Every week in 2019 you should make a careful examination to learn what heaven requires of you.
“The experience of Israel, . . . as recorded in the one hundred fifth and one hundred sixth psalms, contains lessons of warning that the people of God in these last days especially need to study. I urge that these chapters be read at least once every week.” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 98 (emphasis mine)
In reference to this quote, part 1 contained counsels and warnings from the experiences of Ancient Israel in the wilderness. These events were recorded for examples so that we do not follow their footsteps. While in the wilderness, although everything good was provided for them, the Israelites fell astray many times. Last month we reviewed the sins of, Lust, Idolatry, Fornication, and Tempting God (as recorded in 1 Corinthians 10:6–9) This month we will continue with their sin of Murmuring against God.
5. Murmuring against God
The warning in 1 Corinthians ends with these words, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” 1 Corinthians 10:10. The previous section was about tempting God. “Tempting God” and “murmuring against God” do not have the same meaning. “Murmuring” against God is a rebellious spirit, while “tempting” means dissatisfaction and an unthankful spirit.
We read of the Israelites murmuring against God in Numbers chapter 16 and 17. “The judgments visited upon the Israelites served for a time to restrain their murmuring and insubordination, but the spirit of rebellion was still in the heart and eventually brought forth the bitterest fruits. The former rebellions had been mere popular tumults, arising from the sudden impulse of the excited multitude; but now a deep-laid conspiracy was formed, the result of a determined purpose to overthrow the authority of the leaders appointed by God himself.
“Korah, the leading spirit in this movement, was a Levite, of the family of Kohath, and a cousin of Moses.” [Because of] jealousy and dissatisfaction, . . . “Korah had been secretly opposing the authority of Moses and Aaron, though he had not ventured upon any open act of rebellion. He finally conceived the bold design of overthrowing both the civil and the religious authority. He did not fail to find sympathizers. Close to the tents of Korah and the Kohathites, on the south side of the tabernacle, was the encampment of the tribe of Reuben, the tents of Dathan and Abiram, two princes of this tribe, being near that of Korah. . . . In the bitterness of their disappointment, their former doubts, jealousy, and hatred had returned, and again their complaints were directed against their patient leader.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 395
“And thus Korah and his associates gained the attention and enlisted the support of the congregation. The charge that the murmurings of the people had brought upon them the wrath of God was declared to be a mistake. They said that the congregation were not at fault, since they desired nothing more than their rights; but that Moses was an overbearing ruler; that he had reproved the people as sinners, when they were a holy people, and the Lord was among them.” –Ibid., p. 397
“They had seen the judgment of God fall upon Miriam because of her jealousy and complaints against Moses. The Lord had declared that Moses was greater than a prophet. ‘With him will I speak mouth to mouth.’ ‘Wherefore, then,’ He added, ‘were ye not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?’ Numbers 12:8.” –Ibid., p. 396
“Jealousy had given rise to envy, and envy to rebellion. They had discussed the question of the right of Moses to so great authority and honor, . . . they deceived themselves and one another into thinking that Moses and Aaron had themselves assumed the positions they held. . . . They decided that all their disasters were chargeable to [Moses], and that their exclusion from Canaan was in consequence of the mismanagement of Moses and Aaron. . . . [In] Korah’s accusations against Moses. . . the old charge was reiterated, that he had led them out to perish in the wilderness, that he might seize upon their possessions.
“For a time this work was carried on secretly. A soon, however, as the movement had gained sufficient strength to warrant an open rupture, Korah appeared at the head of the faction, and publicly accused Moses and Aaron of usurping authority which Korah and his associates were equally entitled to share. It was charged, further, that the people had been deprived of their liberty and independence. ‘Ye take too much upon you,’ said the conspirators, ‘seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?’” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 397–398
Rebellion against leadership! Were any of their accusations true? No!
The question was asked, “And what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?” –Ibid, p. 399. Moses stated: “‘Even tomorrow,’ he said, ‘the Lord will show who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto Him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto Him.’ The test was to be deferred until the morrow, that all might have time for reflection. . . . Dathan and Abiram. . . insolently refused to acknowledge his authority. Their reply, uttered in the hearing of the congregation, was, ‘Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up.’
“[Clearly and publicly], They accused Moses of pretending to act under divine guidance, as a means of establishing his authority; and they declared that they would no longer submit to be led about like blind men, now toward Canaan, and now toward the wilderness, as best suited his ambitious designs. Thus he who had been as a tender father, a patient shepherd, was represented in the blackest character of a tyrant and usurper. The exclusion from Canaan, in punishment of their own sins, was charged upon him.” –Ibid., p. 398–399
What a disgrace! Would the Lord allow this rebellious spirit to rule His chosen people? Surely, no.
“Moses, by divine direction, bade the people, ‘Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins’. . . . Moses now declared, in the hearing of the congregation: ‘Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men, then the Lord hath not sent me. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit, then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord. . . .’ As he ceased speaking, the solid earth parted, and the rebels went down alive into the pit, with all that pertained to them, and ‘they perished from among the congregation.’” –Ibid., p. 400–401
“All Israel had fled in alarm at the cry of the doomed sinners who went down into the pit, for they said, ‘Lest the earth swallow us up also.’ ‘But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, ye have killed the people of the Lord.’ And they were about to proceed to violence against their faithful, self-sacrificing leaders.” Finally, “fourteen thousand of the Israelites lay dead, an evidence of the guilt of murmuring and rebellion.” –Ibid, p. 402–403
“But further evidence was given that the priesthood had been established in the family of Aaron. . . . The rods were laid up in the tabernacle, ‘before the testimony.’ The blossoming of any rod was to be a token that the Lord had chosen that tribe for the priesthood. . . . This miracle effectually settled the question of the priesthood. It was now fully established that Moses and Aaron had spoken by divine authority, and the people were compelled to believe the unwelcome truth that they were to die in the wilderness. ‘Behold,’ they exclaimed, ‘we die, we perish, we all perish.’ They confessed that they had sinned in rebelling against their leaders, and that Korah and his company had suffered from the just judgment of God. . . .
“Satan caused them to reject God as their leader, by rejecting the men of God’s appointment. Yet while in their murmuring against Moses and Aaron they blasphemed God. . . .
“Do not the same evils still exist that lay at the foundation of Korah’s ruin? Pride and ambition are widespread; and when these are cherished, they open the door to envy, and a striving for supremacy; the soul is alienated from God, and unconsciously drawn into the ranks of Satan. Like Korah and his companions, many, even of the professed followers of Christ, are thinking, planning, and working so eagerly for self-exaltation that in order to gain the sympathy and support of the people they are ready to pervert the truth, falsifying and misrepresenting the Lord’s servants, and even charging them with the base and selfish motives that inspire their own hearts. By persistently reiterating falsehood, and that against all evidence, they at last come to believe it to be truth. While endeavoring to destroy the confidence of the people in the men of God’s appointment, they really believe that they are engaged in a good work, verily doing God service.” –Ibid., p. 403–404
The same thing was done by the people. The day after the destruction of Korah and his company they came to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Ye have killed the people of the Lord.” They blamed Moses and Aaron for causing the death of “good and holy men.” This act sealed their doom
Remember that “the history of ancient Israel is a striking illustration of the past experience of the Adventist body.” –The Great Controversy, p. 457. We have the same privileges and opportunities they had, but the same dangers (lust, idolatry, fornication, tempting God, and rebellion) also exist on our journey. Millions left Egypt but, because of their unbelief, only two adults reached Canaan. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:11–13
Once every Week
In His wisdom, God wants us to read this history at least once every week.
“I cannot now consider this history further, but I ask you in every city, in every town, in every household, I ask every individual, to study the lesson of this scripture, bearing in mind the words of inspiration, ‘Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.’ Here is presented the only election that is brought to view in the word of God. It is those who take heed lest they fall that will be accepted at last. . . . God bids us to beware. ‘Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.’” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 103
“Battles are to be fought every day. A great warfare is going on over every soul, between the prince of darkness and the Prince of life. . . . The Prince of life is at the head of His work, He knows just how. . . to guide you through every path of danger.” –God’s Amazing Grace, p. 36
Dear brothers and sisters throughout the world, it is time for the people of God to wake up; every year and every month we are nearer the great day of the Lord. Now, more than ever, it is time to stand up and be prepared for carry out the great work which has been entrusted to us. “Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they should make by diligently studying the word of God and striving to conform their lives to its precepts.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 626
I was much blessed by the article in the December 2017 issue of The Reformation Messenger entitled, “Because of Unbelief.” This article mentioned also that it was unbelief that caused the Hebrews to fail to reach their destination. Among those who crossed the Red Sea, only two arrived in Canaan (Joshua and Caleb) besides the generation born in the wilderness.
“So I sware in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest.) . . . howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. . . . And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not?” Hebrews 3:11–19. We see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.
Even today if the remnant church will not heed the warnings, and walk wisely, they will not be saved—because of their unbelief.
The five dangers can be overcome by the wisely using the privileges given to us. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12
The dangers through which Israel fell are written as a warning for us. May we stand firm and steadfast because the promises of YAHWHEH are our hope: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. Let the victory be ours! Amen.
Victor Shumbusho, DR Congo