Numbers 11

Numbers 11: Complaining in the Desert

Numbers 11

Complaining in the Desert: Numbers 11
The people complain about the Lord, which is probably a bad idea when God's presence is right there in camp in the form of a cloud. When the Lord hears, his wrath is kindled and he starts a fire that burns the outside of the camp. The people cry out to Moses who prays on their behalf. The fire abates. The place was then called Taberah ("burning").

Then a "rabble" complain that they crave meat and that their food in Egypt consisted of fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But in the wilderness there is only manna provided by God. This complaint points to the composite nature of the narrative, because in previous chapters sacrifice was given of goats and oxen and sheep. But this verse indicates a tradition that did not have animals in the wilderness. These humans must survive solely on the manna provided by God.

It gets weirder. Moses hears the complaints of the people and instead of asking God for help, as he has previously done, Moses verbally attacks God, challenging God in a show of arrogance. Moses complains that he is mistreated by God, that he is playing nanny to God's people, and that there is no way he can take care of these people himself. He concludes, "If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once - if I have found favor in your sight - and do not let me see my misery" (Num. 11.15). For Moses death would be a greater sign of God's love than life with the complaining Israelites.

Usually, Moses acts as an intermediary between God and the Israelites. Here, however, he complains at his own burden, which perhaps is more legitimate than that of the people, but nevertheless represent doubt in God. Moses has had thoughts contrary to God's will before - mostly in his reluctance to lead the Israelites, but this passage represents a new level for Moses. In this passage Moses blames the Lord for his problems, and questions outright the Lord's authority. Clearly Moses, the strand connecting God with God's people, is wearing thin. This cannot bode well for the Israelites.The tension between God and the Israelites is at the breaking point. God has already unleashed a fire on the camp. Now comes a greater feat.

The Lord tells Moses to gather 70 of the elders of Israel before the tent of meeting. There God will speak to Moses, responding to Moses' complaint: "and I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself" (Num. 11.17). God will split the burden so that Moses no longer has to deal with the complaining Israelites alone.

Moses is to tell the people to consecrate themselves, for God will give them meat - more meat than they would have ever had in Egypt. But this blessing is also a curse. The Israelites will eat meat not one or two days, or five or ten or twenty. They will eat meat for a whole month, "until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you - because you have rejected the Lord who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, 'Why did we ever leave Egypt?'" (Num. 11.19-20). The blessing of meat will be so great that it become a curse that the Israelites are revolted even to look at.

Moses expresses his doubt to God: enough meat for 600,000 for a whole month? Are there enough flocks and herds, enough fish in the sea to feed that many? The Lord responds by asserting his authority: "Is the Lord's power limited? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not" (Num. 11.23).

First The Lord comes down in a cloud as the elders are gathered, and part of his spirit descends on the seventy elders, who all prophesy. But this is a one-time thing. They do not do so again.

However, two men by the names Eldad and Medad remain in the camp, and the spirit descends on them and they too begin to prophesy. A young man runs to tell Moses and Joshua entreats Moses to stop them, perhaps fearing they are possessed. Moses responds: "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!" (Num 11.29). Indeed, it might be nice to have some believers among the Israelites.

The Lord then sends a wind that delivers quails from the sea to the camp. There are so many of them that they rest 2 cubits deep (1 yard) and spread out a day's walk in two directions. The people gather quails all day and night and the next day, and dry them out in the cap to preserve them.

God is playing the old bait-and-switch. The quails were the bait. Now comes the switch:

But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague.
(Num. 11.33)

It is not the exact punishment that God promised, but it is still pretty effective. The place is named Kibroth-hattaavah ("Graves of craving") because that is where they bury the people who craved meat.

Ah-ha! That last detail is very important to the story. God does not punish all of Israel, only the rabble, the group that craved meat and received it. It sends the message that God punishes those who doubt him or complain against him.

Tomorrow: Jealousy.