Numbers: 1-3: And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes; and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fore of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Then the people cried to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire abated. So the name of the place was called Taberah
Last Saturday, I told people at the fellowship that the book of Numbers has not many central theological themes but two or three of which the major one is IN THE WILDERNESS.
I told them that if you want to appreciate this book, read it through the lens that whatever happens, happens nowhere else but in the wilderness. And we said a number of other things. Reading chapter 11 with those lens makes more sense.
I want you to look at these first three verses carefully:
Vs. 1 says: the people complained in the hearing of the Lord
Vs. 2 says: the people cried to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord
Vs. 3 says: so the name of the place was called Taberah because the fire of the Lord burned among them.
What these verses are telling you and myself in this wilderness known as the sinful world is that there is a difference between PRAYER and PROTEST, and we must always know what to do, when and to who.
When the people had the audience of God they did not pray but they complained, they murmured, they protested. Can you imagine?! Do you know how many people in this world do nothing to the Lord but murmur and protest instead of worshiping, praising and praying?
Now when MOSES, a fellow human being was before them, they cried to MOSES. What they should have done to God in the first place, they did to a fellow human being. In the wilderness we complain to God and worship and plead with the individuals unfortunately. They complained to God but cried to MOSES. Uuuuhm.
Many pastors today are more popular and powerful than the Jesus they supposedly represent.
While people complained to God but cried to Moses, Moses PRAYED to God. Let me tell you, my friend, in this wilderness known as the world, situations hit us hard and we end up not praying to God but complaining to him and cursing him. We find ourselves crying, begging and at the mercy of fellow people in the same wilderness.
These are the Moses type of people whom we run to, whom we depend upon, we don’t turn to God but we turn to these Moses. Taberah teaches us however that even the Moses we turn to, have their solutions from the same source which is none other than the God we ignore.
Taberah tells you and myself that we should turn to God cry and pray to him instead of complaining, murmuring and cursing him. Turn to God, don’t turn to fellow people who are in the same wilderness you are in.
I don’t know who your MOSES is, but just know, that even that Moses is dependent on the same God you have neglected. Turn to the God who provides for those who provide for you… And you will never be at the mercy of these fellow victims.
God bless you, I invoke TRUTH, REASON and FAITH
Pr. ITM White
The Gospel Hawker
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24) 