Numbers 10 – 12
Verse 10:6 highlights chapter 10 and the silver trumpets:
And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.
This chapter details the construction and use of the silver trumpets. I find it interesting how they are used for a call to worship, a call for leaders, warnings, and actually deploying the people. On passages like this I often wonder the heavenly significance of this kind of detail. At the same this documents for future generations the practice. Also, think how the trumpet has been used even in the last few hundred years on the battlefield.
Verse 11:4 is the start of the people complaining about the food:
Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat!
Here the people of Israel have been delivered from Egypt into the wilderness and they are surviving on manna from heaven. But after some time people want “more” and a variety. Notice this starts with “the rabble”? How often a major move or change happens with some malcontents make enough noise and get the attention of the faithful. If you were happy having manna every day and thankful, then someone starts complaining about the “same thing every day,” wouldn’t you start focusing on that and not the blessing God is giving?
That “small little voice” we often hear in our heads, is often your “rabble” taking your attention off God. I know this happens to me often, like recently we are finally getting back on track. We had some major expenses come up like needing a roof. The budget did not plan for a roof, but a few strategic sales and tightening of the belt and we made it through. Now we had a rat chew through a water line and ruin the underlayment of a tile floor. Margin gone and that small voice of discontent with our finances starts roaring.
Verses 11:19 – 20 has their prayers answered:
19 You shall not eat for just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’”
God answers prayers, but often times not as we envisioned. I wonder if they had been more respectful and said something like “Lord we thank you for the manna and appreciate the blessings of this miraculous food. We humbly ask for meat from time to time for a variety.” Complaining can get old for man, I am sure it does with God also.
Think about the answer they got, so much meat they would get sick of it. I think to the movie “Brewster’s Millions” where a poor washed up baseball player inherits $300 million. But in order to get those millions he must spend $30 million in one month and have nothing to show for it. Sure there was joy in the beginning, but as the month wore on he realized that even wasting $30 million was difficult. In the end he was sick of the money and realized it was not about the money, but the relationships.
Sure wish God would bless me that way;-) At the same time maybe I should focus more on what we have and enjoy today because of the blessings and not focus on the lack or the debt (which continues to decrease each month barring hiccups).