Weeping in The Tents of Israel Numbers 11 and 12
MOSES heard the people crying in their tents, even the men at the tent doors. Why were they so sad? It was only because some of them were wishing for the foods they had in Egypt, —the fish, cucumbers, leeks, melons, and garlick! They began to complain, then others did, also; they said they were tired of the manna.
So God sent a strong wind to bring quails for them, as He had once before (Exodus 16:1313And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. (Exodus 16:13)). This time there were so many that they were three feet above the ground on every side of the camp and the people gathered there all day and all night.
But we do not read that the people thanked God, but only of how greedy each was to get all he could for himself, Because of that, a serious sickness came to many, and they died.
At the next stopping place there was another sad complaint: Miriam and Aaron spoke against their brother, Moses, envying his place as leader of the big camp.
This was very wrong because God had given Moses this honor, he was not proud but very meek.
It seems that Miriam was first to complain. God made her to become a leper and she was kept outside the camp. But Moses prayed for her and she was healed, and the people moved on their journey.
Do you remember the good things written of Miriam before this, how she had so carefully watched over her baby brother while in the basket in the water? how, after God took the people across the Red Sea in safety, she led the women in singing praises to Him? (Exodus 2:4-84And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. 7Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? 8And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. (Exodus 2:4‑8) and 15:21).
ML 09/26/1937