Response to Trouble
Good Morning,
When people think they are in danger (notice I said THINK, they need not truly be in any danger), they will often panic. Just as the story of Chicken Little, they will run around in a frenzy, and all kinds of stupid follows.
Numbers 14:1 “And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.”
The twelve spies had returned; two spies said it was fine, but the other ten said it was terrible and that they would all die.
The trouble began when the masses chose to listen to the wrong individuals. They listened to men of fear rather than men of faith.
1. They listened to the wrong people.
2. They got angry and blamed godly leaders – men who were proven and men whom the Lord had obviously blessed and guided. Who were these ten doubters? Had they parted any Red Sea? Had they called down any plagues?
vs. 2 “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron…”
3. The discouraged folks made foolish accusations and made ridiculous statements without any fact or logic.
vs. 3 “And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey?”
No one had died; no one had even been hurt; in fact, they had not yet entered into a battle.
4. They forgot all that God had done: the ten plagues, crossing the Red Sea, or the presence of God shown in a cloud or pillar of fire. How much did they need to keep their faith?
5. They wanted new leadership – worldly leaders that would guide them back to Egypt (the place where their lives were comprised of bondage and slavery).
vs. 4 “And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.”
God’s people will often turn to worldly leaders who ask little of them and will not push them to victorious Christian living. Sometimes, people would rather live under the normal worldly influences than fight the fight of faith and continue to see God do mighty works among them.
We will all face fear; some people will turn back to the world, and others will follow men of faith – the choice is yours.
Pastor