: 4-5,   The ______ of the people became very _____________ on the way, and the people spoke against _____ and against _________.

What was their complaint this time?

13.     Numbers 21:6,   What was the Lord’s reaction to this murmuring?

How does this go along with the idea today that God is only a loving God and will not really punish?

Give a scripture to prove your statement.

Read Numbers 21:7 for the reply of the Israelites.   They realized they had sinned and spoken against the Lord and against Moses.   They asked Moses to pray to the Lord and ask Him to take away the serpents.   Moses again interceded for the people.

14.     Write God’s reply to Moses in Numbers 21:8.

Moses did what God told him.    Did the people have to do anything?

Was there some "mystical power" in the bronze serpent on the pole?

What was the reason this would save those who were bitten?

If believing is enough, why did the people have to DO something?

15.     How would you answer an individual who says all you must do to have eternal life is believe?

Give scriptures to prove your answer.

 FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

16.     Go to the OBC website, to the Ladies Daily Devotional Archives for 2007, and read the devotional titled  Our Father In Heaven (part 1)  by Beth Johnson, 7-31-07.   This link should take you directly to this devotional. You may have to copy and paste this address. http://www.stgcoc.com/our_father_in_heaven.htm 

(If you have problems finding this devotional, please let me know, and I will send it to you in an email.)

Read carefully this devotional and ask yourself if you are doing anything to dishonor the Father in heaven. Ask yourself if you are sanctifying the Father in your own heart.

1 Peter 3:15-16, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed."

Dena