In chapter 11, verse 1 "And when the people complained, 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." Just three verses later ~ "And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: 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: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes." Verses 11-14, Moses has grown weary of the whining and finally says in verse 14, "I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me." At the end of the chapter, the Lord sent quail in abundance. "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."
In chapter 12 we find Aaron and Miriam complaining about Moses. "Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?" And the Lord heard it. "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." God dealt with Aaron and Miriam, sending leprosy on Miriam, causing her to spend seven days outside the camp.
In chapter 13 Moses sent out the 12 spies. Caleb and Joshua did their best to encourage the people to go forth and conquer, 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." The Lord slew the ten spies that brought the evil report.
In chapter 14, the entire nation wept and " 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!" God is ready to kill the entire nation, but Moses intercedes. It is then that they are told they will not enter into the promise land, but wander in the wilderness for 40 years and die there.
In chapter 16, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram with 250 men "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?" The ground opened up and Korah and his companions and their families "went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them." "And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense." Verse 41 tells us, "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." A plague was sent that killed 14,700.
I have read all of these stories in recent days and this is just a small sampling of what Moses endured. Some people never learn! Over and over the people murmured and were punished. I wonder, would I have survived these murmurings? Would I have been slain by a plague, swallowed up by the earth, or consumed with fire? It's a sobering thought. I want my heart to be right with God and my pastor and those in leadership. God didn't take it lightly thousands of years ago, I don't believe He takes it lightly today.
Complaining, murmuring, and criticizing are highly contagious. Korah didn't get swallowed up alone. I wonder how many days and how many people he talked to before he had gathered 250 men and his courage to confront Moses. This is a powerful saying:
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
