Sunday, November 22, 2020

Numbers 11:31-35 comments: quails fall into the camp

 

Numbers 11:31 ¶  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 upon the face of the earth. 32  And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. 33  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. 34  And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted. 35  And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.

 

I want to make a point here. God controls and operates what modern man calls natural processes. The wind blows and we can understand processes that are involved but it is God who controls those processes in a micro-sense. The wind blowing is part of His will and it would not and could not blow without His will being involved regardless of so-called natural forces at work. Things happen a certain way, typically, and we often call them Laws of Physics or Laws of Nature but there are no laws in the ultimate scheme of things, only God’s will. We learn to manipulate things and harness things to our purpose but the idea that we control “Nature” is merely a verbal construct that helps us understand what is happening without regard to the ultimate author of a thing.

God does things a certain way most of the time. On some occasions He bends those “rules” to serve a purpose. It seems rare but is probably more common than we think. God is not governed by Laws but expresses His will as painful as that can be for us in this short, finite existence.

There is another issue, perhaps disturbing, that follows from this principle. God controls our spirits; minds, understanding, wisdom, talents, and such. While we can prepare our hearts and minds for the understanding that God will give us by education and training in this case God has copied Moses’ understanding and wisdom and given it to the elders. God is in control of what we think in that He allows us the freedom to think it, even the bad stuff that reveals our true inner, evil heart. Notice the following verses as well.

Isaiah 66:4  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

 

2Thessalonians 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

 

You are called, as a Christian, to a certain thought pattern.

 

2Corinthians 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

Whether it be a thought you had or the wind blowing God has either caused it or permitted it to reveal something. You can think it and you are responsible for it but God can also change your thoughts. Consider that as you struggle with sin.

Now, here God sends a wind that blows birds He has prepared for this very event in His foreknowledge. God had prepared an expression of anger at the Israelites’ lack of faith.

Psalm 106:13 ¶  They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: 14  But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15  And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

 

Psalm 78:26  He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. 27  He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: 28  And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. 29  So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; 30  They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, 31  The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

 

In this example Matthew Henry suggests that God gives the sinner what they want fattening them up for the slaughter they so richly deserve.

Moses called the place Kibrothhattaavah, the meaning of which is obvious from the text as Strong says, “graves of lust.”

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