FROM COMPLAINTS TO APOSTASY

Lesson 5 for the 31st of October, 2009

REJECTING GOD’S FOODWhat was

wrong with manna, that

they rejected it?

ITS APPEARANCE

Round, light-yellowish, similar to coriander.

ITS TASTE

Fresh and appetizing, like recently cooked food. It also tasted of honey wafers.

ITS VARIETY

It could be cooked ground, whisked, baked or boiled. It could also be mixed with milk or butter.

ITS RICHNESS IN NUTRIENTS

“The manna with which He fed them in the wilderness was of a nature to promote physical, mental, and moral strength”. (Education, cp. 5, page 38)

REJECTING GOD’S FOOD Who started to complain about manna?

• The non-Israelite people who joined Israel.

Which was their complaint?

• They wanted to follow the same diet that they have in Egypt.

Which was Moses’ reaction?

• He got worked up and he asked God to take the burden of leadership away from him.

Which was God’s reaction?

• He gave Moses 70 elders to help him, and He gave the people meat until they were fed up.

How did He feed them?

• A great quails’ flock flew at an altitude of three feet and everyone collected more than 10 piles (about 54 sq. feet)

REJECTING GOD’S FOOD

Although God consented to give them meat, He punished the gluttons because of their rebellion.When they rejected God’s healthy food, they rejected God.This experience teaches us that we don’t have to be influenced by those who are not really consecrated to God.Let’s be confident of the food God has given us as the best for our diet.

WHAT ARE YOU COLLECTING, QUAILS OR

MANNA?

REJECTING GOD’S LEADERS

•In Hebrew, the verb “they spoke” is in singular feminine. Therefore, Mary spoke against Moses and Aaron, her brother.Who incited the people to rebellion

against Moses?

•She complained about Moses’ wife and she said that he was not the only one who had spoken with God (Mary was prophetess and Aaron was the high priest)Which was the

complaint she presented?

•The Bible only says that “Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers, 12: 3)Which was Moses’

reaction?

•He scolded them harshly and made Mary a leper, so she was taken outside the camp. Thanks to Moses requests Mary was healed and, after 7 days of purification, she returned to the camp.

Which was God’s reaction?

When she rebelled against Moses, Mary was rebelling against God who placed Moses as the people’s leader.God hears every complaint against the leaders of His people, even if they are whispered.The leaders of the Church must be humble and lowly people, but also dynamic and brave people, like Moses.Those who rebel against the legally constituted authority, or don’t show due respect to them, are sinning against God.

REJECTING GOD’S LEADERS

“Every true disciple of the Teacher must be loyal to those who have authority in the Church, even if it looks like they have failed in their judgement (Titus, 3: 1)”

SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, on Numbers, 12: 8

Let’s trust the divine direction of the

church.

Rejecting God’s promises

As the people requested, Moses sent 12 spies to reconnoitre Canaan and to prepare a detailed report.After 40 days, the spies returned and brought fruits of the ground.In their report, 10 spies added their doubts, basing in the strength of the cities and the inhabitants, giants.Caleb and Joshua tried to lead the people to trust God’s power to give them that land.The people complained and wanted to appoint a captain to return to Egypt. Besides, they tried to stone Joshua and Caleb.

THE PENULTIMATE REJECTION: Although God led them to Canaan, the people mistrusted God’s promise (that the land would be as He had said). They requested spies to reconnoitre it

THE LAST REJECTION: Although the spies told them that the land was like God described it, they mistrusted God’s power to save them from its inhabitants.

Rejecting God’s promises

“Our sense of dependence will drive us closer to God, and our sense of duty to be performed will summon us to effort, combined with our earnest prayers--works, faith, and continual prayer.Power! Power! Our great cry is for power without measure! It awaits us. We have only to draw; to take God at His word; to act faith, to stand firmly upon the promises; to wrestle for the endowment of the grace of God.Learning is not essential; genius is not necessary; eloquence may be lacking; but the prayer of the lowly and contrite heart God hears, and when He hears no obstacles on earth can hinder”.

E.G.W. (This day with God, June 27)

Exceeding one’s authority

• The glory of God appeared over the Tabernacle and the people was afraid.

How did God prevent the people from stoning Caleb and Joshua?

• He told Moses that He was going to destroy the disobedient people.

What message did God transmit?

• That their enemies would say that God had no power to give them the land of Canaan. Besides, he appeal to divine mercy.

What reasons did Moses present to prevent it?

• God forgave the people, but divested them of the promise. They had to return to Egypt and wander 40 years through the desert, until that generation was dead and Canaan was given to their children. The 10 spies died of a plague and God promised Joshua and Caleb that they would enter in Canaan, because of their faithfulness.

Which was the definitive sentence?

Every previous rejection was forgiven by God.With this rejection, they exceeded the divine tolerance.

Exceeding one’s authority

In their obstinacy, they disobeyed again and tried to own that land, thinking that God would help them after all.

Let’s trust God’s forgiveness, but being aware of its limits. We don’t have to take advantage of divine mercy because we don’t know the limit of God’s tolerance.

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God”

Hebrews, 10: 26-27

“If you hear his voice, do not harden your

heart!”

Hebrews, 3: 7-8