Num 11:31 And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day’s journey on this side, and as it were a day’s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. 32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. 33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. 34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted. 35 And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth. So YHVH caused a wind to bring quails - loads & loads of them - 3 feet deep going for at least a mile & a half in all directions around the camp & the people took about 36 hours to collect them & the guy who had the grabbed the least had collected about 3000 litres worth, so they were everywhere strewn about the camp. After they prepared their first meal of them & sat down to eat, YHVH smote the people with a plague & there they buried the people who lusted so most likely all the instigators who were this time consisting of the mixed multitude (verse 4) died. So because this happened here Moses called the place Kibroth-hattaavah = “graves of lust”. So sometime after this incident they moved to another place called Hazeroth = “settlement”. Ok so like i said a while back God wanted to show that He is powerful here - if you are hungry, God can make it rain pigeons for you to eat as far as the eye can see! But the main point was that God wants us to be thankful for what He gives us & not have our eyes backwards towards what we had while we were slaves to sin. Num 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 4 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. 10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. 12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb. 13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. 14 And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. 16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. So it looks like Miriam (if anyone forgot who she is, look at Ex 15:20) got Aaron to join her in badmouthing Moses (i say that because Miriam was the only one punished even though Aaron confessed) because his wife was one of the mixed multitude being an Egyptian. So the mixed multitude being fresh on their mind as the cause of the latest plague to hit the people probably helped to foster this resentment; but the comment that was said in the scripture doesnt seem to have anything to do with Moses wife, but rather her existence may have just been an excuse to talk about a mutiny. YHVH as always was paying attention to their words about how God can speak to the people through them so they dont really need Moses anymore. Verse 3 then says that Moses was at the time the most humble person in the world - so most likely He has surely grown from the rash murderer he was 40 years before he started this mission. Being there for a front row seat of God revealing His majesty time & time again with miracle after miracle probably showed him how insignificant he was as he was not able to do any of those things by his own power. So God calls Moses, Aaron & Miriam to the tabernacle then tells Aaron & Miriam to get closer & says listen up - if someone is a prophet I, YHVH will reveal myself to them with a vision & speak by a dream; but Moses is special; a very obedient servant, with Him I will reveal myself plainly & not be vague in fact he gets to see a manifestation of my very face! (Ex 33:11) So how is it you were brave enough to talk bad about him? God was upset & His manifestation left in fact the cloud departed from the tabernacle so it was time to break camp & go. After the cloud has departed it was revealed that Miriam came down with leprosy. Aaron was quick to confess that he was at fault & ask for mercy & Moses in turn asks God to heal her - God told Moses that she is to remain outside of the camp for 7 days & think about what she had done & after she was healed & came back into the camp they left & wound up probably heading back to the same spot they were going to in chapter 10:12 or close by. So as i realized this story may very well be more about ambition, coveting & an attempted coup détat being bad moreso than racism being bad. Also God wants us to respect our leaders - Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. - but one of the biggest lessons in the section is that when someone attacks you - if you work for God the best way to respond is not by getting defensive; but by being humble & letting God defend you. Another point we seen is that we should strive to have such a close relationship with God that it is on the same level as Moses where God can talk to us plainly & not use dark speeches. So next time it is the beginning of chapter 13 & the assembling of the spies.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 06:10:12 +0000
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