SPIRITUAL WARFARE

WILDERNESS SERMON

1-THE WILDERNESS SERMON
2-SALVATION
3-THE ENEMY SAID
4-BLESSED ARE THESE
5-WOE TO THESE
6-MOSES EXHORTS THE PEOPLE AND WARNS THEM
7-WHY DID THESE THINGS HAPPEN?
8-SPIRITUAL WARFARE
9-A SUMMARY OF THE TEMPTATIONS IN THE WILDERNESS

    Through this message from the Scriptures, we learn more about what God expects of us; how Satan tempts us; and the love, mercy, long-suffering and judgments of God. As it is written...THESE THINGS OCCURRED AS EXAMPLES, TO KEEP US FROM SETTING OUR HEARTS ON EVIL THINGS AS THEY DID. THESE THINGS HAPPENED TO THEM AS EXAMPLES AND WERE WRITTEN DOWN AS WARNINGS FOR US-l Cor 10:6,11 NIV.
    The story of the wandering in the wilderness is the story of Israel. The Lord freed Israel from their enemy, Egypt. Jesus frees us from our enemy, Satan. Israel believed. We believe. Israel repented. We repent. Israel determined to follow the Lord. We determine to follow the Lord. Israel was baptized in the Red Sea. We are baptized. Israel was free. We are free. Israel was tempted. We are tempted. Israel was chastened and corrected. We are chastened and corrected. The temptations lasted all their lives once they began to follow and obey God. The temptations will last all of our lives once we begin to follow and obey God. Only a few survived the forty years and entered into the Promised Land. Only a few Christians hold steadfast till the end and enter heaven.
    God commanded Moses to go and bring the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. He told Moses, THOU SHALT SAY UNTO PHARAOH, THUS SAITH THE LORD, ISRAEL IS MY SON, EVEN MY FIRSTBORN: AND I SAY UNTO THEE, LET MY SON GO, THAT HE MAY SERVE ME: AND IF THOU REFUSE TO LET HIM GO, BEHOLD, I WILL SLAY THY SON, EVEN THY FIRSTBORN-Ex 4:22,23. And God, by the hand of Moses, did many incredible miracles. Many plagues were brought against Egypt until, finally, the last of the plagues was about to strike. The last plague was death.
    God gave very exact instructions to Israel on how to be saved from death. They were to take a lamb (Jesus is our Lamb). It was to be examined four days. Jesus entered Jerusalem and was examined four days prior to being crucified. The LAMB SHALL BE WITHOUT BLEMISH, A MALE OF THE FIRST YEAR-Ex 12:5. Jesus was without blemish. The lamb had to be killed. Jesus was killed. They were to EAT THE FLESH IN THAT NIGHT, ROAST WITH FIRE, AND UNLEAVENED BREAD; AND WITH BITTER HERBS THEY SHALL EAT IT-Ex 12:8. Jesus has told us the unleavened bread represents His flesh. It is unleavened, symbolizing no sin. Leaven is symbolic for sin. It is written, A LITTLE LEAVEN LEAVENETH THE WHOLE LUMP-1 Cor 5:6. Sin spreads and multiplies. The bitter herbs are the sins to be repented of. AND YE SHALL LET NOTHING OF IT REMAIN UNTIL THE MORNING; AND THAT WHICH REMAINETH OF IT UNTIL THE MORNING YE SHALL BURN WITH FIRE-Ex 12:10. Jesus, the Lamb without blemish, was crucified at Calvary. His body was not permitted to remain on the cross till the morning.
    AND THUS SHALL YE EAT IT; WITH YOUR LOINS GIRDED, YOUR SHOES ON YOUR FEET, AND YOUR STAFF IN YOUR HAND; AND YE SHALL EAT IT IN HASTE: IT IS THE LORD’S PASSOVER-Ex 12:11.
    God gave very exact instructions for the blood. He said, THEY SHALL TAKE OF THE BLOOD, AND STRIKE IT ON THE TWO SIDE POSTS AND ON THE UPPER DOOR POST OF THE HOUSES, WHEREIN THEY SHALL EAT IT. AND THE BLOOD SHALL BE TO YOU FOR A TOKEN UPON THE HOUSES WHERE YE ARE: AND WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU, AND THE PLAGUE SHALL NOT BE UPON YOU TO DESTROY YOU, WHEN I SMITE THE LAND OF EGYPT-Ex 12:7,13.
    God gave very exact instructions on salvation. Except we are covered with the blood of the Lamb, Jesus, we shall die as the firstborn of Egypt died without the blood. Only the blood of Jesus can save us from the second death—the lake of fire.
    God said...WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU, AND...NOT...DESTROY YOU. When we are judged, because God sees the blood, we will not be destroyed and banished for eternity. From the time that the blood covered Israel, God warned, SEVEN DAYS SHALL YE EAT UNLEAVENED BREAD; EVEN THE FIRST DAY YE SHALL PUT AWAY LEAVEN OUT OF YOUR HOUSES: FOR WHOSOEVER EATETH LEAVENED BREAD FROM THE FIRST DAY UNTIL THE SEVENTH DAY, THAT SOUL SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM ISRAEL-Ex 12:15. Leaven represents sin. From the very first day, sin must be put away from you. No sin is permitted in your house, for you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture said, SEVEN DAYS SHALL YE EAT UNLEAVENED BREAD. Then the verse makes it clear: if any person did not abide by this, they would be cut off.
    And this command was given, WHETHER HE BE A STRANGER, OR BORN IN THE LAND-Ex 12:19. To Jew and Gentile alike, who wished to come under the blood, God warned that during the night the angel of death shall pass over and NONE OF YOU SHALL GO OUT AT THE DOOR OF HIS HOUSE UNTIL THE MORNING-Ex 12:22. God gave very exact instructions. Once the blood has covered the door way, do not go out. Do not fellowship with the unsaved. Keep separate from them. If you go out and disobey the instructions of God, you shall surely die. If you leave the protection of the blood, you would no longer be protected.
    AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AT MIDNIGHT THE LORD SMOTE ALL THE FIRSTBORN IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, FROM THE FIRSTBORN OF PHARAOH THAT SAT ON HIS THRONE UNTO THE FIRSTBORN OF THE CAPTIVE THAT WAS IN THE DUNGEON; AND ALL THE FIRSTBORN OF CATTLE-Ex 12:29. Why the firstborn? The saved are referred to as the church of the firstborn-ref Heb 12:23. Those who are the firstborn of God are those covered by the blood. All firstborn not covered by the blood perished. AND PHARAOH ROSE UP IN THE NIGHT, HE, AND ALL HIS SERVANTS, AND ALL THE EGYPTIANS; AND THERE WAS A GREAT CRY IN EGYPT; FOR THERE WAS NOT A HOUSE WHERE THERE WAS NOT ONE DEAD-Ex 12:30. There shall be a great cry among the unsaved in the day of judgment, among all those that are not covered by the blood. There shall be a great cry among all those Christians that thought they were covered by the blood, but they didn’t follow the exact instructions God gives for being saved. There shall be a great cry among those who claimed they knew God, but they would not repent, obey the Gospel, and do the will of God. There shall be a great cry among those that brought forth evil fruit rather than good fruit. And THERE SHALL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH-
Mt 8:12.
    Many "so-called" Christians think they can go out of their house and do what they want to do, once they are covered by the blood. In doing so, they perish. Even though a person may have had their door lintels covered by the blood of the lamb, if they went out of their house, they perished. Obey the Gospel!
    AND THE EGYPTIANS WERE URGENT UPON THE PEOPLE, THAT THEY MIGHT SEND THEM OUT OF THE LAND IN HASTE; FOR THEY SAID, WE BE ALL DEAD MEN-Ex 12:33. Israel had to leave Egypt. The Scriptures say, BE YE SEPARATE-2 Cor 6:17. And neither do the unsaved desire to have the saved dwell among them, for the light that shines in a true born-again Christian exposes their evil deeds. They neither come to the light nor want the light around, for the light exposes the darkness and the sinful ways of the wicked.
    AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL...BORROWED (or asked) OF THE EGYPTIANS JEWELS OF SILVER, AND JEWELS OF GOLD, AND RAIMENT: AND THE LORD GAVE THE PEOPLE FAVOR IN THE SIGHT OF THE EGYPTIANS, SO THAT THEY LENT (or gave) UNTO THEM SUCH THINGS AS THEY REQUIRED. AND THEY SPOILED THE EGYPTIANS-Ex 12:35,36.
    Now, Satan will bring temptations on the people to try to get them to go back to their old place, the place of the unsaved. Satan was to tempt the people to go back to Egypt, once they had left. God allows Satan to bring such temptations, to see if our faith is genuine and to see if we will wholly follow the Lord. God wants to know who really loves Him with all their heart as evidenced by their trust and obedience.
    AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET THE PEOPLE GO, THAT GOD LED THEM NOT THROUGH THE WAY OF THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS NEAR; FOR GOD SAID, LEST PERADVENTURE THE PEOPLE REPENT WHEN THEY SEE WAR, AND THEY RETURN TO EGYPT-Ex 13:17. God is merciful and WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE (or beyond what you can bear-NIV)-1 Cor 10:13. The great temptations to turn back would not come until they were about to be baptized. BUT GOD LED THE PEOPLE ABOUT, THROUGH THE WAY OF THE WILDERNESS OF THE RED SEA: AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WENT UP HARNESSED OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT. AND THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM BY DAY IN A PILLAR OF A CLOUD, TO LEAD THEM THE WAY; AND BY NIGHT IN A PILLAR OF FIRE, TO GIVE THEM LIGHT; TO GO BY DAY AND NIGHT-Ex 13:18,21. It is written, HE PUTTETH FORTH HIS OWN SHEEP, HE GOETH BEFORE THEM, AND THE SHEEP FOLLOW HIM...MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME-Jn 10:4,27.
    The following are some of the temptations that the children of Israel experienced during their forty years in the wilderness.

    1. AND THE LORD HARDENED THE HEART OF PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT, AND HE PURSUED AFTER THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL...THE EGYPTIANS PURSUED AFTER THEM, ALL THE HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF PHARAOH, AND HIS HORSEMEN, AND HIS ARMY-Ex 14:8,9.
    Both Egypt and Israel had witnessed the incredible miracles of God. Plague after plague had been brought against Egypt until it was virtually destroyed. Surely, one would think they would fear the wrath of God by this time. Surely, one would think that Pharaoh would be afraid to come after Israel, yet the heart of the unsaved can be so hard that they will not fear God. They will not fear the judgment and yield to God. Even after the firstborn of Egypt had been destroyed, Pharaoh pursued Israel. God hardened his heart .
    One would certainly now think that Israel would fear God and trust in Him to deliver them from whatever might come against them.
    AND WHEN PHARAOH DREW NIGH, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL LIFTED UP THEIR EYES, AND, BEHOLD, THE EGYPTIANS MARCHED AFTER THEM; AND THEY WERE SORE AFRAID: AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CRIED OUT UNTO THE LORD-Ex 14:10. Here is Israel at the Red Sea. God is about to send them through the Red Sea. They are about to be baptized. Here comes the Egyptian army. The first temptation of the Israelites is at hand. Will they trust God? or will they cry and want to go back to the enemy? Will they turn to God or turn from God? Will they trust God to fight for them?
    AND THEY SAID UNTO MOSES, BECAUSE THERE WERE NO GRAVES IN EGYPT, HAST THOU TAKEN US AWAY TO DIE IN THE WILDERNESS? WHEREFORE HAST THOU DEALT THUS WITH US, TO CARRY US FORTH OUT OF EGYPT? IS NOT THIS THE WORD THAT WE DID TELL THEE IN EGYPT, SAYING, LET US ALONE, THAT WE MAY SERVE THE EGYPTIANS? FOR IT HAD BEEN BETTER FOR US TO SERVE THE EGYPTIANS, THAN THAT WE SHOULD DIE IN THE WILDERNESS-Ex 14:11,12. Here are the children of Israel, the firstborn of God. God had done great miracles for them. He had covered them with the blood. God had saved them. So how do they respond to the first temptation? They want to turn back to the enemy and serve him. They want to turn back to their old sinful ways. They are full of fear. The going gets a bit tough, so they want to take the easy route rather than walk by faith. God wants them to be free to serve Him, but they want to serve the world (Satan). They said, IT HAD BEEN BETTER FOR US TO SERVE THE EGYPTIANS, THAN THAT WE SHOULD DIE IN THE WILDERNESS-Ex 14:12. They did not trust that God would deliver them, even after all that God had already done for them.
    AND MOSES SAID UNTO THE PEOPLE, FEAR YE NOT-Ex 14:13. God says this to all born-again Christians—fear not. Trust in the Lord Jesus to deliver you from all your persecutions and problems. SUBMIT...TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL-Ja 4:7. Moses continued on, STAND STILL, AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD, WHICH HE WILL SHOW TO YOU TO DAY: FOR THE EGYPTIANS WHOM YE HAVE SEEN TO DAY, YE SHALL SEE THEM AGAIN NO MORE FOR EVER. THE LORD SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU, AND YE SHALL HOLD YOUR PEACE-Ex 14:13,14. Moses is telling the people, trust in the Lord. Be still, hold your tongue, and do not be afraid. When you surrender to Jesus, will you stop at the water and not want to go in? Will you have faith like Moses? or will your faith fail?
    AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES...SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THAT THEY GO FORWARD…I WILL GET ME HONOR UPON PHARAOH-Ex 14:15,17.
    AND THE ANGEL OF GOD, WHICH WENT BEFORE THE CAMP OF ISRAEL, REMOVED AND WENT BEHIND THEM; AND THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD WENT FROM BEFORE THEIR FACE, AND STOOD BEHIND THEM: AND IT CAME BETWEEN THE CAMP OF THE EGYPTIANS AND THE CAMP OF ISRAEL; AND IT WAS A CLOUD AND DARKNESS TO THEM, BUT IT GAVE LIGHT BY NIGHT TO THESE: SO THAT THE ONE CAME NOT NEAR THE OTHER ALL THE NIGHT. AND MOSES STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND OVER THE SEA; AND THE LORD CAUSED THE SEA TO GO BACK BY A STRONG EAST WIND ALL THAT NIGHT, AND MADE THE SEA DRY LAND, AND THE WATERS WERE DIVIDED.
    AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WENT INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA UPON THE DRY GROUND: AND THE WATERS WERE A WALL UNTO THEM ON THEIR RIGHT HAND, AND ON THEIR LEFT. Surely, Egypt would now be so fearful that they would not dare to pursue God’s people. Surely, they would fear God and realize that God was fighting for Israel; but they did not. Often the unrighteous will pursue the people of God no matter what; however, God is on the side of His children to deliver them.
    AND THE EGYPTIANS PURSUED, AND WENT IN AFTER THEM TO THE MIDST OF THE SEA, EVEN ALL PHARAOH’S HORSES, HIS CHARIOTS, AND HIS HORSEMEN.
    AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT IN THE MORNING WATCH THE LORD LOOKED UNTO THE HOST OF THE EGYPTIANS THROUGH THE PILLAR OF FIRE AND OF THE CLOUD, AND TROUBLED THE HOST OF THE EGYPTIANS. AND TOOK OFF THEIR CHARIOT WHEELS, THAT THEY DROVE THEM HEAVILY (or had difficulty driving): SO THAT THE EGYPTIANS SAID, LET US FLEE FROM THE FACE OF ISRAEL; FOR THE LORD FIGHTETH FOR THEM AGAINST THE EGYPTIANS. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, STRETCH OUT THINE HAND OVER THE SEA, THAT THE WATERS MAY COME AGAIN UPON THE EGYPTIANS, UPON THEIR CHARIOTS, AND UPON THEIR HORSEMEN-Ex 14:19-26.
    AND MOSES STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND OVER THE SEA, AND THE SEA RETURNED TO HIS STRENGTH WHEN THE MORNING APPEARED; AND THE EGYPTIANS FLED AGAINST IT; AND THE LORD OVERTHREW THE EGYPTIANS IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA. AND THE WATERS RETURNED, AND COVERED THE CHARIOTS, AND THE HORSEMEN, AND ALL THE HOST OF PHARAOH THAT CAME INTO THE SEA AFTER THEM; THERE REMAINED NOT SO MUCH AS ONE OF THEM-Ex 14:27,28.
    AND ISRAEL SAW THAT GREAT WORK WHICH THE LORD DID UPON THE EGYPTIANS: AND THE PEOPLE FEARED THE LORD, AND BELIEVED THE LORD, AND HIS SERVANT MOSES-Ex 14:31.
    BY FAITH THEY PASSED THROUGH THE RED SEA AS BY DRY LAND: WHICH THE EGYPTIANS ASSAYING (or tried) TO DO WERE DROWNED-Heb 11:29.
    MOREOVER, BRETHREN, I WOULD NOT THAT YE SHOULD BE IGNORANT, HOW THAT ALL OUR FATHERS WERE UNDER THE CLOUD, AND ALL PASSED THROUGH THE SEA; AND WERE ALL BAPTIZED UNTO MOSES IN THE CLOUD AND IN THE SEA-1 Cor 10:1,2.

     l. The children of Israel were covered by the blood. (They believed Moses and obeyed God.)
    2. They took communion (Passover).
    3. They separated themselves from the unbelievers.
    4. They feared the Lord.
    5. They believed the Lord. (They believed in the Lord and believed His Word.)
    6. They believed His servant, Moses.
    7. They went by faith.
    8. They were all baptized.
    It is written, THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR: THE LORD IS HIS NAME-Ex 15:3.

        I WILL PURSUE,
        I WILL OVERTAKE,
        I WILL DIVIDE THE SPOIL;
        MY LUST SHALL BE SATISFIED UPON THEM;
        I WILL DRAW MY SWORD,
        MY HAND SHALL DESTROY THEM-Ex 15:9.

    The children of Israel believed, had faith, and were baptized. Now, God will test them and prove them to see if their faith is genuine. Although the Lord knows all things from the beginning, by testing them, their own actions will reveal whether they truly love Him with all their heart. He will know if they will walk by faith or not. He will know if they will still seek to turn back to their old wicked ways, even to the land of Egypt to be in bondage once again. It is the same with Christians. Satan will tempt them not to believe God’s Word. He will tempt them not to obey God and not to walk by faith. He will tempt them not to be baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, after repenting and believing on Jesus. Satan tempts a person to try to enter the sheep pen another way. "I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THE MAN WHO DOES NOT ENTER THE SHEEP PEN BY THE GATE, BUT CLIMBS IN BY SOME OTHER WAY, IS A THIEF AND A ROBBER"-Jn 10:1 NIV.
    Once you begin to follow Jesus, Satan will use deceptions, temptations, persecutions, and other devices in ways we might never consider. Take heed, lest you have an evil heart and murmur or complain against God, His servants, or other things. Beware, lest you wither and fall.
    SO MOSES BROUGHT ISRAEL FROM THE RED SEA, AND THEY WENT OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS OF SHUR; AND THEY WENT THREE DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS, AND FOUND NO WATER-Ex 15:22.

    2. AND WHEN THEY CAME TO MARAH, THEY COULD NOT DRINK OF THE WATERS OF MARAH, FOR THEY WERE BITTER: THEREFORE THE NAME OF IT WAS CALLED MARAH. AND THE PEOPLE MURMURED AGAINST MOSES, SAYING, WHAT SHALL WE DRINK?-Ex 15:23,24. We may note that they appear to be doubting the way Moses is leading them. They are murmuring, rather than patiently waiting on the Lord to provide for them.
    AND HE CRIED UNTO THE LORD; AND THE LORD SHEWED HIM A TREE, WHICH WHEN HE HAD CAST INTO THE WATERS, THE WATERS WERE MADE SWEET: THERE HE MADE FOR THEM A STATUTE AND AN ORDINANCE, AND THERE HE PROVED (or tested) THEM-Ex 15:25. Now God tells Israel, IF THOU WILT DILIGENTLY HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF THE LORD THY GOD, AND WILT DO THAT WHICH IS RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT, AND WILT GIVE EAR TO HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND KEEP ALL HIS STATUTES, I WILL PUT NONE OF THESE DISEASES UPON THEE, WHICH I HAVE BROUGHT UPON THE EGYPTIANS: FOR I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE-Ex 15:26.

    3. AND THEY TOOK THEIR JOURNEY FROM ELIM, AND ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CAME UNTO THE WILDERNESS OF SIN...AND THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MURMURED AGAINST MOSES AND AARON IN THE WILDERNESS: AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SAID UNTO THEM, WOULD TO GOD WE HAD DIED BY THE HAND OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, WHEN WE SAT BY THE FLESH POTS, AND WHEN WE DID EAT BREAD TO THE FULL; FOR YE HAVE BROUGHT US FORTH INTO THIS WILDERNESS, TO KILL THIS WHOLE ASSEMBLY WITH HUNGER-Ex 16:1-3.
    Satan tempted Eve with food that was pleasant to the eye. She yielded and sinned. Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn the stones into bread so He could eat. He sinned not. The children of Israel were tempted in the wilderness in this area. They murmured against Moses and dared to talk about what it was like in Egypt. They appeared most ungrateful at what God had done for them.
    THEN SAID THE LORD UNTO MOSES, BEHOLD, I WILL RAIN BREAD FROM HEAVEN FOR YOU; AND THE PEOPLE SHALL GO OUT AND GATHER A CERTAIN RATE EVERY DAY, THAT I MAY PROVE (or test) THEM, WHETHER THEY WILL WALK IN MY LAW, OR NO-Ex 16:4. God’s purpose for testing you is to see if you will patiently walk in His ways, trust Him for all things, and not murmur or complain, and thus sin with your mouth. God continues, AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT ON THE SIXTH DAY THEY SHALL PREPARE THAT WHICH THEY BRING IN; AND IT SHALL BE TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY GATHER DAILY. AND MOSES AND AARON SAID UNTO ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AT EVEN, THEN YE SHALL KNOW THAT THE LORD HATH BROUGHT YOU OUT FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT-Ex 16:5,6. Note the words of Moses, THEN YE SHALL KNOW. This is revealing, because the Scriptures have already indicated that they believed, yet it appears, after just a very short time, they are falling back into unbelief. Do not underestimate the power of the devil to blind you with wrong thoughts in your heart and mind. Your reaction will show what kind of a heart you have, as well as what is in your heart.
    AND IN THE MORNING, THEN YE SHALL SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD; FOR THAT HE HEARETH YOUR MURMURINGS AGAINST THE LORD: AND WHAT ARE WE, THAT YE MURMUR AGAINST US? AND MOSES SAID, THIS SHALL BE, WHEN THE LORD SHALL GIVE YOU IN THE EVENING FLESH TO EAT, AND IN THE MORNING BREAD TO THE FULL; FOR THAT THE LORD HEARETH YOUR MURMURINGS WHICH YE MURMUR AGAINST HIM: AND WHAT ARE WE? YOUR MURMURINGS ARE NOT AGAINST US, BUT AGAINST THE LORD-Ex 16:7,8. Note, Moses is saying to God’s people, when you murmur against a servant of the Lord, you are not murmuring against him but against God Himself. It is a wicked thing to murmur against God’s servants. It is a wicked thing to murmur against God. Sowing discord between the brethren is an abomination to God-ref Pv 6:16,19. Beware.
    AND MOSES SPAKE UNTO AARON, SAY UNTO ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, COME NEAR BEFORE THE LORD: FOR HE HATH HEARD YOUR MURMURINGS. AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS AARON SPAKE UNTO THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THAT THEY LOOKED TOWARD THE WILDERNESS, AND, BEHOLD, THE GLORY OF THE LORD APPEARED IN THE CLOUD. AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING, I HAVE HEARD THE MURMURINGS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: SPEAK UNTO THEM, SAYING, AT EVEN YE SHALL EAT FLESH, AND IN THE MORNING YE SHALL BE FILLED WITH BREAD; AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD-Ex 16:9-12.
    AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AT EVEN THE QUAILS CAME UP, AND COVERED THE CAMP: AND IN THE MORNING THE DEW LAY ROUND ABOUT THE HOST (the camp). AND WHEN THE DEW THAT LAY WAS GONE UP, BEHOLD, UPON THE FACE OF THE WILDERNESS THERE LAY A SMALL ROUND THING, AS SMALL AS THE HOAR FROST (thin flakes like frost) ON THE GROUND. AND WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SAW IT, THEY SAID ONE TO ANOTHER, IT IS MANNA: FOR THEY WIST NOT (or did not know) WHAT IT WAS. AND MOSES SAID UNTO THEM, THIS IS THE BREAD WHICH THE LORD HATH GIVEN YOU TO EAT-Ex 16:13-15.
    And Moses told them, THIS IS THE THING WHICH THE LORD HATH COMMANDED, GATHER OF IT EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS EATING, AN OMER FOR EVERY MAN, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF YOUR PERSONS; TAKE YE EVERY MAN FOR THEM WHICH ARE IN HIS TENTS-Ex 16:16.

    4. AND MOSES SAID, LET NO MAN LEAVE OF IT TILL THE MORNING. NOTWITHSTANDING THEY HEARKENED NOT UNTO MOSES; BUT SOME OF THEM LEFT OF IT UNTIL THE MORNING, AND IT BRED WORMS, AND STANK: AND MOSES WAS WROTH WITH THEM-Ex 16:19,20.
    God wanted to see if they would walk in His ways. God had already said that He was going to test them. Now He commands them not to leave the manna till morning. Even though He had done great and wondrous things for them, some still refused to obey. God does the same thing with Christians. If God says to go now, He means go now. If God says to wait three days, He means to wait three days. Will you study God’s Word and walk in all of His ways?

    5. AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT ON THE SIXTH DAY THEY GATHERED TWICE AS MUCH BREAD, TWO OMERS FOR ONE MAN: AND ALL THE RULERS OF THE CONGREGATION CAME AND TOLD MOSES. AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, THIS IS THAT WHICH THE LORD HATH SAID, TOMORROW IS THE REST OF THE HOLY SABBATH UNTO THE LORD: BAKE THAT WHICH YE WILL BAKE TODAY, AND SEETHE (or boil) THAT YE WILL SEETHE; AND THAT WHICH REMAINETH OVER LAY UP FOR YOU TO BE KEPT UNTIL THE MORNING. AND THEY LAID IT UP TILL THE MORNING, AS MOSES BADE: AND IT DID NOT STINK, NEITHER WAS THERE ANY WORM THEREIN. AND MOSES SAID, EAT THAT TODAY; FOR TODAY IS A SABBATH UNTO THE LORD: TODAY YE SHALL NOT FIND IT IN THE FIELD. SIX DAYS YE SHALL GATHER IT; BUT ON THE SEVENTH DAY, WHICH IS THE SABBATH, IN IT THERE SHALL BE NONE. AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT THERE WENT OUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE SEVENTH DAY FOR TO GATHER, AND THEY FOUND NONE. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, HOW LONG REFUSE YE TO KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS AND MY LAWS?-Ex 16:22-28. Do you also do the same?
    AND THE MANNA WAS AS CORIANDER SEED, AND THE COLOR THEREOF AS THE COLOR OF BDELLIUM (amber or brownish yellow)-Num 11:7. IT WAS LIKE CORIANDER SEED, WHITE; AND THE TASTE OF IT WAS LIKE WAFERS MADE WITH HONEY-Ex 16:31. AND THE PEOPLE WENT ABOUT, AND GATHERED IT, AND GROUND IT IN MILLS, OR BEAT IT IN A MORTAR, AND BAKED IT IN PANS, AND MADE CAKES OF IT: AND THE TASTE OF IT WAS AS THE TASTE OF FRESH OIL. AND WHEN THE DEW FELL UPON THE CAMP IN THE NIGHT, THE MANNA FELL UPON IT-Num 11:8,9. HE HAD COMMANDED THE CLOUDS FROM ABOVE, AND OPENED THE DOORS OF HEAVEN, AND HAD RAINED DOWN MANNA UPON THEM TO EAT, AND HAD GIVEN THEM OF THE CORN OF HEAVEN. MAN DID EAT ANGELS’ FOOD-Ps 78:23-25.
    Surely now, the children of Israel would no longer murmur against Moses, Aaron, and the Lord. Certainly, they would be patient and wait on the Lord to meet all their needs. Surely, they would not depart from the fear of the Lord and had learned their lesson by now.

    6. AND ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL JOURNEYED FROM THE WILDERNESS OF SIN...AND PITCHED IN REPHIDIM: AND THERE WAS NO WATER FOR THE PEOPLE TO DRINK. Surely now, the people would hold their tongue. Yet it is written, WHEREFORE THE PEOPLE DID CHIDE (or quarrel) WITH MOSES, AND SAID, GIVE US WATER THAT WE MAY DRINK. AND MOSES SAID UNTO THEM, WHY CHIDE (or quarrel) YE WITH ME? WHEREFORE DO YE TEMPT THE LORD? (Why do you put the Lord to the test?-NIV)-Ex 17:1,2. God was testing the hearts of the people. If their heart was right, they would wait upon the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.
    All born-again Christians will be tested. Some will be tested in like manner, others in different ways. God will know a person’s heart. What would you have done in this case?
    AND THE PEOPLE THIRSTED THERE FOR WATER; AND THE PEOPLE MURMURED AGAINST MOSES, AND SAID, WHEREFORE IS THIS THAT "THOU" HAST BROUGHT US UP OUT OF EGYPT, TO KILL US AND OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CATTLE WITH THIRST?-Ex 17:3. They provoked THE LORD THY GOD TO WRATH-ref Deut 9:7. It appears God continued to test them for a period to determine what their hearts were like. AND MOSES CRIED UNTO THE LORD, SAYING, WHAT SHALL I DO UNTO THIS PEOPLE? THEY BE ALMOST READY TO STONE ME. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, GO ON BEFORE THE PEOPLE, AND TAKE WITH THEE OF THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL; AND THY ROD, WHEREWITH THOU SMOTEST THE RIVER, TAKE IN THINE HAND, AND GO. BEHOLD, "I WILL STAND BEFORE THEE" THERE UPON THE ROCK IN HOREB; AND THOU SHALT SMITE THE ROCK, AND THERE SHALL COME WATER OUT OF IT, THAT THE PEOPLE MAY DRINK. AND MOSES DID SO IN THE SIGHT OF THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL-Ex 17:4-6. AND HE CALLED THE NAME OF THE PLACE MASSAH, AND MERIBAH, BECAUSE OF THE CHIDING OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND BECAUSE THEY TEMPTED THE LORD, SAYING, IS THE LORD AMONG US, OR NOT?-Ex 17:7.
    The Lord went before them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They could see this. He gave them bread from heaven daily. They could see this. He had done many miracles for them, yet they said, IS THE LORD AMONG US, OR NOT? One might ask, how is this possible? How could the children of Israel say such a thing? Yet the same thing may be asked of most born-again Christians. When things get a bit difficult, many will say in their hearts, "Is the Lord with me or not?" Beware, lest you tempt the Lord.

    7. And Moses went up the mount. AND WHEN THE PEOPLE SAW THAT MOSES DELAYED TO COME DOWN OUT OF THE MOUNT, THE PEOPLE GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER UNTO AARON, AND SAID UNTO HIM, UP, MAKE US GODS, WHICH SHALL GO BEFORE US; FOR AS FOR THIS MOSES, THE MAN THAT BROUGHT US UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, WE WOT NOT (or don’t know) WHAT IS BECOME OF HIM-Ex 32:1. We must ask, how is this possible that the children of Israel could do such a thing? How is it possible that a person can be born-again and have all this information available to him, yet he does the same thing? No, he may not make a molten calf, but he turns from the Lord because of his work, personal desires, or the pleasures, lusts, cares, or riches of this world. These may become the idols of the born-again Christian. We may wonder how this is possible? Yet it happens to multitudes today, as it did then.
    AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, GO, GET THEE DOWN; FOR THY PEOPLE, WHICH THOU BROUGHTEST OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, HAVE CORRUPTED THEMSELVES: THEY HAVE TURNED ASIDE QUICKLY "OUT OF THE WAY WHICH I COMMANDED THEM": THEY HAVE MADE THEM A MOLTEN CALF, AND HAVE WORSHIPED IT, AND HAVE SACRIFICED THEREUNTO, AND SAID, THESE BE THY GODS, O ISRAEL, WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THEE UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT-Ex 32:7,8. There is no question that God had done all the miracles that caused Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. So then, how could they make a calf, and say of it, THESE BE THY GODS...WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THEE UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT? The calf didn’t even exist. How could they lie to themselves like this?
    We might ask, is the power of Satan to deceive a person this great? Is Satan’s power such that these people actually believed a molten calf, which didn’t even exist, brought them out of Egypt? The answer is yes. If a person has a lying and deceitful heart, or a wayside heart, Satan can indeed deceive him to that extent. He can take God’s Word out of his heart. The Bible warns us, BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR-1 Pe 5:8. SATAN...DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD (or leads the whole world astray)-Rev 12:9. Do not be deceived by some that say, "You can stamp Satan under your feet," or "Satan cannot deceive you." Do not underestimate your enemy, the devil.
    And the Lord was angry enough to have destroyed Israel-ref Deut 9:8.
    AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, I HAVE SEEN THIS PEOPLE, AND, BEHOLD, IT IS A STIFFNECKED PEOPLE-Ex 32:9.
    AND MOSES TURNED, AND WENT DOWN FROM THE MOUNT...AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS SOON AS HE CAME NIGH UNTO THE CAMP, THAT HE SAW THE CALF, AND THE DANCING: AND MOSES’ ANGER WAXED HOT, AND HE CAST THE TABLES OUT OF HIS HANDS, AND BRAKE THEM BENEATH THE MOUNT. AND HE TOOK THE CALF WHICH THEY HAD MADE, AND BURNT IT IN THE FIRE, AND GROUND IT TO POWDER, AND STRAWED IT UPON THE WATER, AND MADE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DRINK OF IT. AND MOSES SAID UNTO AARON, WHAT DID THIS PEOPLE UNTO THEE, THAT THOU HAST BROUGHT SO GREAT A SIN UPON THEM? AND AARON SAID, LET NOT THE ANGER OF MY LORD WAX HOT: THOU KNOWEST THE PEOPLE, THAT THEY ARE SET ON MISCHIEF (or you know how prone these people are to evil-NIV)-Ex 32:15,19-22.
    AND THE LORD WAS VERY ANGRY WITH AARON TO HAVE DESTROYED HIM: AND I PRAYED FOR AARON ALSO THE SAME TIME-Deut 9:20.
    Today, many Christians are the same way. They make light of sin. The strait gate and the narrow way is seldom taught. Many so-called Christians today also have a golden calf. Their money, pride, selfishness, television, job, house, automobile, the things of this world, astrology, drinking, drugs, sex, the government, or their own desires are their "golden calf." Jesus is to be your LORD and Savior. He is to come "first." Most Christians today, as then, have not known God’s ways. Many call upon the name of the Lord, but they will not follow "Him." Many commit abominations and are not ashamed. They are NOT VALIANT FOR THE TRUTH-Jere 9:3. Their MOLTEN IMAGE IS FALSEHOOD-Jere 10:14. God is IN THEIR MOUTH, but FAR FROM THEIR REINS-Jere 12:2. THEY HAVE BURNED INCENSE TO VANITY-Jere 18:15. Do any of these fit you?
    MOSES SAW THAT THE PEOPLE WERE RUNNING WILD-Ex 32:25 NIV. THEN MOSES STOOD IN THE GATE OF THE CAMP, AND SAID, WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE? LET HIM COME UNTO ME. AND ALL THE SONS OF LEVI GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER UNTO HIM. AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, PUT EVERY MAN HIS SWORD BY HIS SIDE, AND GO IN AND OUT FROM GATE TO GATE THROUGHOUT THE CAMP, AND SLAY EVERY MAN HIS BROTHER, AND EVERY MAN HIS COMPANION, AND EVERY MAN HIS NEIGHBOR. AND THE CHILDREN OF LEVI DID ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF MOSES: AND THERE FELL OF THE PEOPLE THAT DAY ABOUT THREE THOUSAND MEN-Ex 32:26-28.
    From the time the children of Israel neared the Red Sea, where they were baptized, to the time they arrived at the mount, they complained and murmured against Moses, Aaron, and the Lord. Yet God still had mercy on them and granted their needs. They murmured against God, yet He loved them.
    A new born-again Christian, when he springs up, has to have time to learn the ways of God and to grow. He will make mistakes and stumble. God has mercy on him and picks him back up. He may complain about God’s ways, as he does not understand them; yet God continues to have compassion on him. As God chastens and corrects him, he should grow in the Lord to be a strong tree, to serve the Lord, and to be an example of Jesus to others. God will continue to test us, so that our faith and love for Him may be proved genuine. Our love for Jesus is not measured in what we say, but rather in what we do: in deed and in truth.
    The Christian is not to go back into intentional sin. He is not to return to the old ways of partying, fornication, covetousness, adultery, idolatry, and turning to other gods, even to the ways of the world. Whatever things of the world we like the best, we may expect Satan to use them to tempt us to turn from God. Our trust is to be in Jesus, not in a golden calf. As it is written, IF ANY MAN LOVE THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM-1 Jn 2:15.
    This time the children of Israel had gone too far. AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE MORROW, THAT MOSES SAID UNTO THE PEOPLE, YE HAVE SINNED A GREAT SIN: AND NOW I WILL GO UP UNTO THE LORD; PERADVENTURE I SHALL MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR YOUR SIN. AND MOSES RETURNED UNTO THE LORD, AND SAID, OH, THIS PEOPLE HAVE SINNED A GREAT SIN, AND HAVE MADE THEM GODS OF GOLD. YET NOW, IF THOU WILT FORGIVE THEIR SIN—; AND IF NOT, BLOT ME, I PRAY THEE, OUT OF THY BOOK WHICH THOU HAST WRITTEN. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, WHOSOEVER HATH SINNED AGAINST ME, HIM WILL I BLOT OUT OF MY BOOK-Ex 32:30-33.
    The children of Israel were saved. They were covered by the blood. They believed and had faith. They had turned from their wicked ways and were baptized. God had been with them and led them, but now, they had gone too far: they had made a golden calf to be their god. They turned from their faith. By doing this, they turned from God. They returned to sin. Regarding those who had done this, God told Moses, WHOSOEVER HATH SINNED AGAINST ME, HIM WILL I BLOT OUT OF MY BOOK. Their names were in the book; however, their names were to be blotted out. Christian, let these things be an example to you. FEAR THE LORD, AND DEPART FROM EVIL-Pv 3:7.
    THEREFORE NOW GO, LEAD THE PEOPLE UNTO THE PLACE OF WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO THEE: BEHOLD, MINE ANGEL SHALL GO BEFORE THEE: NEVERTHELESS IN THE DAY WHEN I VISIT I WILL VISIT THEIR SIN UPON THEM-Ex 32:34. AND THE LORD STRUCK THE PEOPLE WITH A PLAGUE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID WITH THE CALF AARON HAD MADE-Ex 32:35 NIV.

    8. AND WHEN THE PEOPLE HEARD THESE EVIL TIDINGS, THEY MOURNED: AND NO MAN DID PUT ON HIM HIS ORNAMENTS. FOR THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO MOSES, SAY UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, YE ARE A STIFFNECKED PEOPLE: I WILL COME UP INTO THE MIDST OF THEE IN A MOMENT, AND CONSUME THEE: THEREFORE NOW PUT OFF THY ORNAMENTS FROM THEE, THAT I MAY KNOW WHAT TO DO UNTO THEE-Ex 33:4,5.
    THOU SHALT WORSHIP NO OTHER GOD: FOR THE LORD, WHOSE NAME IS JEALOUS, IS A JEALOUS GOD-Ex 34:14. The Christian is to deny self and selfish desires. God is a jealous God. Do not put anything before doing God’s will. Do not put work before church or personal desires before God’s desires. Do not provoke God by putting the things of this world before what He commands you to do. Be not fearful of what the world may do. Trust in the Lord. He created this world. All things were created by Him. Beware. Do not worship and serve CREATED THINGS RATHER THAN THE CREATOR-WHO IS FOREVER PRAISED-ref Ro 1:25 NIV. THE LORD GOD, MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS, LONGSUFFERING, AND ABUNDANT IN GOODNESS AND TRUTH-Ex 34:6.

    9. But God demands obedience. AARON’S SONS NADAB AND ABIHU TOOK THEIR CENSERS, PUT FIRE IN THEM AND ADDED INCENSE; AND THEY OFFERED UNAUTHORIZED FIRE BEFORE THE LORD, CONTRARY TO HIS COMMAND. Now, I ask you, what do you think today’s church would do to them? Would they simply say nothing, or tell them what they did wrong? Most likely today’s church would not want to "rock the boat." They would not want to cause any problems, so they would do nothing.
    What did God, Who judges righteously, do? FIRE CAME OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND CONSUMED THEM, AND THEY DIED BEFORE THE LORD-Lev 10:1,2 NIV. We can picture the multitude of people as this happened. They were undoubtedly in a state of shock, as God struck these two sons of Aaron dead with fire. We might picture Aaron and his two remaining sons watching as this happened. God demands obedience from His people.
    THEN MOSES SAID UNTO AARON, THIS IS IT THAT THE LORD SPAKE, SAYING, I WILL BE SANCTIFIED IN THEM THAT COME NIGH ME, AND BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE I WILL BE GLORIFIED. AND AARON HELD HIS PEACE-Lev 10:3. We might say, Moses was warning Aaron not to complain, as it would be rebelling against God’s judgment.
    The fire should have been from the altar. It is written, COMMAND AARON AND HIS SONS, SAYING, THIS IS THE LAW OF THE BURNT OFFERING...BECAUSE OF THE BURNING UPON THE ALTAR ALL NIGHT UNTO THE MORNING, AND THE FIRE OF THE ALTAR SHALL BE BURNING IN IT. THE FIRE SHALL EVER BE BURNING UPON THE ALTAR; IT SHALL NEVER GO OUT-Lev 6:9,13.
    If we consider the altar as a type of Christ, then by taking fire from any place other than the altar, they were trying to enter heaven another way. They are coming to God, yet worshiping their own way. It is the same in many churches today.
    We might wonder if they were trying to take over Aaron’s position of authority, considering Lev 16. AND HE (Aaron) SHALL TAKE A CENSER FULL OF BURNING COALS OF FIRE FROM OFF THE ALTAR BEFORE THE LORD...AND BRING IT WITHIN THE VEIL-Lev 16:12. Since there is a warning about not drinking wine or strong drink when they would go into the tabernacle, in Lev 10:9, it has been suggested that the two may have been intoxicated as well.

    10. If this was your brother that had just died, what would you do? Would you want to cry and mourn or even tear your clothes? AND MOSES SAID UNTO AARON, AND UNTO ELEAZAR AND UNTO ITHAMAR, HIS SONS, UNCOVER NOT YOUR HEADS, NEITHER REND YOUR CLOTHES; LEST YE DIE, AND LEST WRATH COME UPON ALL THE PEOPLE: BUT LET YOUR BRETHREN, THE WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, BEWAIL THE BURNING WHICH THE LORD HATH KINDLED. AND YE SHALL NOT GO OUT FROM THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION, LEST YE DIE: FOR THE ANOINTING OIL OF THE LORD IS UPON YOU. AND THEY DID ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF MOSES-Lev 10:6,7. It is written, GOD IS GREATLY TO BE FEARED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS-Ps 89:7. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD: YE SHALL THEREFORE SANCTIFY YOURSELVES, AND YE SHALL BE HOLY; FOR I AM HOLY-Lev 11:44.
    Today, the churches are full of wickedness and uncleanness. This seems to be forgotten: THUS SHALL YE SEPARATE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FROM THEIR UNCLEANNESS; THAT THEY DIE NOT IN THEIR UNCLEANNESS, WHEN THEY DEFILE MY TABERNACLE THAT IS AMONG THEM-Lev 15:31.

    11. Certainly now, one would think that the children of Israel would once again fear the Lord and stop complaining. NOW THE PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR HARDSHIPS-Num 11:1 NIV. IT DISPLEASED THE LORD: AND THE LORD HEARD IT; AND HIS ANGER WAS KINDLED; AND THE FIRE OF THE LORD BURNT AMONG THEM, AND CONSUMED THEM THAT WERE IN THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE CAMP. AND THE PEOPLE CRIED UNTO MOSES; AND WHEN MOSES PRAYED UNTO THE LORD, THE FIRE WAS QUENCHED-Num 11:1,2. We are reminded, DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT MURMURINGS AND DISPUTINGS-Phili 2:14. Paul said, I HAVE LEARNED, IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM, THEREWITH TO BE CONTENT. I KNOW BOTH HOW TO BE ABASED, AND I KNOW HOW TO ABOUND-Phili 4:11,12.
    Born-again Christians are not to murmur and complain or accuse others wrongfully. God detests this type of conduct. If God chooses to chastise you, to prove or test you with certain hardships for a time, accept them as a good servant of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the Potter (Jesus) knows how to make something special out of His clay. He knows how to form you to be as He wants you to be. Accept whatever comes upon you as a good servant and soldier of Jesus Christ.

    12. AND THE MIXED MULTITUDE THAT WAS AMONG THEM FELL A LUSTING (or began to crave other food): AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ALSO WEPT AGAIN, AND SAID, WHO SHALL GIVE US FLESH TO EAT? WE REMEMBER THE FISH, WHICH WE DID EAT IN EGYPT FREELY; THE CUCUMBERS, AND THE MELONS, AND THE LEEKS, AND THE ONIONS, AND THE GARLICK...THERE IS NOTHING AT ALL, BESIDE THIS MANNA…THEN MOSES HEARD THE PEOPLE WEEP THROUGHOUT THEIR FAMILIES, EVERY MAN IN THE DOOR OF HIS TENT: AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED GREATLY-Num 11:4-6,10.
    AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES...SAY THOU UNTO THE PEOPLE, SANCTIFY YOURSELVES AGAINST TOMORROW, AND YE SHALL EAT FLESH...EVEN A WHOLE MONTH, UNTIL IT COME OUT AT YOUR NOSTRILS, AND IT BE LOATHSOME UNTO YOU: BECAUSE THAT YE HAVE DESPISED THE LORD WHICH IS AMONG YOU, AND HAVE WEPT BEFORE HIM, SAYING, WHY CAME WE FORTH OUT OF EGYPT?-Num 11:16,18,20. Note, by their actions, it showed they DESPISED THE LORD. The children of Israel were not satisfied with what God had given them.
    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 (or about three feet, or one meter) UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. AND WHILE THE FLESH WAS YET BETWEEN THEIR TEETH, ERE (before) IT WAS CHEWED, THE WRATH OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST THE PEOPLE, AND THE LORD SMOTE THE PEOPLE WITH A VERY GREAT PLAGUE...THERE THEY BURIED THE PEOPLE THAT LUSTED-Num 11:31,33,34.
    Beware, regarding lusting or coveting after things. Beware, regarding prosperity. These can blind a person. Often a person thinks prosperity and riches are from the Lord; they forget that the deceitfulness of riches can choke them, even when they are following Jesus. They work harder and harder. There is no longer time to read the Bible, to witness, to do what God tells them to do, yet they think they are obeying God.

    We tend to forget these words:
    BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT.
    BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN.
    BLESSED ARE THE MEEK.
    BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH DO HUNGER...AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS.
    BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL.
    BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART.
    BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.
    BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE.
    BLESSED ARE YE, WHEN MEN SHALL REVILE YOU...FOR MY SAKE-Mt 5:3-11.
    BLESSED BE YE POOR.
    BLESSED ARE YE, WHEN MEN SHALL HATE YOU.
    BLESSED ARE YE...WHEN THEY SHALL SEPARATE YOU FROM THEIR COMPANY.
    BLESSED ARE YE, WHEN MEN SHALL...CAST OUT YOUR NAME AS EVIL-Lk 6:20,22.
    BLESSED IS HE, WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT BE OFFENDED IN ME-Lk 7:23.
    BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN-Ro 4:7.
    BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD WILL NOT IMPUTE SIN-Ro 4:8.
    BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION-Ja 1:12.
    BLESSED IS HE THAT KEEPETH THE SAYINGS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK-Rev 22:7.
    BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE CALLED-Rev 19:9.
    BLESSED IS HE THAT WATCHETH, AND KEEPETH HIS GARMENTS-Rev 16:15.
    BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS-Rev 22:14.
    BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT WALKETH NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY-Ps 1:1.
    BLESSED ARE ALL THEY THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM-Ps 2:12.
    BLESSED IS HE THAT CONSIDERETH THE POOR-Ps 41:1.
    BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOM THOU CHASTENEST-Ps 94:12.
    BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD-Ps 112:1.
    BLESSED ARE THEY THAT KEEP HIS TESTIMONIES-Ps 119:2.
    BLESSED ARE THE UNDEFILED IN THE WAY, WHO WALK IN THE LAW OF THE LORD-Ps 119:1.
    BLESSED ARE THEY...THAT SEEK HIM WITH THE WHOLE HEART-Ps 119:2.
    BLESSED ARE THEY THAT KEEP MY WAYS-Pv 8:32.
    BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT HEARETH ME, WATCHING DAILY AT MY GATES, WAITING AT…MY DOORS-Pv 8:34.
    BLESSED ARE ALL THEY THAT WAIT FOR HIM-Isa 30:18.
    BLESSED IS THE MAN...THAT KEEPETH THE SABBATH FROM POLLUTING IT, AND KEEPETH HIS HAND FROM DOING ANY EVIL-Isa 56:2.

    WOE UNTO THEM THAT RISE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, THAT THEY MAY FOLLOW STRONG DRINK-Isa 5:11.
    WOE UNTO THEM THAT CALL EVIL GOOD-Isa 5:20.
    WOE UNTO THEM THAT ARE WISE IN THEIR OWN EYES-Isa 5:21.
    WOE TO THE CROWN OF PRIDE-Isa 28:1.
    WOE UNTO THEM THAT SEEK DEEP TO HIDE THEIR COUNSEL FROM THE LORD, AND THEIR WORKS ARE IN THE DARK, AND THEY SAY, WHO SEETH US? AND WHO KNOWETH US?-Isa 29:15.
    WOE TO THE REBELLIOUS CHILDREN-Isa 30:1.
    WOE UNTO HIM THAT STRIVETH WITH HIS MAKER-Isa 45:9.
    WOE UNTO US! FOR WE ARE SPOILED-Jere 4:13.
    WOE UNTO HIM THAT BUILDETH HIS HOUSE BY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS-Jere 22:13.
    WOE UNTO YOU THAT DESIRE THE DAY OF THE LORD! TO WHAT END IS IT FOR YOU? THE DAY OF THE LORD IS DARKNESS, AND NOT LIGHT-Amos 5:18.
    WOE UNTO THEM! FOR THEY HAVE GONE IN THE WAY OF CAIN, AND RAN GREEDILY AFTER...ERROR-Jude 11.
    WOE TO THEM THAT DEVISE INIQUITY-Mic 2:1.
    WOE TO HIM THAT INCREASETH THAT WHICH IS NOT HIS!-Hab 2:6.
    WOE UNTO HIM THAT GIVETH HIS NEIGHBOR DRINK-Hab 2:15.
    WOE TO HER THAT IS FILTHY AND POLLUTED...SHE OBEYED NOT THE VOICE; SHE RECEIVED NOT CORRECTION; SHE TRUSTED NOT IN THE LORD; SHE DREW NOT NEAR TO HER GOD-Zeph 3:1,2.

    WOE BE UNTO THE PASTORS THAT DESTROY AND SCATTER THE SHEEP OF MY PASTURE!-Jere 23:1.
    WOE BE TO THE SHEPHERDS OF ISRAEL THAT DO FEED THEMSELVES! SHOULD NOT THE SHEPHERDS FEED THE FLOCKS?-Ezek 34:2.
    WOE TO THE IDOL SHEPHERD THAT LEAVETH THE FLOCK!-Zech 11:17.
    WOE UNTO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE SHUT UP THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AGAINST MEN: FOR YE NEITHER GO IN YOURSELVES, NEITHER SUFFER YE THEM THAT ARE ENTERING TO GO IN-Mt 23:13.

    WOE UNTO YOU THAT ARE RICH!
    WOE UNTO YOU THAT ARE FULL!
    WOE UNTO YOU THAT LAUGH NOW!
    WOE UNTO YOU, WHEN ALL MEN SHALL SPEAK WELL OF YOU!-Lk 6:24-26.
    WOE TO THEM THAT ARE AT EASE-Amos 6:1.

    WOE TO HIM THAT IS ALONE WHEN HE FALLETH; FOR HE HATH NOT ANOTHER TO HELP HIM UP-Ecc 4:10.
    WOE IS UNTO ME, IF I PREACH NOT THE GOSPEL!-1 Cor 9:16.

    13. AND MIRIAM AND AARON SPAKE AGAINST MOSES BECAUSE OF THE ETHIOPIAN (or Cushite) WOMAN WHOM HE HAD MARRIED…AND THEY SAID, HATH THE LORD INDEED SPOKEN ONLY BY MOSES? HATH HE NOT SPOKEN ALSO BY US? AND THE LORD HEARD IT. And the Lord said, WHEREFORE THEN WERE YE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK AGAINST MY SERVANT MOSES? AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST THEM...AND, BEHOLD, MIRIAM BECAME LEPROUS, WHITE AS SNOW: AND AARON LOOKED UPON MIRIAM, AND, BEHOLD, SHE WAS LEPROUS. 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-Num 12:1,2,8-11.
    We should be afraid to speak against a servant of God. We should be afraid of sowing any kind of discord among the brethren or accusing the brethren. Moses was married to an Ethiopian woman (a black woman). They spoke against Moses because of this. Yet the real reason they may have spoken against him was—they were jealous of his authority. They wanted even more; as they said, HATH HE (the Lord) NOT SPOKEN ALSO BY US? Aaron was the high priest; Miriam was a prophetess, yet they did not seem satisfied with the exalted position that they already had, by the mercy of God.
    Aaron said, LET HER NOT BE AS ONE DEAD, OF WHOM THE FLESH IS HALF CONSUMED WHEN HE COMETH OUT OF HIS MOTHER’S WOMB. AND MOSES CRIED UNTO THE LORD, SAYING, HEAL HER NOW, O GOD, I BESEECH THEE. 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-Num 12:12-14. When we sin, we should be ashamed.

    14. AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING, SEND THOU MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEARCH THE LAND OF CANAAN, WHICH I GIVE UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: OF EVERY TRIBE OF THEIR FATHERS SHALL YE SEND A MAN, EVERY ONE A RULER AMONG THEM. AND THEY RETURNED FROM SEARCHING OF THE LAND AFTER FORTY DAYS. THEY...CAME TO MOSES, AND TO AARON...AND THEY TOLD HIM...THE LAND...FLOWETH WITH MILK AND HONEY...NEVERTHELESS THE PEOPLE BE STRONG THAT DWELL IN THE LAND, AND THE CITIES ARE WALLED, AND VERY GREAT...AND THE MEN, WHICH MOSES SENT TO SEARCH THE LAND…RETURNED, AND MADE ALL THE CONGREGATION TO MURMUR AGAINST HIM, BY BRINGING UP A SLANDER UPON THE LAND-Num 13:1,2,25-28; 14:36.
    AND CALEB STILLED THE PEOPLE BEFORE MOSES, AND SAID, LET US GO UP AT ONCE, AND POSSESS IT; FOR WE ARE WELL ABLE TO OVERCOME IT. BUT THE MEN THAT WENT UP WITH HIM SAID, WE BE NOT ABLE TO GO UP AGAINST THE PEOPLE; FOR THEY ARE STRONGER THAN WE. AND THEY BROUGHT UP AN EVIL REPORT OF THE LAND...AND THERE WE SAW THE GIANTS, THE SONS OF ANAK, WHICH COME OF THE GIANTS: AND WE WERE IN OUR OWN SIGHT AS GRASSHOPPERS, AND SO WE WERE IN THEIR SIGHT-Num 13:30-33.
    Fear can blind us and cause us to disobey God. We are not to fear, but are to WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT-2 Cor 5:7.
    The Lord had fought for Israel. The Lord had done great signs and miracles. How could the people doubt? AND ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MURMURED AGAINST MOSES AND AGAINST AARON: AND THE WHOLE CONGREGATION SAID UNTO THEM, WOULD GOD THAT WE HAD DIED IN THE LAND OF EGYPT! OR WOULD GOD WE HAD DIED IN THIS WILDERNESS!-Num 14:2. It never came into their mind that God was going to grant them their wish, to die in the wilderness. This should be a lesson to all born-again Christians who let their emotions prompt their mouth to say things that should not be said. Beware, lest you say something stupid, and then God’s wrath is kindled, and the words that you speak come to pass.
    The children of Israel continue with their wicked words, by saying, AND WHEREFORE (or why) HATH THE LORD BROUGHT US UNTO THIS LAND, TO (let us) FALL BY THE SWORD, THAT OUR WIVES AND OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE A PREY (or taken as plunder)? WERE IT NOT BETTER FOR US TO RETURN INTO EGYPT? AND THEY SAID ONE TO ANOTHER, LET US MAKE A CAPTAIN, AND LET US RETURN INTO EGYPT (we should choose a leader and go back to Egypt-NIV)-Num 14:3,4. They did not understand God’s ways or His plan. They wanted a leader to do their will. They did not want to do God’s will. The darkness does not want the light to reign over it.    
    Moses walked by faith. He trusted in the Lord. The children of Israel were walking by sight and by their emotions. They wanted to choose a new leader. They did not believe the Lord would fight for them and deliver them again. They were afraid.

    15. THEN MOSES AND AARON FELL ON THEIR FACES...AND JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, AND CALEB THE SON OF JEPHUNNEH, WHICH WERE OF THEM THAT SEARCHED THE LAND, RENT THEIR CLOTHES: AND THEY SPAKE...REBEL NOT YE AGAINST THE LORD, NEITHER FEAR YE THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND; FOR THEY ARE BREAD FOR US: THEIR DEFENSE IS DEPARTED FROM THEM, AND THE LORD IS WITH US: FEAR THEM NOT. BUT ALL THE CONGREGATION BADE STONE THEM WITH STONES (or talked about stoning them)-Num 14:5-7,9,10.
    AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, HOW LONG WILL THIS PEOPLE PROVOKE ME? AND HOW LONG WILL IT BE ERE THEY BELIEVE ME (How long will these people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me?-NIV) (in spite of), FOR ALL THE SIGNS WHICH I HAVE SHEWED AMONG THEM?-Num 14:11.
    And the Lord’s anger was kindled against the people, but Moses interceded for them, and said, PARDON, I BESEECH THEE, THE INIQUITY OF THIS PEOPLE ACCORDING UNTO THE GREATNESS OF THY MERCY-Num 14:19. AND THE LORD SAID, I HAVE PARDONED ACCORDING TO THY WORD: BUT AS TRULY AS I LIVE, ALL THE EARTH SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE GLORY OF THE LORD. BECAUSE ALL THOSE MEN WHICH HAVE SEEN MY GLORY, AND MY MIRACLES, WHICH I DID IN EGYPT AND IN THE WILDERNESS, AND HAVE TEMPTED ME NOW THESE TEN TIMES, AND HAVE NOT HEARKENED TO MY VOICE; SURELY THEY SHALL NOT SEE THE LAND WHICH I SWARE UNTO THEIR FATHERS, NEITHER SHALL ANY OF THEM THAT PROVOKED ME SEE IT: BUT MY SERVANT CALEB, BECAUSE HE HAD ANOTHER SPIRIT WITH HIM, AND HATH FOLLOWED ME FULLY, HIM WILL I BRING INTO THE LAND-Num 14:20-24. And Joshua, the son of Nun, was also to enter the land.
    AND THE LORD SPAKE...HOW LONG SHALL I BEAR WITH THIS EVIL CONGREGATION, WHICH MURMUR AGAINST ME? SAY UNTO THEM, AS TRULY AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD, AS YE HAVE SPOKEN IN MINE EARS, SO WILL I DO TO YOU-Num 14:26-28.
    We are reminded, whatsoever you sow that shall you also reap. The children of Israel had said, WOULD GOD WE HAD DIED IN THIS WILDERNESS. Now, God will grant them their wish. YOUR CARCASES SHALL FALL IN THIS WILDERNESS; AND ALL THAT WERE NUMBERED OF YOU, ACCORDING TO YOUR WHOLE NUMBER, FROM TWENTY YEARS OLD AND UPWARD, WHICH HAVE MURMURED AGAINST ME...YE SHALL NOT COME INTO THE LAND...BUT YOUR LITTLE ONES, WHICH YE SAID SHOULD BE A PREY, THEM WILL I BRING IN, AND THEY SHALL KNOW THE LAND WHICH YE HAVE DESPISED. BUT AS FOR YOU, YOUR CARCASES, THEY SHALL FALL IN THIS WILDERNESS. AND YOUR CHILDREN SHALL WANDER IN THE WILDERNESS FORTY YEARS, AND BEAR YOUR WHOREDOMS, UNTIL YOUR CARCASES BE WASTED IN THE WILDERNESS-Num 14:29-33.
    AFTER THE NUMBER OF THE DAYS IN WHICH YE SEARCHED THE LAND, EVEN FORTY DAYS, EACH DAY FOR A YEAR...EVEN THOSE MEN THAT DID BRING UP THE EVIL REPORT UPON THE LAND, DIED BY THE PLAGUE BEFORE THE LORD...AND THE PEOPLE MOURNED GREATLY-Num 14:34,37,39.
    We are reminded that it is written, BUT THE FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING...SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH-Rev 21:8. Here the rulers of the tribes that would not walk by faith and believe the Lord, even those who sowed rebellion against the Lord, died.
    Surely, after all of this, one would think the children of Israel would listen to Moses and obey the voice of the Lord. Likewise, one would think, by knowing these things, born-again Christians would surely obey the Gospel today, yet many will not.

    16. What do the children of Israel do now? They said, WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD, WE WILL GO UP AND FIGHT...AND THE LORD SAID...GO NOT UP, NEITHER FIGHT; FOR I AM NOT AMONG YOU. Yet the children of Israel...WOULD NOT HEAR, BUT REBELLED AGAINST THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD, AND WENT PRESUMPTUOUSLY UP INTO THE HILL-Deut 1:41-43. NEVERTHELESS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD, AND MOSES, DEPARTED NOT OUT OF THE CAMP. THEN THE AMALEKITES CAME DOWN, AND THE CANAANITES WHICH DWELT IN THAT HILL, AND SMOTE THEM-Num 14:44,45. And the children of Israel RETURNED AND WEPT BEFORE THE LORD; BUT THE LORD WOULD NOT HEARKEN TO their voice-Deut 1:45.
    Satan used fear to deceive the children of Israel. Their emotions overcame them. Once they heard the judgment against them, they wanted to make it right. They "felt" they could restore themselves by going up. Their emotions gripped them and took over. They were positive they were correct. They "felt" they had to do something.
    Moses had warned them not to go. He said, WHEREFORE NOW DO YE TRANSGRESS THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD?-Num 14:41. Yet as many Christians do today, they followed their "feelings" (their emotions), rather than God’s Word. They trusted what they felt was right, even though "what they felt" was in disagreement with the Word of God. At this present time, multitudes of people are in hell, who "felt" they would not be there. They were wrong.
    Your feelings cannot be trusted. The Word of God is your flawless guide. Many times the born-again Christian may say, "I feel I should go here or there. I feel this is right. I feel I should not be baptized. I feel sprinkling baptism is the correct way. I feel it is all right to fellowship with my unbelieving friends. I feel I should not go witnessing. I feel I would rather watch television than read my Bible. I feel I should not go to church." We are to obey God’s Word, not our feelings. The children of Israel learned the hard way, as the Amorites came out against them (Israel), chased them as bees do, and destroyed them in Seir, even unto Hormah-ref Deut 1:44.
    It is written, ANYONE WHO SINS DEFIANTLY, WHETHER NATIVE-BORN OR ALIEN, BLASPHEMES THE LORD, AND THAT PERSON MUST BE CUT OFF FROM HIS PEOPLE. BECAUSE HE HAS DESPISED THE LORD’S WORD AND BROKEN HIS COMMANDS-Num 15:30,31 NIV. REMEMBER ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD, AND DO THEM; AND THAT YE SEEK NOT AFTER YOUR OWN HEART AND YOUR OWN EYES, AFTER WHICH YE USE TO GO A WHORING-Num 15:39.

    17. NOW KORAH...DATHAN AND ABIRAM, THE SONS OF ELIAB, AND ON, THE SON OF PELETH, SONS OF REUBEN, TOOK MEN: AND THEY ROSE UP BEFORE MOSES, WITH CERTAIN OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY PRINCES OF THE ASSEMBLY, FAMOUS IN THE CONGREGATION, MEN OF RENOWN-Num 16:1,2. We note Moses, who is walking in the will of God, is getting persecuted over and over. Time after time, Moses prayed for the children of Israel that God would spare them; yet time after time, the very people Moses helped, turned against him. Moses seemed to love them greatly, even though, at times, they seem to have hated him.
    It may be noted, the people that came against Moses were those who were well respected. They were MEN OF RENOWN. They were PRINCES OF THE ASSEMBLY. There were many of them that took counsel against Moses. There were TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY PRINCES.
    It is much the same today. Many respected clergy may set themselves against other clergy, who are truly born-again. The unbeliever often does not understand that many clergy are not born-again, neither are they called of God as one of "His" shepherds. Thus, when a large group of "false" shepherds gather against a good shepherd, unbelievers often side with the large group. After all, isn’t there safety in numbers? They may verbally attack the good shepherd on news broadcasts, television, radio, and newspapers. They may speak against the good shepherd on talk shows. Consider. The vast majority of religious leaders were against Jesus. It was many against One, yet Jesus was right. The multitude that gathered against Him and accused Him were following the deceiver. Here were two hundred and fifty MEN OF RENOWN, PRINCES, united together against Moses and Aaron.
    AND THEY GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER AGAINST MOSES AND AGAINST AARON, AND SAID UNTO THEM, YE TAKE TOO MUCH UPON YOU, SEEING ALL THE CONGREGATION ARE HOLY, EVERY ONE OF THEM, AND THE LORD IS AMONG THEM: WHEREFORE THEN LIFT YE UP YOURSELVES ABOVE THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD-Num 16:3. The multitude accused them of lifting themselves up. They were accusing Moses and Aaron of pride. They failed to perceive that Moses and Aaron had not exalted themselves at all. God had done it; however, the unbelieving heart cannot understand the things that be of God. They had assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron and were not afraid. They believed they were right.
    AND WHEN MOSES HEARD IT, HE FELL UPON HIS FACE: AND HE SPAKE UNTO KORAH AND UNTO ALL HIS COMPANY, SAYING, EVEN TO MORROW THE LORD WILL SHOW WHO ARE HIS, AND WHO IS HOLY; AND WILL CAUSE HIM TO COME NEAR UNTO HIM: EVEN HIM WHOM HE HATH CHOSEN-Num 16:4,5. YOU LEVITES HAVE GONE TOO FAR!-Num 16:7 NIV.
    THEN MOSES SUMMONED DATHAN AND ABIRIM, THE SONS OF ELIAB. BUT THEY SAID, "WE WILL NOT COME! ISN’T IT ENOUGH THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT US UP OUT OF A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY TO KILL US IN THE DESERT? AND NOW YOU ALSO WANT TO LORD IT OVER US? MOREOVER, YOU HAVEN’T BROUGHT US INTO A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY OR GIVEN US AN INHERITANCE OF FIELDS AND VINEYARDS. WILL YOU GOUGE OUT THE EYES OF THESE MEN? NO, WE WILL NOT COME!" THEN MOSES BECAME VERY ANGRY AND SAID TO THE LORD, "DO NOT ACCEPT THEIR OFFERING. I HAVE NOT TAKEN SO MUCH AS A DONKEY FROM THEM, NOR HAVE I WRONGED ANY OF THEM"-Num 16:12-15 NIV.
    AND MOSES SAID UNTO KORAH, BE THOU AND ALL THY COMPANY BEFORE THE LORD, THOU, AND THEY, AND AARON, TO MORROW…AND KORAH GATHERED ALL THE CONGREGATION AGAINST THEM UNTO THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE...AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND UNTO AARON, SAYING, SEPARATE YOURSELVES FROM AMONG THIS CONGREGATION, THAT I MAY CONSUME THEM IN A MOMENT. AND THEY FELL UPON THEIR FACES, AND SAID, O GOD, THE GOD OF THE SPIRITS OF ALL FLESH, SHALL ONE MAN SIN, AND WILT THOU BE WROTH WITH ALL THE CONGREGATION? AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING, SPEAK UNTO THE CONGREGATION, SAYING, GET YOU UP FROM ABOUT THE TABERNACLE OF KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM. AND MOSES ROSE UP AND WENT UNTO DATHAN AND ABIRAM; AND THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL FOLLOWED HIM-Num 16:16,19-25. We have noted that Dathan and Abiram had refused to come.
    Envy is a wicked thing in the eyes of the Lord. Do not be envious that God exalts one person more than you. Do not question God’s ways. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. Do not let your emotions cause you to judge another man’s servant.
    AND HE SPAKE UNTO THE CONGREGATION, SAYING, DEPART, I PRAY YOU, FROM THE TENTS OF THESE WICKED MEN, AND TOUCH NOTHING OF THEIRS, LEST YE BE CONSUMED IN ALL THEIR SINS. SO THEY GAT UP FROM THE TABERNACLE OF KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM, ON EVERY SIDE: AND DATHAN AND ABIRAM CAME OUT, AND STOOD IN THE DOOR OF THEIR TENTS, AND THEIR WIVES, AND THEIR SONS, AND THEIR LITTLE CHILDREN-Num 16:26,27.
    Dathan and Abiram appeared resentful of the judgment that God had spoken, namely, of wandering in the wilderness for forty years and dying there. They did not seem able to acknowledge their sins, that what they had done was wrong. They considered themselves holy, as they had said, ALL THE CONGREGATION ARE HOLY. They appeared to be full of envy, frustration, resentment, and rebellion. Their emotions had gripped them. They sinned greatly by challenging Moses and Aaron, God’s anointed.
    AND MOSES SAID, HEREBY YE SHALL KNOW THAT THE LORD HATH SENT ME TO DO ALL THESE WORKS; FOR I HAVE NOT DONE THEM OF MINE OWN MIND. IF THESE MEN DIE THE COMMON DEATH OF ALL MEN, OR IF THEY BE VISITED AFTER THE VISITATION OF ALL MEN (if these men…experience only what usually happens to men-NIV); THEN THE LORD HATH NOT SENT ME. BUT IF THE LORD MAKE A NEW THING, AND THE EARTH OPEN HER MOUTH, AND SWALLOW THEM UP, WITH ALL THAT APPERTAIN (or belongs) UNTO THEM, AND THEY GO DOWN QUICK UNTO THE PIT; THEN YE SHALL UNDERSTAND THAT THESE MEN HAVE PROVOKED THE LORD. AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE HAD MADE AN END OF SPEAKING ALL THESE WORDS, THAT THE GROUND CLAVE ASUNDER THAT WAS UNDER THEM:
    AND THE EARTH OPENED HER MOUTH, AND SWALLOWED THEM UP, AND THEIR HOUSES, AND ALL THE MEN...THAT APPERTAINED TO THEM, WENT DOWN ALIVE INTO THE PIT, AND THE EARTH CLOSED UPON THEM: AND THEY PERISHED FROM AMONG THE CONGREGATION. AND ALL ISRAEL THAT WERE ROUND ABOUT THEM FLED AT THE CRY OF THEM: FOR THEY SAID, LEST THE EARTH SWALLOW US UP ALSO. AND THERE CAME OUT A FIRE FROM THE LORD, AND CONSUMED THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY MEN THAT OFFERED INCENSE-Num 16:28-35.
    Consider the terror that must have struck the hearts of the children of Israel! Surely now, they would truly repent and fear the Lord and His anointed, Moses and Aaron. Surely, they would no longer dare to speak out against Moses.
    The Scriptures tell about the rich man and the beggar, named Lazarus, in Lk 16:19-31. The rich man went to hell. He asked father Abraham to send unto his brethren one from the dead, so they would repent and not come to this place of torment, called hell. The answer of Abraham shows us a great truth: if a person’s heart will not receive God’s Word—no matter how great the miracles—they will not repent or change direction. Abraham replied, IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES AND THE PROPHETS (the Bible), NEITHER WILL THEY BE PERSUADED, THOUGH ONE ROSE FROM THE DEAD. It is written, SPORTING THEMSELVES WITH THEIR OWN DECEIVINGS...HAVING EYES FULL OF ADULTERY, AND THAT CANNOT CEASE FROM SIN-2 Pe 2:13,14. Note again the words, THAT CANNOT CEASE FROM SIN.

    18. One would now think, the children of Israel would be so afraid of Moses that they would never again speak against him. BUT ON THE MORROW ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MURMURED AGAINST MOSES AND AGAINST AARON, SAYING, YE HAVE KILLED THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD-Num 16:41. One might wonder, how they would they dare to do this. How could they be so blind as to think that Moses and Aaron did these things?
    AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THE CONGREGATION WAS GATHERED AGAINST MOSES AND AGAINST AARON, THAT THEY LOOKED TOWARD THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION: AND, BEHOLD, THE CLOUD COVERED IT, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD APPEARED-Num 16:42.
    AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING, GET YOU UP FROM AMONG THIS CONGREGATION, THAT I MAY CONSUME THEM AS IN A MOMENT. AND THEY FELL UPON THEIR FACES. AND MOSES SAID UNTO AARON, TAKE A CENSER, AND PUT FIRE THEREIN FROM OFF THE ALTAR, AND PUT ON INCENSE, AND GO QUICKLY UNTO THE CONGREGATION, AND MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR THEM: FOR THERE IS WRATH GONE OUT FROM THE LORD; THE PLAGUE IS BEGUN. AND HE STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING; AND THE PLAGUE WAS STAYED. NOW THEY THAT DIED IN THE PLAGUE WERE FOURTEEN THOUSAND AND SEVEN HUNDRED, BESIDE THEM THAT DIED ABOUT THE MATTER OF KORAH-Num 16:44-46, 48,49.

    19. THEN CAME THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, EVEN THE WHOLE CONGREGATION, INTO THE DESERT OF ZIN...AND THERE WAS NO WATER FOR THE CONGREGATION: AND THEY GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER AGAINST MOSES AND AGAINST AARON. AND THE PEOPLE CHODE (or quarreled) WITH MOSES, AND SPAKE, SAYING, WOULD GOD THAT WE HAD DIED WHEN OUR BRETHREN DIED BEFORE THE LORD! AND WHY HAVE YE BROUGHT UP THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD INTO THIS WILDERNESS, THAT WE AND OUR CATTLE SHOULD DIE THERE?-Num 20:1-4. The children of Israel still murmured and complained. They still did not understand it was the Lord leading them. They still blamed Moses. There was no fear of God before their eyes. It is written, THE TONGUE CAN NO MAN TAME; IT IS AN UNRULY EVIL, FULL OF DEADLY POISON-Ja 3:8.
    It seems that they would not learn God’s ways. They refused to understand. Their hearts had waxed gross, yet God continued to work with them. God’s will is that we learn to be patient, to wait upon the Lord, and to learn and understand His ways.

    SO IT WAS ALWAYS: THE CLOUD COVERED IT BY DAY, AND THE APPEARANCE OF FIRE BY NIGHT. AND WHEN THE CLOUD WAS TAKEN UP FROM THE TABERNACLE, THEN AFTER THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL JOURNEYED: AND IN THE PLACE WHERE THE CLOUD ABODE, THERE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL PITCHED THEIR TENTS. AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL JOURNEYED, AND AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD THEY PITCHED: AS LONG AS THE CLOUD ABODE UPON THE TABERNACLE THEY RESTED IN THEIR TENTS. AND WHEN THE CLOUD TARRIED LONG UPON THE TABERNACLE MANY DAYS, THEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL KEPT THE CHARGE OF THE LORD, AND JOURNEYED NOT. AND SO IT WAS, WHEN THE CLOUD ABODE FROM EVEN UNTO THE MORNING, AND THAT THE CLOUD WAS TAKEN UP IN THE MORNING, THEN THEY JOURNEYED: WHETHER IT WAS BY DAY OR BY NIGHT THAT THE CLOUD WAS TAKEN UP, THEY JOURNEYED. OR WHETHER IT WERE TWO DAYS, OR A MONTH, OR A YEAR, THAT THE CLOUD TARRIED UPON THE TABERNACLE, REMAINING THEREON, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ABODE IN THEIR TENTS, AND JOURNEYED NOT: BUT WHEN IT WAS TAKEN UP, THEY JOURNEYED-Num 9:16-19,21,22.

    20. AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING, TAKE THE ROD, AND GATHER THOU THE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER, THOU, AND AARON THY BROTHER, AND SPEAK YE UNTO THE ROCK BEFORE THEIR EYES; AND IT SHALL GIVE FORTH HIS WATER, AND THOU SHALT BRING FORTH TO THEM WATER OUT OF THE ROCK...AND MOSES TOOK THE ROD FROM BEFORE THE LORD, AS HE COMMANDED HIM. AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, HEAR NOW, YE REBELS; MUST WE FETCH YOU WATER OUT OF THIS ROCK?-Num 20:7-10. Moses seemed to be frustrated and angry with the people; his emotions were stirred. It is written, THEY ANGERED HIM ALSO AT THE WATERS OF STRIFE, SO THAT IT WENT ILL WITH MOSES FOR THEIR SAKES (trouble came to Moses because of them-NIV): BECAUSE THEY PROVOKED HIS SPIRIT, SO THAT HE SPOKE UNADVISEDLY (rash words) WITH HIS LIPS-Ps 106:32,33.

    AND MOSES LIFTED UP HIS HAND, AND WITH HIS ROD HE SMOTE THE ROCK "TWICE": AND THE WATER CAME OUT ABUNDANTLY-Num 20:11. Moses had sinned. Therefore, he would not be allowed to bring the congregation into the Promised Land. God wants obedience. Moses spoke unadvisedly, by saying, "NOW, YE REBELS," and then "MUST WE FETCH YOU WATER OUT OF THIS ROCK?"
    In Ex 17:6, nearly forty years previously, God used a rock to provide Israel with water. At that time, Moses was instructed to strike the rock once (which was a type of Christ). Jesus Christ was only to be smitten once. This time, Moses was instructed to speak to the rock. God gives us very exact instructions for very specific reasons. Often we may not know the reason, but we are expected to obey God, nevertheless.

    How did Moses sin? Look carefully at the Scripture. God commanded Moses to SPEAK YE UNTO THE ROCK BEFORE THEIR EYES. What did Moses do? MOSES...SMOTE THE ROCK TWICE. God had said to speak unto the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock; he struck it twice. AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND AARON, "BECAUSE YE BELIEVED ME NOT," TO SANCTIFY ME IN THE EYES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THEREFORE YE SHALL NOT BRING THIS CONGREGATION INTO THE LAND WHICH I HAVE GIVEN THEM-Num 20:12. GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS-Acts 10:34.

    AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND AARON IN MOUNT HOR...SAYING, AARON SHALL BE GATHERED UNTO HIS PEOPLE: FOR HE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE LAND WHICH I HAVE GIVEN UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, BECAUSE YE REBELLED AGAINST MY WORD AT THE WATER OF MERIBAH-Num 20:23,24.
    And Moses, said later on, FURTHERMORE THE LORD WAS ANGRY WITH ME "FOR YOUR SAKES," AND SWARE THAT I SHOULD NOT GO OVER JORDAN, AND THAT I SHOULD NOT GO IN UNTO THAT GOOD LAND, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE FOR AN INHERITANCE: BUT I MUST DIE IN THIS LAND-Deut 4:21,22.

    21. AND THEY JOURNEYED...TO COMPASS THE LAND OF EDOM: AND THE SOUL OF THE PEOPLE WAS MUCH DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THE WAY-Num 21:4. Often a Christian is discouraged, because of the way God is taking him. He may think he is doing great service for the Lord. He may become exalted in his own eyes. The born-again Christian often fails to realize the journey that God is taking him on is a journey of testing. God wants to know whether each born-again Christian will walk in all His ways without murmuring and complaining under all conditions—good and bad. God wants to know if the born-again Christian will follow Him wholly, no matter how difficult the journey.
    `The born-again Christian that tends to think in terms of, "But God, wouldn’t it be better to do such and such this way, rather than the way You said?" may have forgotten that God’s ways are higher than our ways-ref Isa 55:9. He may have forgotten that God wants to know our hearts under all kinds of circumstances. God knows the future and the results of our actions, we do not. It is written, I WILL TEST THEM AND SEE WHETHER THEY WILL FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS-Ex 16:4 NIV.

    When Aaron died, Eleazar, his son, took his place.

    AND THE PEOPLE SPAKE AGAINST GOD, AND AGAINST MOSES, WHEREFORE HAVE YE BROUGHT US UP OUT OF EGYPT TO DIE IN THE WILDERNESS? FOR THERE IS NO BREAD, NEITHER IS THERE ANY WATER; AND OUR SOUL LOATHETH (or detests) THIS LIGHT BREAD-Num 21:5.

    Is it wrong to ask the Lord for food when you are hungry, or water when you are thirsty? Certainly, not; however, do not murmur and complain about the food He gives you. Learn to wait upon the Lord.

    AND THE LORD SENT FIERY SERPENTS AMONG THE PEOPLE, AND THEY BIT THE PEOPLE; AND MUCH PEOPLE OF ISRAEL DIED. THEREFORE THE PEOPLE CAME TO MOSES, AND SAID, WE HAVE SINNED, FOR WE HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST THE LORD, AND AGAINST THEE; PRAY UNTO THE LORD, THAT HE TAKE AWAY THE SERPENTS FROM US. AND MOSES PRAYED FOR THE PEOPLE. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, MAKE THEE A FIERY SERPENT, AND SET IT UPON A POLE: AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT EVERY ONE THAT IS BITTEN, WHEN HE LOOKETH UPON IT, SHALL LIVE-Num 21:6-8.
    Jesus told His disciples, AND INTO WHATSOEVER CITY YE ENTER, AND THEY RECEIVE YOU, EAT SUCH THINGS AS ARE SET BEFORE YOU-Lk 10:8. He also said, SEEK NOT YE "WHAT" YE SHALL EAT...YOUR FATHER KNOWETH THAT YE HAVE NEED OF THESE THINGS. BUT RATHER SEEK YE THE KINGDOM OF GOD; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU-Lk 12:29-31. Do not say of the Lord’s food, "I detest this." Jesus said, THEREFORE I SAY UNTO YOU, TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE, "WHAT" YE SHALL EAT; NEITHER FOR THE BODY, "WHAT" YE SHALL PUT ON. THE LIFE IS MORE THAN MEAT, AND THE BODY IS MORE THAN RAIMENT. CONSIDER THE RAVENS: FOR THEY NEITHER SOW NOR REAP; WHICH NEITHER HAVE STOREHOUSE NOR BARN; AND GOD FEEDETH THEM: HOW MUCH MORE ARE YE BETTER THAN THE FOWLS? IF THEN GOD SO CLOTHE THE GRASS, WHICH IS TODAY IN THE FIELD, AND TOMORROW IS CAST INTO THE OVEN; HOW MUCH MORE WILL HE CLOTHE YOU, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH?-Lk 12:22-24,28.
    Note, the time is nearing when the children of Israel will enter the Promised Land. They had murmured and complained. They had said, THERE IS NO BREAD, NEITHER IS THERE ANY WATER; AND OUR SOUL LOATHETH THIS LIGHT BREAD. God chastised them with snakes. Now, there was a different response than that of their fathers, nearly forty years ago. They acknowledged the Lord. They repented and confessed their sin. They came to Moses, saying, WE HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST THE LORD, AND AGAINST THEE. It may be noted that progress was being made. The people were beginning to understand God’s ways. They were beginning to learn through chastening and correction. The hearts of these do not seem quite as hard as the hearts of their fathers, nearly forty years ago. We all need to learn to have a much different attitude than we once had. We need to be childlike, humble, and submissive to God’s Word. We need to be converted. EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED, AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN-Mt 18:3. We need to be born-again. EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN-AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD-Jn 3:3. We need to be transformed to the ways of Jesus, not to the ways of this world. AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND-Ro 12:2. We need to "PUT OFF" CONCERNING THE FORMER CONVERSATION "THE OLD MAN," WHICH IS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS (or deceitful desires); AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND; AND THAT YE "PUT ON THE NEW MAN," WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS (or put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness)-Eph 4:22-24 KJV, NIV. It is written, BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT-Mt 5:48.

    22. AND ISRAEL ABODE IN SHITTIM, AND THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO COMMIT WHOREDOM WITH THE DAUGHTERS OF MOAB.

    23. AND THE PEOPLE DID EAT, AND BOWED DOWN TO THEIR GODS. AND ISRAEL JOINED HIMSELF UNTO BAALPEOR: AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST ISRAEL. AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES, TAKE ALL THE HEADS OF THE PEOPLE, AND HANG THEM UP BEFORE THE LORD AGAINST THE SUN, THAT THE FIERCE ANGER OF THE LORD MAY BE TURNED AWAY FROM ISRAEL. AND MOSES SAID UNTO THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL, SLAY YE EVERY ONE HIS MEN THAT WERE JOINED UNTO BAALPEOR.
    AND, BEHOLD, ONE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CAME AND BROUGHT UNTO HIS BRETHREN A MIDIANITISH WOMAN IN THE SIGHT OF MOSES, AND IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, WHO WERE WEEPING BEFORE THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION. AND WHEN PHINEHAS, THE SON OF ELEAZAR, THE SON OF AARON THE PRIEST, SAW IT, HE ROSE UP FROM AMONG THE CONGREGATION, AND TOOK A JAVELIN (or a spear) IN HIS HAND; AND HE WENT AFTER THE MAN OF ISRAEL INTO THE TENT, AND THRUST BOTH OF THEM THROUGH, THE MAN OF ISRAEL, AND THE WOMAN THROUGH HER BELLY. SO THE PLAGUE WAS STAYED FROM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. AND THOSE THAT DIED IN THE PLAGUE WERE TWENTY AND FOUR THOUSAND-Num 25:1-9.
    What place does righteousness have with unrighteousness? What place do the children of God have with infidels, with unbelievers, with the unsaved, with the uncircumcised, with the unrighteous, with those who hate God, with those whose father is Satan, with those who try to cause confusion, and with those who try to cause the believer to turn away from God? Such evil had to be put away from among the children of Israel. Satan will try to cause the Christian to turn away from God as he did the children of Israel through the daughters of Moab.

    24. AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING, AVENGE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OF THE MIDIANITES...AND THEY WARRED AGAINST THE MIDIANITES, AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES; AND THEY SLEW ALL THE MALES. AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TOOK ALL THE WOMEN OF MIDIAN CAPTIVES, AND THEIR LITTLE ONES...AND THEY BURNT ALL THEIR CITIES-Num 31:1,2,7,9,10. AND MOSES WAS WROTH WITH THE OFFICERS OF THE HOST...AND MOSES SAID UNTO THEM, HAVE YE SAVED ALL THE WOMEN ALIVE? BEHOLD, THESE CAUSED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THROUGH THE COUNSEL OF BALAAM, TO COMMIT TRESPASS AGAINST THE LORD IN THE MATTER OF PEOR, AND THERE WAS A PLAGUE AMONG THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD. NOW THEREFORE KILL EVERY MALE AMONG THE LITTLE ONES, AND KILL EVERY WOMAN THAT HATH KNOWN MAN BY LYING WITH HIM-Num 31:14-17. BUT ALL THE WOMAN CHILDREN, THAT HAVE NOT KNOWN A MAN BY LYING WITH HIM, KEEP ALIVE FOR YOURSELVES-Num 31:18.

    AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES IN THE PLAINS OF MOAB BY JORDAN NEAR JERICHO, SAYING, SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND SAY UNTO THEM, WHEN YE ARE PASSED OVER JORDAN INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN; THEN YE SHALL DRIVE OUT ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND FROM BEFORE YOU, AND DESTROY ALL THEIR PICTURES, AND DESTROY ALL THEIR MOLTEN IMAGES, AND QUITE PLUCK DOWN ALL THEIR HIGH PLACES...BUT IF YE WILL NOT DRIVE OUT THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND FROM BEFORE YOU; THEN IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT THOSE WHICH YE LET REMAIN OF THEM SHALL BE PRICKS (or barbs) IN YOUR EYES, AND THORNS IN YOUR SIDES, AND SHALL VEX YOU IN THE LAND WHEREIN YE DWELL. MOREOVER IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT I SHALL DO UNTO YOU, AS I THOUGHT TO DO UNTO THEM-Num 33:50-52,55,56. God seems to be telling them, NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL-Eph 4:27. Do not give Satan a way to deceive you through the unsaved. If you disobey, these unsaved inhabitants SHALL BE PRICKS IN YOUR EYES, AND THORNS IN YOUR SIDES. This command is also for today.
    The Lord commands, YE SHALL NOT ADD UNTO THE WORD WHICH I COMMAND YOU, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH OUGHT FROM IT, THAT YE MAY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD WHICH I COMMAND YOU-Deut 4:2.
    And God tells the children of Israel, WHEN THOU ART IN TRIBULATION, AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE COME UPON THEE, EVEN IN THE "LATTER DAYS," IF THOU TURN TO THE LORD THY GOD, AND SHALT BE OBEDIENT UNTO HIS VOICE...HE WILL NOT FORSAKE THEE-Deut 4:30,31. UNTO THEE IT WAS SHEWED, THAT THOU MIGHTEST KNOW THAT THE LORD HE IS GOD; THERE IS NONE ELSE BESIDE HIM-Deut 4:35.
    AND NOW, ISRAEL, WHAT DOTH THE LORD THY GOD REQUIRE OF THEE, BUT TO:
    FEAR THE LORD THY GOD,
    TO WALK IN ALL HIS WAYS,
    AND TO LOVE HIM,
    AND TO SERVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART AND WITH ALL THY SOUL,
    TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD...FOR THY GOOD-Deut 10:12,13.
    TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES, THAT YOUR HEART BE NOT DECEIVED, AND YE TURN ASIDE-Deut 11:16.
    BEHOLD, I SET BEFORE YOU THIS DAY A BLESSING AND A CURSE; A BLESSING, IF YE OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHICH I COMMAND YOU THIS DAY: AND A CURSE, IF YE WILL NOT OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, BUT TURN ASIDE OUT OF THE WAY-Deut 11:26-28.
    WHAT THING SOEVER I COMMAND YOU, OBSERVE TO DO IT: THOU SHALT NOT ADD THERETO, NOR DIMINISH FROM IT-Deut 12:32. FOR THOU ART AN HOLY PEOPLE UNTO THE LORD THY GOD, AND THE LORD HATH CHOSEN THEE TO BE A PECULIAR PEOPLE UNTO HIMSELF-Deut 14:2.
    I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO RECORD THIS DAY AGAINST YOU, THAT I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSING AND CURSING: THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE-Deut 30:19. And it came to pass that the children of Israel entered the Promised Land. They passed over the Jordan River.
    It is written, YEA, FORTY YEARS DIDST THOU SUSTAIN THEM IN THE WILDERNESS, SO THAT THEY LACKED NOTHING; THEIR CLOTHES WAXED NOT OLD, AND THEIR FEET SWELLED NOT-Neh 9:21.
    BRETHREN, I WOULD NOT THAT YE SHOULD BE IGNORANT, HOW THAT ALL OUR FATHERS WERE UNDER THE CLOUD, AND ALL PASSED THROUGH THE SEA; AND WERE ALL BAPTIZED UNTO MOSES IN THE CLOUD AND IN THE SEA; AND DID ALL EAT THE SAME SPIRITUAL MEAT; AND DID ALL DRINK THE SAME SPIRITUAL DRINK: FOR THEY DRANK OF THAT SPIRITUAL ROCK THAT FOLLOWED THEM: AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST-1 Cor 10:1-4.
    BUT WITH MANY OF THEM GOD WAS NOT WELL PLEASED: FOR THEY WERE OVERTHROWN IN THE WILDERNESS. NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES, TO THE INTENT WE SHOULD NOT LUST AFTER EVIL THINGS, AS THEY ALSO LUSTED-l Cor 10:5,6.
    NEITHER BE YE IDOLATERS, AS WERE SOME OF THEM; AS IT IS WRITTEN, THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY. NEITHER LET US COMMIT FORNICATION (sexual immorality), AS SOME OF THEM COMMITTED, AND FELL IN ONE DAY THREE AND TWENTY THOUSAND. NEITHER LET US TEMPT CHRIST, AS SOME OF THEM ALSO TEMPTED, AND WERE DESTROYED OF SERPENTS. NEITHER MURMUR YE, AS SOME OF THEM ALSO MURMURED, AND WERE DESTROYED OF THE DESTROYER. NOW ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED UNTO THEM FOR EXAMPLES AND THEY ARE WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION, (or instruction, or as warnings for us) UPON WHOM THE ENDS OF THE WORLD ARE COME-1 Cor 10:7-11.
    WHEREFORE LET HIM THAT THINKETH HE STANDETH TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL. THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN: BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT-1 Cor 10:12,13.

    THOU SHALT REMEMBER ALL THE WAY WHICH THE LORD THY GOD LED THEE THESE FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, "TO HUMBLE THEE," AND "TO PROVE THEE," "TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN THINE HEART," WHETHER THOU WOULDEST KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, OR NO-Deut 8:2.
    AND HE HUMBLED THEE, AND SUFFERED THEE TO HUNGER, AND FED THEE WITH MANNA, WHICH THOU KNEWEST NOT, NEITHER DID THY FATHERS KNOW-Deut 8:3. THAT HE MIGHT HUMBLE THEE, AND THAT HE MIGHT PROVE THEE, TO DO THEE GOOD AT THY LATTER END-Deut 8:16. THAT HE MIGHT MAKE THEE KNOW THAT MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY BREAD ONLY, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE LORD DOTH MAN LIVE-Deut 8:3. THOU SHALT ALSO CONSIDER IN THINE HEART, THAT, AS A MAN CHASTENETH HIS SON, SO THE LORD THY GOD CHASTENETH THEE. THEREFORE THOU SHALT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD THY GOD, TO WALK IN HIS WAYS, AND TO FEAR HIM. FOR THE LORD THY GOD BRINGETH THEE INTO A GOOD LAND, A LAND OF BROOKS OF WATER, OF FOUNTAINS AND DEPTHS THAT SPRING OUT OF VALLEYS AND HILLS-Deut 8:5-7.

    Note again, why the children of Israel went through many things and why born-again Christians will, likewise, go through many things:
    1. TO HUMBLE THEE.
    2. TO PROVE THEE (to test you).
    3. TO DO THEE GOOD AT THY LATTER END.
    4. To MAKE THEE KNOW (to) LIVE BY (the) WORD.
    5. TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN THINE HEART.
    6. WHETHER THOU WOULDEST KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, OR NO.
    7. To see if your faith is genuine.
    8. To see if you really love God as evidenced by your obedience, not just your words.
    9. To see if you will walk in "His" ways.
    10. To see if you will fear God and depart from evil.
    11. To bring you to the Promised Land, the holy city, New Jerusalem.

    Once you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you begin a journey, just as the children of Israel began a journey. Some obeyed God to the end and entered the Promised Land. Some rebelled along the way when they were tempted. They withered and fell in the wilderness, and never entered the Promised Land. According to Scripture, these things are examples, so that we might know what to expect in our Christian walk. Will you finish the course? Will you stay in the race? God will know your heart as you travel through the wilderness with Jesus Christ as your Guide. As Jesus led the children of Israel in the wilderness, so He will lead you, if you will let Him. Those who have the Holy Spirit and allow the Spirit to lead them in their journey unto the end, shall appear before the judgment and hear the words, WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. Only a few finish the journey and hear these words.
    BEWARE THAT THOU FORGET NOT THE LORD THY GOD, IN NOT KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND HIS JUDGMENTS, AND HIS STATUTES, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY: LEST WHEN THOU HAST EATEN AND ART FULL...THINE HEART BE LIFTED UP, AND THOU FORGET THE LORD THY GOD, WHICH BROUGHT THEE...FROM THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE-Deut 8:11,12,14. Jesus brings us from the house of bondage, from the house of the enemy, Satan.
    Beware, when things are going well for you, that you do not say IN THINE HEART, MY POWER AND THE MIGHT OF MINE HAND HATH GOTTEN ME THIS WEALTH. AND IT SHALL BE, IF THOU DO AT ALL FORGET THE LORD THY GOD, AND WALK AFTER OTHER GODS, AND SERVE THEM, AND WORSHIP THEM, I TESTIFY AGAINST YOU THIS DAY THAT YE SHALL SURELY PERISH. AS THE NATIONS WHICH THE LORD DESTROYETH BEFORE YOUR FACE, SO SHALL YE PERISH; BECAUSE YE WOULD NOT BE OBEDIENT UNTO THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD-Deut 8:17,19,20.
    BUT THOU SHALT REMEMBER THE LORD THY GOD: FOR IT IS HE THAT GIVETH THEE POWER-Deut 8:18.
    THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD...NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, SAITH THE LORD-Zech 4:6.

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