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ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SPIRIT OF COMPLAINING

Text: Exodus 15-17; Numbers 17
3 August 2009

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SPIRIT OF COMPLAINING

1. When People have already exhibited a complaining spirit

a) When Israel faced a “problem” of water supply Exodus 15:22-25

b) When there was a “problem” of food supply Exodus 16:1-4

c) Another water-supply “problem” Exodus 17:1-7

d) When Israel was on the verge of entering Canaan Numbers 14:2

2. What this complaining spirit indicates

a) Unbelief

b) Contentiousness

c) Impatience

d) Exaggeration of the problem

e) Lack of comprehension of the nature of this sin of complaining Numbers 14:26

f) Failure to remember all that God had done

g) Choosing to complain and ignoring other possible avenues of expression

h) Meanness

i) Danger of veering towards violence Exodus 17:4 (stoning of Moses)

j) Rejection of God’s appointed and anointed leaders Numbers 14:4

h) Rejection of God Numbers 14:11a

3. When Leaders have a complaining spirit
“Now the men whom Moses sent out to spy the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD” Numbers 16:36-37 (Cf. Numbers 13:28-29, 32-33)

a) They can and will cause people to be affected adversely

b) They make use of people to do their will

c) They endanger themselves and others

ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF COMPLAINING

1. Strong pleas by Caleb and Joshua Numbers 13:30; 14:6

2. The manifestation of the glory of God

3. The prostration of Moses and Aaron

4. The intercession of Moses Numbers 14:13-19

GOD’S REPLY

1. Pardon Numbers 14:20
Death sentence pronounced on Israel averted!

2. Punishment Numbers 14:22-38

a) To be in the wilderness for 40 years Numbers 14:32

b) The ten spies to die by a plague (immediate) Numbers 14:37