MONDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2023
TEXT:
Numbers 11:1-20
1:
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and
when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among
them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
2:
When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died
down.
3:
So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among
them.
4:
The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites
started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat!
5:
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons,
leeks, onions and garlic.
6:
But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
7:
The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin.
8:
The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a hand mill or
crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it
tasted like something made with olive oil.
9:
When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.
10:
Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents.
The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled.
11:
He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What
have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?
12:
Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to
carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised
on oath to their ancestors?
13:
Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us
meat to eat!’
14:
I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.
15:
If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have
found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”
16:
The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to
you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of
meeting, that they may stand there with you.
17:
I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of
the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the
people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.
18:
“Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you
will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat!
We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat
it.
19:
You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days,
20:
but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe
it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before
him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”
(New
International Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
MEMBERS KNOWN AS LEADERS
This
passage talks about non - Israelites who chose to travel along with the
children of God from Egypt.
The
non - Israelites did not really know the Lord and His mercies on the
Israelites, yet they were trying to distort God's plans by instigating trouble
in the camp.
They
said that they were missing Egypt. Manna, which was God's unique provision in
the desert, was not appreciated.
Verses
10-15 were expressions of Moses' frustrations concerning the task of providing
godly leadership for such people. Verses 16-20 provide the prompt response on
the way forward.
Due
to the mixed nature of church membership, the Lord is suggesting that elders
who are known to be leaders and officials among church members should stand
behind genuine church leaders.
QUESTION:
Why are verses 16 and 17 necessary for ECWA today?
PRAYER:
Lord, there are rebels in our congregation who are habitual complainers and
trouble makers. Please raise members who are leaders to stand with the called
leaders of the church. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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