Robert J. Morgan, one of my favorite authors, writes in his book, The Strength You Need: The Twelve Great Strength Passages of the Bible,
“God hasn’t given us a book simply filled with miscellaneous quotations or motivational mottos. He has given us a book rich in history, with riveting plots, unforgettable characters, and enriching stories. Every great quotation has a great context.”
Recently, I emerged from the Desert of Leviticus in my Bible reading plan to the book of Numbers and Deuteronomy, books awash with leadership lessons. So, as I jot down a few insights in the next few weeks I thought I would share some “Wilderness Wisdom” from the nation of Israel.
Chapter 11 – Rebellion in the Camp
Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire was quenched. 3 So he called the name of the place Taberah, because the fire of the Lord had burned among them.
Despite all that God had done for them, it’s startling how ready the people are to complain against God.
William MacDonald notes, “A clue to the discontent is found in verse 1 – ‘consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.’ The malcontents were at a distance from the ark.”
And Spurgeon commented on this passage,
“Observe how the mischief began in the outskirts among the mixed multitude, and how the fire of the Lord burned in the uttermost parts of the camp. The great danger of the church lies in her camp-followers or hangers-on: they infect the true Israel. Hence the need of guarding the entrance of the church, and keeping up discipline within it. Grumbling, discontent, ungrateful complaining — these are grievous offences against our gracious God.”
Practical application: A church that does not call believers to baptism and then to church membership can be, unknowingly, creating its own “outskirts of the camp” from which discontent and disobedience will arise.
