[Faith-talk] {Spam?} "Are We There Yet?" by Dr. Candace Wood

[Paul Smith]

The author is a professor and registrar of Blueridge College of 
Evangelism in Wytheville, Virginia.

The book of Numbers is a deeply felt diary of the journey of the 
Israelites from Mt. Sinai to nearing the entrance of the Promised Land. 
It is not a simple record of events, places, and dates--the experiences 
described within it compel the reader to invisibly join the journey, 
share the triumphs, and suffer the tragedies alongside these travelers. 
It is a travel journal of an unexpected sort.  This family didn't just 
see the sights, visit some historical places, grab quick snacks, stop 
for bathroom breaks, and fall into bed exhausted after finally finding 
a spot to sleep at the end of a tiring day.  Wait, maybe they did.

Consider that the shortest, most direct route from Sinai to Kadesh, 
near the destination of Canaan, should have been only about 11 days 
(Deuteronomy 1:2).  But by the time they were there, almost 40 years 
had passed (Numbers 14:33-35; Deuteronomy 2:14).  Maybe it was 
understandable for the children to whine, "Are we there yet?" They were 
obviously called "children of Israel" for a reason, you know.  Imagine 
them as the prototypical vacation family whose itinery got sidetracked 
and tour route unexpectedly changed, while teh family bickered, 
quarreled and complained.

How did the Israelite family mess up their own adventure and receive 
their 40-year punishment? Tracing their journey by their complaints may 
give us answers.

"We have to eat this again?"

They didn't get off to a good start. After only three days of travel, 
they complained about hardships, which was regarded by God as 
inexcusable (Numbers 11:1-3).  Fire broke out, the people panicked, 
Moses interceded, and all died down.  The fire had been limited to the 
fringes of the campsite and should have helped put their circumstances 
into perspective, had they been a discerning crowd.  They were not.

A second crisis quickly followed.  The "rabble (v4)--people who 
accompanied the Israelites when they left Egypt--created quite a stir.  
They reminisced about their good life back home--the abundance of food, 
cheap prices, and luxuries--and now bemoaned the lack of meat.  One 
might ask why they did not slaughter some of their own animals if they 
were so desperate.  But to meet the need of such a large multitude 
likely would have exceeded the ability to replenish the flocks and 
herds.  The mention of specific items such as fish, melons and onions 
indicated their craving for variety, more so than a fear of starvation. 
But it also speaks to the types of foods that would have been their 
normal dietary choices.

Being served an all-you-can-eat buffet of quail did not bring out the 
best in the Israelite family.  One could suspect that their gluttonous 
and greedy table manners were the cause of the plague that struck 
suddenly, even as "the meat was still between their teeth and before it 
could be consumed" (v. 33).  The name given to this place, Kibroth 
Hattaavah ("graves of craving"), pinpointed the disturbing event and 
haughty attitudes that occurred.

"You're not the boss of us!"

The complaints now spread to the leadership.  Moses' own sister and 
brother used the pretext of his Cushite wife as reason for their 
reproach toward Moses.  It was merely their excuse to wag their tongues 
over the offense they took at Moses' supposed superiority.  Yet Aaron 
had been appointed to the high priesthood (Exodus 28:1-5) and Miriam 
was called a prophet (15:20).  So the real problem became obvious when 
they implied, "Who made you the boss of us?"

They did not have to wait long for an answer.  Immediately the Lord 
gave a good scolding to those partners in crime for undermining Moses 
and his authority before the assembly (Numbers 12:4).  God turned a 
question on Miriam and Aaron:  "Why then were you not afraid to speak 
against My servant Moses?" (v. 8).  Probably because she had incited 
the accusation, Miriam was singled out to bear the distrace of leprosy. 
It became public knowledge, and Israel had to wait out her punishment with her.

"We'd be better off dead."

By the time of the fourth complaint, the children of Israel had reached 
Kadesh, just south of the Promised Land.  The location appeared to have 
been the central campsite during the wilderness years (Deuteronomy 
1:19; Numbers 20:1).  At this point their murmuring nearly erupted into 
mob violence as the distraught people wept, grumbled, and wished they 
had died in Egypt or in the desert (Numbers 14:1-4).  The misery they 
imagined swiftly charged through the crowd as they seized the idea of 
stoning Moses and Aaron.

None of the complaints had been sensible for a people who witnessed 
God's wonders in many ways.  But this complaint triggered extreme 
consequences for Israel and its future.  Although God forgave them 
because Moses requested it, this was the breaking point at which God 
pronounced the 40-year sentence of wilderness wandering on Israel until 
all of that rebellious generation had died.  Despite warnings and 
punishments along the way for wailing about their discomforts and 
inconveniences, the children of Israel were shocked at the sentence 
they received.  In a last-ditch effort to make amends to God and try to 
change His mind, they foolishly fought against a stronger military 
force, the Amalekites and Canaanites (Numbers 14:39-45).

The fifth complaint was another attack on Moses and also Aaron, as 
three opponents (16:1-40) claimed entitlement to lead Israel.  The 
proximity of these two groups in the camping arrangement made it 
convenient for this conspiracy to fester.  It only brought the wrath of 
God and the demise of the instigators.  The next day, Israel was still 
in a foul mood (16:41).  Other inciters inflamed the assembly against 
Moses and Arron, accusing them of the previous days' deaths.  Just as 
quickly, God interveened yet again and caused a plague to spread.  
Without the atonement offered to God by Aaron, more than the 14,700 
would have died.  When would this family realize that complaints with 
wrong motives were deadly?

"We're thirsty."

Just like bookends, the first and last complaints grumbled of no food, 
no water, death in the desert (21:4, 5).  Right up to the end, they 
were still bickering and fretting, making themselves miserable.  The 
poisonous snakes punishment must have been a nightmare in that sandy 
region.  But perhaps the sting of bites was a physical reminder of the 
God who spared them despite so many setbacks, miseries and rebellions 
they had inflamed against Him.

The wilderness wanderings took a heavy toll on the Israelites.  Even at 
the end of the journey, they still grumbled.  So many times Moses had 
been the object of attack and abuse of the Israelites as they thought 
only of themselves.  The venture took a heavy toll on him.  The water 
complaint had spurred him to strike the rock he was told to speak to.  
As a result Moses was disallowed from entering the Promised Land 
(Numbers 20:2-12).

The trip finally ended.  Psalm 78:14-55 is a fitting summation of this 
matter.  They had been faithless, rebellious, and had tested God, but 
through all God was merciful, forgiving, and did not destroy.  The 
family sighed deeply and looked over the horizon to envision their new 
home.  Complaints would continue.  But so would God's unfailing love and mercy.

And there you have Dr. Wood's article for today.  Doesn't it feel 
wonderful concerning God's love and mercy? We might criticize the 
actions of the Israelites then in our own day, but would we have acted 
similarly if we were there? I think we would.

And that will do it for today.  Until tomorrow when, Lord willing at 
this time another timely article will be posted, may the God of 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and 
collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian 
friend and brother, Paul