Murmuring in Exodus 16

Before talking about what we concluded with last week by reading through chapter 11 of Numbers, let’s comment on a few matters. You might recall in our study of Exodus 16 that when the children of Israel, before coming to Sinai murmured, and we read:

Exodus 16:12: "I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God."

But then today we are going to read about another event where YAHAVAH sends quail to them again!

Moses and His Father-in-Law

Then we also read about Moses asking his father-in-law Jethro to abide with them in the desert back in Exodus 18, but yet in chapter 10 of Numbers we have Moses asking a man named Hobab to do the same, and Hobab is called in scripture, “Moses Father in Law.” (I couldn’t let that go)

Selection of Leaders in Exodus 18

And then finally, we also read in Exodus 18:25-26 when Jethro saw that Moses was overwhelmed with duties that he advised him to select men to help him judge, and we read:

Exodus 18:25-26: "And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves."

But then we are going to re-read today how Moses also called seventy men in a very similar way here in Numbers?

Addressing Apparent Repetitions

What are we to say about these apparent repetitions of what was happening before they reach Sinai and then after as reported here in Numbers?

First of all, and after consulting our brother Grady, it appears that Jethro or Reuel is Moses' father-in-law and that he had a son, who was brother to Zipporah, Moses' wife. His name was Hobab. When Jethro died, Hobab would inherit the role of family patriarch, so where he was once Moses’ brother-in-law, he actually became his father-in-law as the patriarch of Jethro’s family once Jethro died. Problem solved.

Then, it seems that when YAHAVAH sent quail the first time it was in the evenings (to give them meat at night and manna in the day), but apparently, this gift to them stopped somewhere along the journey. And then what we are going to read today will be an account of how YAHAVAH, in the face of their complaining, starts the practice back up – but in greater abundance.

Finally, as to the men called to aid Moses in Jethro’s day, and then what we will re-read today, we will cover that as we go verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. through chapter 11, which having read last week we will now cover.

Numbers Chapter 11

So let’s read beginning at chapter 11:1:

Numbers 11:1: "And when the people complained, it displeased YAHAVAH and YAHAVAH heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of YAHAVAH burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp."

The Fire of YAHAVAH

Okay, fire from heaven wiping out the complainers? Remember, the imagery is always a physical type for the spiritual reality to come. It’s pretty interesting that in Revelation the justification for the gates to the Kingdom always being open is “because there is no night there.” And the reason that there is no night there is because the LIGHT therein is God and the Lamb.

Because the scripture calls God a consuming fire and God is in the Kingdom giving it His light, the imagery is that in and under the cover of dark, shade, shadow, or night, deeds of evil

Secrecy and Light

…are done, subterfuge is carried out, and sneaking into a kingdom would be much easier under the cover of darkness than in an openly bright and transparent kingdom wherein God dwells and is the Light. In other words, secrecy, secret dark wisdom, arts, practices, cunning tricks, and deceptions operate in the absence of detection, causing Yeshua to say that the reason the people of His day would not receive Him is because they loved the dark more than the light. This love of dark need not be overtly evil, but merely suggests that which is not of Him will not enter into His realm without detection.

The Nation and Complaints

So, we have a type here with the nation. And in that type, there are those who are complaining. Remember, the tabernacle is in the midst of the camp with the tribe of Levi closest to it and then the other tribes camped around it, right? I am going to suggest for argument's sake that these were not where most of the complaints were coming from for the simple reason it says at verse four that the complaining was coming from the “mixed multitude.” Did you know that there were non-Israelites traveling with the nation through the wilderness?

The Mixed Multitude

Remember what we read in Exodus 13:38:

Exodus 13:38: "And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle."

So, let's keep reading to give us more information:

Numbers 11:2-10:
2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto YAHAVAH, the fire was quenched.
3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of YAHAVAH burnt among them.
4 And the mixed 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?
5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:
6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
7 And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of YAHAVAH was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.

Understanding the Complaints

So, let’s sort of put this all together. The fire of YAHAVAH that consumed them was specifically stated as “consuming them that were in the uttermost part of the camp.” This says to me that they were not of the twelve tribes but were more from the non-Israelites who were traveling with them. Then at verse 4, after YAHAVAH heard the cries of the people to pull back on wiping them out, we read that the real complaints were from… “the mixed multitude.” So, we have the furthest most part of the camp being consumed, and we have the complaints coming from the mixed multitude about missing the leeks and all the rest.

Spiritual Reality

And here we have a picture of the way humans – physically and disembodied outside the gates of the Kingdom – exist outside the Kingdom, and that possibly the closer we get to the temple of the Kingdom, where God and the Lamb dwell, the less complaining we would probably hear. Just imagine a physical location on earth where inside a single room there are the most sold-out, living by faith and love in spirit and truth people who all look to YAHAVAH and are not of this world from…

Representation of Devotion

Imagine their mindset, and therefore their focus, words, communications, and love first for God and next for others. Then draw concentric circles around that location with each of them representing a little bit more of a diminished devotion to God – it might look something like this fantastic graphic you're about to see:

Moses' Complaint

SHOW GRAPHIC

Now imagine the conversation topics, focus, activities, mindsets of those in each realm and how they differ one from another as they get further and further from the place of utter joy and focus on Him – if we could actually categorize such places in such black and white ways.

Now don’t take this as law because it best represents the hearts and minds of people who inhabit each realm and not the failures in their flesh or religious beliefs. But back in the Exodus, it seems that the physical complaining over physical trials was a precursor to the eternal principles we should consider today. What appears to be happening is that those in the furthest reaches of the camp were the mixed companies, and they were the biggest whiners. God appears to have removed those who were rotten to the core, but even in the case of the complaining mixed multitude, He showed mercy.

11 And Moses said unto YAHAVAH, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

YAHAVAH's Response

So, there’s the setup. Now, instead of Jethro instructing Moses how to manage the group in judgment, YAHAVAH comes up with a new addition – starting at verse 16-17 then picking the subject back up at verse:

16 And YAHAVAH said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

Selection of the Seventy

Notice that Moses was the one called to choose the people to help Him according to the qualifications YAHAVAH laid out. In that economy, there was no democratic nomination, but one (Moses) called them according to the One God elected. God told him to choose seventy men, and they should be those Moses knew were true elders, and YAHAVAH says,

"Choose such as thou knowest to be elders indeed, and not in name only, officers that execute their office."

Which seems to mean to look into those that were put in place back at Jethro’s recommendation and choose those who are real and do not act nor operate in name only.

Selection in the Early Church

Now, if material religionA fulfilled system of temples, rituals, and laws—replaced by direct spiritual relationship. was a thing today, this wisdom, combined with the wisdom we see coming forth through Paul and the election of officers in the Bride, is sound. What is it? Look to the matured. Look to the

Leadership in the Early Church

Wise who are not phonies “by way of title” or as Paul wrote to Timothy about deacons in that day, saying:

1 Timothy 3:8-13:
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Or in reference to calling overseers, pastors, bishops (the Greek term is episkopas), Paul wrote in Titus, saying:

Titus 1:6-9:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For an overseer must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Then, even as an indirect allusion to the complainers in Numbers 11, Paul adds:

Titus 1:10-11:
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

The Spirit in the New Economy

Because the economy has been shaken from heaven to earth and God now operates in individuals and from the heart, I see all of this as over, but I honestly believe that those engaged in the things of the Kingdom, because of the problems that come with religion, should not be the best but the most broken, the humble and openly transparent so as to avoid becoming intermediary idols. This is a radical departure from Paul’s directives to the Bride then. It is a view that turns organized religion on its head, but if all things shakable have been removed I do not see images of personal worthiness of a person as being a qualifier – quite the opposite – I suggest that utter transparency is in order – and that the disqualified are those who will not humbly submit to the spirit of such.

In any case, the number 70 became an important number among the Nation and, according to this, the Sanhedrin, or great council of the Jews, which in later years would reign from Jerusalem as the highest court of judgment among them, also consisted of seventy men.

Seventy in the Ministry of Yeshua

I think it's significant that Yeshua seems to have had an eye on this and as a means to fulfill it all rightly, and not politically as the Sanhedrin had become, He chose seventy men to assist and aid His apostles, as we read in Luke 10:

Luke 10:1-12:
1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.
3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
8 And into whatsoever city

The Spirit and Calling

ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. is come nigh unto you.
10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

The Spirit Upon the Seventy

Going back to Numbers 11 and the subject of these seventy, jump to verses 24-25:

Numbers 11:24-25:
24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of YAHAVAH and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.
25 And YAHAVAH came down in a cloud, and spoke unto him, (Moses) and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Differences in Calling

Automatically we discover a difference between those elected by Moses via Jethro’s advice and what YAHAVAH says here. First, the original men established by Jethro “judged matters themselves” were not of a specific number, meaning seventy. Then here, YAHAVAH has Moses glean from those who proved themselves to be seventy in number who were actually given some or the Spirit Moses had resting on him and when it fell on them they prophesied and did not cease.

Murmuring in Acts

We see this happen in the Apostolic Record in Acts 6 beginning at verse 1:

Acts 6:1-7:
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring (complaining, right?) of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Note that Stephen, who first proved himself “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,” was called to simply serve -along with six other men. But Stephen would go on and be used for other purposes, wouldn't he? and he would move from being the first deacon in the church to being the first POPE? Nope! The first martyr.

Stephen's Last Oratory

As an interesting aside, it was in Stephen’s last oratory (before he was stoned to deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.) that he described the Nation in the wilderness, and from it, we discover why they remained in the wilderness for so long, and why all of them were killed and a whole new generation of the people were the only ones who would enter in the promised land, when he said in Acts 7:42-43:

Acts 7:42-43:
42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43 Yea, ye took up

be the Messiah.

Theme of Leadership and Spiritual Gifts

In the surrounding events and reaction to authority figures Eldad and Medad, the narrative emphasizes understanding God-given gifts without hindering others' spiritual journeys. The text transitions to the New Testament parallel involving Yeshua and John, emphasizing the acceptance of others' roles in spiritual work.

A Lesson in Leadership

Numbers 11:26-30 illustrates a significant moment when two men, Eldad and Medad, prophesied within the camp. Joshua's reaction and Moses's wisdom give insight into leadership principles in spiritual contexts.

Numbers 11:29-30:
29 Are you envious for my sake? would God that all YAHAVAH’S people were prophets, and that YAHAVAH would put his spirit upon them!
30 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

Parallels with Yeshua's Ministry

The New Testament reflection in Mark chapter 9, verses 38-40, shows John encountering a similar situation. Yeshua's advice not to forbid those performing miracles has lasting teachings for understanding inclusion and acceptance within spiritual roles.

Mark 9:38-40:
38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

John's Ambition

In early training, John's reaction stems from witnessing Yeshua's miraculous acts and understanding His divine role. This reflects on how proximity to divine instances and authority influences reactions and internal growth. Mark chapter 9 encapsulates these teachings through the disciples' experiences on the Mount of Transfiguration, positioning Yeshua above the law and prophets.

Dynamics of Leadership and Faith

Be a powerful leader of a Kingdom that they themselves were all going to be a part of, just like the young Joshua was part of the elected rulers over the Nation in the wilderness with Moses.

Then at Mark 9:31, Yeshua tells them that He was going to be put to death.

Got all of that? So, what is going on in their minds in the face of all of this? They started arguing which of THEM was going to lead in the kingdom, which was something that they were disputing among themselves along the way, and at Mark 9:34 we read:

"But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest."

Human Nature and Religion

And we come to the problem of men – of humans – discovered in the query, “what about me?" Of them wanting to control others, and are envious of those that operate outside the rules, and want to shut them down, criticize them, call them out – like both Joshua in the desert and John in the Apostolic record did of those who were “out there,” and not part of their clique, and not walking in the way that they thought they should walk. This is the game of religion in the hands of humankind and serves as another evidence of why the faith is NOT in the hands of men, religion, or physical empires – but in the hands of the Spirit.

Individual Liberty in Faith

As a YeshuanSomeone who makes Yeshua their foundation—living by faith and love, not religious tradition., I cannot more fully express my desire to allow all people to walk as they see fit, doing what they believe they ought to do, and never criticizing them because they do not think or do like me. That last part can be difficult, but it's imperative. I am an individual – you are an individual. They are individuals. We must learn to let and allow individuals who claim Christ, who walk in their own paths, and who are not subject to the cultures and cliques of religion to exist, and to give them all the liberty and benefit of the doubt to be who they are in Him and as they claim.

Then listen – after hearing that this was being disputed among His own, Yeshua sat down with the twelve and said,

Mark 9:35-37:
35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

A Lesson from Yeshua

Then right after this, John, still being ambitious, still leaning to his own fears and needs and wants to control, says,

Mark 9:38-40:
38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

Oh, that we could see in this age of fulfillment that we don’t need to worry and fret over who follows rightly or wrongly, that we do not need to cry out, “know the Lord, know the Lord,” but to walk, subjectively, with the Living God in faith and love, and to allow Him to use us to aid those seeking Him and having questions but to refrain from “forbidding people because they follow not us.”

We will continue with…

the story next week and stop here for now.