RTW March 2

The Chatter Of Others

Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed.
Numbers 11:4

 

 

My Takeaways

Something Old

Our Egypt often looks good, when our circumstances don’t.

Something New

The traveling foreign rabble started the complaining.

Sometimes I’m happy until someone tells me I am not.

  • How easily am I swayed by the opinions of others?
  • Who am I allowing to speak into my life?

The chatter of others can be the discontent of me.

Something to do

 

 

©2019 RTW is a membership Online Bible study. The material is copyrighted and intended for the sole use of RTW members. Materials are not available for reprinting or distribution. All video teachings are intended for the sole use of RTW members. They are not available for copy and distribution on of any kind. Thank you.  All Rights Reserved.

15 Comments

  1. ~Something Old: It was the foreign rabble that stirred up trouble, causing others to be dissatisfied with God’s provision. (So I was tracking with Wendy here. ?)
    ~Something New: God provided temporary burden-bearers for Moses when things became too heavy for him to carry alone.
    ~Something To Do: Be intentional about being humble. There is a C.S. Lewis quote that I like to keep in mind related to this. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
    Guard against comparing myself and what God has given me to do with what others are doing to avoid jealousy. Be faithful to my calling and service.

  2. Don’t look back to my Egypt. Reminds me of Lot’s wife who looked back at Sodom. I have been where I have looked back. After getting out of an abusive situation, when things got hard and I was unsure of what would happen or how my life was going to be, I would look back. It was a known entity, predictable and although, miserable the familiarity was better than the unfamiliarity and discomfort of my current circumstances. But one day, in the midst of it, I had someone tell me to stop looking back at Egypt. It really spoke to me and reminded me that I was no longer there and there was no need to go back.

    Something that struck me today was Num. 11:29. But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon all of them.” And He did!! Through Jesus we can all have God’s Spirit within us.

  3. I’ve jumped in just yesterday to join you all and I’ve missed being in His Word daily! Today was the perfect day for this lesson, with my situation. May 1. Explore, 40 days, His spirit and don’t look back! Thank u npshirley for your post as well. My soul delights in Him who answers each and every day if we but seek Him and His word. My heart overflows with joy knowing Jesus.?

  4. Something Old
    Numbers 11:1. “The people soon began to complain.” This is a mountain I keep going around myself! And it is so much harder when the chatter we listen to is coming from those closest. Especially if there is a genuine and justified sorrow and difficulty in their lives. I have been much convicted of late that it is still imperative that I guard what I allow “in” to my spirit. It is my place to speak His truth into their lives and situations, but I admit I struggle with this….not wanting to offend or further wound. I need to trust Him more with what He has to say to them….through me.

    Something New
    Numbers 11:18 “…..surely we were better off in Egypt!” This scripture is not new to me, but it’s meaning in my life is! Right now I have been bemoaning what used to be….as though it were so much better. It was not. It was hard and hurtful and yet I find myself a revisionist historian in my own life. This Word gave me pause and helped me to see more clearly exactly what has been left behind. And it is has given me new hope for what lies ahead.

    Something To Do
    Numbers 13:30. “But Caleb tried to encourage the people……”. My desire is to be more Caleb and less rabble.

  5. Oh wow! This reading and lesson were full of conviction and challenge for me today! From verse 1 God was challenging my heart about complaining. I’ve had a week full of unexpected things and hardship and was very convicted about the amount of complaining I’ve done. I need to bring my issues before the Lord and not others. Trust His plan and his provision and find all the ways to be grateful over complaining. When my load feels too much to carry, do like Moses did, go to God, pour out my heart and then look for His help and provision.
    So grateful for how God’s Word meets me right where I’m at everyday! Praising Him for his faithfulness today!

  6. Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, it affects everything you do.

    Mumbling, complaining, grumbling, contentiousness, critizing equals a critical spirit.
    In Songs of Solomon 2:15 The little foxes spoil the vineyards that are in blossom.

    It’s the little things that cause us the biggest problems, they lurk in the shadows, catch us off guard.

    Complaining may give us what we want just like the Israelites, things we crave, causing stress; in the interim, forgetting all the things God has done for us!
    We must realize it will deteriorate our faith, it gives Satan an opportunity to sneak in causing us to lie and gives a poor testimony.

    Philippians 2:13-15 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

  7. I’m sorry this is long but I wanted to share because others have mentioned that they to struggle with the same things.
    God spoke right out of the gate today and on so many things related to my 30 day vow.
    “Soon the people began to complain.” 11:1
    The people (Jennifer) began to crave the good things (comfort food) of Egypt. And the people began to complain, “Oh for some meat!” We (I) remember the ______
    we (I) used to eat. We had all the ________
    we (I) wanted. Now our (my) appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna (healthy food). 11:4-6

    When he (I) prayed to the Lord, the _______
    (craving) stopped. 11:2

    So God right away, Day 2 of my vow, knows my tendancy to complain and that doing Whole 30 will be hard for me. I chose this plan for 30 days with God’s help to eliminate all things causing harm to my body. The timing of his word and my life blows my mind! My life is definately crossing paths with scripture like Wendy said. I should not complain to others about what I am “missing” out on or “longing, craving or desiring” to eat. I need to have a positive attitude because this was a choice. I wasn’t required to do this. I made the choice, this vow commitment to God and I should do it with a joyful and grateful heart. Complaining to anyone about what I can’t eat is just foolish, unwise and disrespectful to God. And not if, but when I get into a tempting spot, Numbers 11:2 clearly says when I pray to the Lord, the _______(craving) stopped. God spoke to me this morning and told me to make sure I pray, when I am tempted or feel weak, to pray and He will help me. I have to, He wants me to depend on Him and not my own willpower. Wow. Thank you Father for halting a bad attitude, a critical spirit before it even started. I love how well He knows me.

    There was so much more God revealed through the verses about gorging on the meat and gluttony. It’s all coming together for me. I struggle with the sin of gluttony. The unhealthy overindulging is bringing death to my life, harming my body like the severe plague in God’s word.
    I looked up the definition of gluttony and it pretty much describes me unfortunately.
    What I’ve realized is that I only want excess of God in my life and nothing else. I don’t want to live dead anymore, I want to live ALIVE and full of the abundant life God intends for me to live! It was not easy to come face to face with all of this. So many addictions and bad habits, unhealthy and disobedient to the Lord. He is definately purifying and cleaning me up every single day. I feel like this bible was written for me personally. I love that. Thank you for your prayers and support these next 30 days! ❤️

    1. “I can do all things through Christ who give me strength!” Phillipians 4:13 is our motto at our house!

  9. Interesting they complained about not having meat, even though their cattle and sheep
    and goats had left Egypt with them and were there with them.
    Great lesson to keep focused on what God says and not distracted by what others
    might be complaining about.

Comments are closed.