and spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!" And the people spoke against God and against MosesThis phrase highlights the recurring theme of rebellion and dissatisfaction among the Israelites during their wilderness journey. The Hebrew word for "spoke" (דִּבֵּר, dibber) implies not just casual conversation but a deliberate act of complaint or accusation. This reflects a deeper spiritual issue of distrust and ingratitude towards divine leadership. Historically, this period was marked by a series of tests and trials meant to refine the Israelites' faith. Speaking "against God and against Moses" indicates a direct challenge to both divine authority and the appointed human leader, Moses, who was God's chosen instrument for their deliverance. Why have you brought us up out of Egypt
The phrase "brought us up out of Egypt" recalls the miraculous deliverance from slavery, a foundational event in Israel's history. The Hebrew root for "brought up" (עָלָה, alah) suggests an elevation or ascent, symbolizing not just a physical relocation but a spiritual journey towards a promised relationship with God. The question posed by the Israelites reveals a lack of understanding and appreciation for the purpose of their liberation. It underscores a common human tendency to romanticize the past, even when it was marked by oppression, due to fear or discomfort with the present challenges. to die in the wilderness?
The wilderness, or "midbar" (מִדְבָּר), in Hebrew, is often a place of testing and transformation in the Bible. It is a harsh environment that strips away comforts and distractions, forcing reliance on God. The Israelites' fear of dying in the wilderness reflects a crisis of faith, as they struggle to trust in God's provision and promises. This phrase captures the tension between the physical reality of their journey and the spiritual growth it was intended to produce. Historically, the wilderness period was a time of covenant formation and identity shaping for the Israelites, preparing them for life in the Promised Land. For there is no bread or water
The complaint of "no bread or water" highlights the Israelites' focus on immediate physical needs. Bread and water are basic sustenance, and their absence is a legitimate concern. However, this complaint overlooks the miraculous provision of manna and water from the rock, which God had already provided. The Hebrew word for "bread" (לֶחֶם, lechem) and "water" (מַיִם, mayim) are not just physical necessities but also symbols of spiritual nourishment and life. This phrase challenges believers to trust in God's provision, even when it seems insufficient by worldly standards. and we detest this miserable food!
The term "miserable food" refers to the manna, described elsewhere as "the bread of heaven" (Psalm 78:24). The Hebrew word for "detest" (קָצָה, qatsah) conveys a strong sense of loathing or disgust. This reaction to God's miraculous provision reveals a heart hardened by ingratitude and a lack of spiritual discernment. Manna, while monotonous, was a daily reminder of God's faithfulness and care. This phrase serves as a caution against allowing familiarity to breed contempt, urging believers to recognize and appreciate God's blessings, even when they come in unexpected forms. Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are now journeying through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. 2. GodThe Almighty, who delivered the Israelites from Egypt and provided for them in the wilderness. 3. MosesThe leader appointed by God to guide the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness. 4. The WildernessThe desert area where the Israelites wandered for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith. 5. EgyptThe land of slavery from which the Israelites were delivered by God's mighty hand. Teaching Points Gratitude vs. IngratitudeThe Israelites' complaint highlights a lack of gratitude for God's provision. Reflect on the importance of maintaining a thankful heart, even in difficult circumstances. Trust in God's ProvisionDespite the Israelites' complaints, God continued to provide for them. Trust in God's faithfulness and provision, even when it seems insufficient or undesirable. The Danger of ComplainingComplaining against God and His appointed leaders can lead to spiritual consequences. Cultivate a spirit of contentment and trust in God's plan. Spiritual NourishmentJust as the Israelites needed physical sustenance, we need spiritual nourishment. Seek Jesus, the "bread of life," for true satisfaction. Leadership ChallengesMoses faced constant challenges from the people he led. Recognize the burdens of leadership and support those in spiritual authority with prayer and encouragement. Bible Study Questions 1. What does the Israelites' complaint in Numbers 21:5 reveal about their spiritual state, and how can we guard against similar attitudes in our own lives? 2. How does the provision of manna in the wilderness foreshadow the spiritual nourishment offered by Jesus in the New Testament? 3. In what ways can we practice gratitude in our daily lives, especially when we face challenges or dissatisfaction? 4. How can we support and encourage our spiritual leaders, recognizing the burdens they carry, as seen in Moses' leadership? 5. Reflect on a time when you felt God's provision was insufficient. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience about trust and faith? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 16This chapter describes the initial provision of manna, the "bread from heaven," which the Israelites later refer to as "wretched food" in Numbers 21:5. Psalm 78This psalm recounts the history of Israel's rebellion and God's provision, highlighting the people's ingratitude and God's faithfulness. John 6Jesus refers to Himself as the "bread of life," drawing a parallel to the manna provided in the wilderness and offering a deeper spiritual sustenance. | A Hard Bit of the Road | D. Young | Numbers 21:4, 5 | | Complaining Punished | J. Parker, D. D. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | Discouraged | Henry, Matthew | Numbers 21:4-9 | | Discouraged Because of the Way | T. R. Stevenson. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | Discouragements | J. Parker, D. D. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | Fleshpots or Manna | F. W. Farrar, D. D. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | In the Valley of Seir | R. D. Shaw, B. D. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | Lifting Up the Brazen Serpent | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Numbers 21:4-9 | | Man's Ruin and God's Remedy | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Numbers 21:4-9 | | On the Discouragements of Pious Men | R. Hall, M. A. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | The Brazen Serpent | Homilist | Numbers 21:4-9 | | The Brazen Serpent | J. H. Titcomb, M. A. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | The Brazen Serpent | W. M. Taylor, D. D. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | The Brazen Serpent | W. Attersoll. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | The Cure for the Malady of Sin | W. Ormiston, D. D. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | The First Setting Up of the Brazen Serpent | | Numbers 21:4-9 | | The Happiness of Repentance | Bp. Babington. | Numbers 21:4-9 | | Unreasonable Complaint | Daniel Katterns. | Numbers 21:4-9 |
People Ammonites, Amon, Amorites, Arad, Canaanites, Chemosh, Israelites, Moses, Og, SihonPlaces Ar, Arad, Arnon, Bamoth, Bashan, Beer, Dedan, Dibon, Edom, Edrei, Egypt, Heshbon, Hormah, Iye-abarim, Jabbok River, Jahaz, Jazer, King's Highway, Mattanah, Medeba, Moab, Mount Hor, Nahaliel, Negeb, Nophah, Oboth, Pisgah, Red Sea, Suphah, Valley of Zered, WahebTopics Bread, Crying, Death, Desert, Detest, Die, Disgusting, Egypt, Hast, Loathe, Loathes, Loatheth, Lotheth, Miserable, Poor, Soul, Spake, Speak, Spoke, Waste, Weary, Wherefore, Wilderness, WorthlessDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 21:5 1025 God, anger of
5265 complaints
6115 blame
6163 faults Numbers 21:4-5 5928 resentment, against God
8282 intolerance Numbers 21:4-9 1680 types
7452 snake, bronze Numbers 21:5-9 9210 judgment, God's Library The Poison and the Antidote
'And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compare the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7. Therefore …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureMan's Ruin and God's Remedy
Man has very many wants, and he should be grateful whenever the least of them is supplied. But he has one want which overtops every other: it is the want of bread. Give him raiment, house him well, decorate and adorn him, yet if you give him not bread, his body faints, he dies of hunger. Hence it is that while the earth when it is tilled is made to bring forth many things that minister unto the comfort and luxury of men, yet man is wise enough to understand that since bread is his chief want, he …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 The Disciple, -- Master, in These Days Some Learned Men and their Followers Regard Thy...
The Disciple,--Master, in these days some learned men and their followers regard Thy atonement and the redemption by blood as meaningless and futile, and say that Christ was only a great teacher and example for our spiritual life, and that salvation and eternal happiness depend on our own efforts and good deeds. The Master,--1. Never forget that spiritual and religious ideas are connected less with the head than with the heart, which is the temple of God, and when the heart is filled with the presence …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet Messiah Suffering and Wounded for Us
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: ..... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. W hen our Lord was transfigured, Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and conversed with Him. Had we been informed of the interview only, we should probably have desired to know the subject of their conversation, as we might reasonably suppose it turned upon very interesting and important …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 The Nations of the South-East
Israel was cut in two by the Jordan. The districts east of the Jordan were those that had first been conquered; it was from thence that the followers of Joshua had gone forth to possess themselves of Canaan. But this division of the territory was a source of weakness. The interests of the tribes on the two sides of the river were never quite the same; at times indeed they were violently antagonistic. When the disruption of the monarchy came after the death of Solomon, Judah was the stronger for the …
Archibald Sayce—Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations The Lamb of God, the Great Atonement
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! G reat and marvellous are the works of the LORD God almighty! We live in the midst of them, and the little impression they make upon us, sufficiently proves our depravity. He is great in the very smallest; and there is not a plant, flower, or insect, but bears the signature of infinite wisdom and power. How sensibly then should we be affected by the consideration of the Whole , if sin had not blinded our understandings, and hardened …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 The Two Classes.
"Two men went up into the temple to pray."--Luke xvii. 10. I now want to speak of two classes: First, those who do not feel their need of a Saviour who have not been convinced of sin by the Spirit; and Second, those who are convinced of sin and cry, "What must I do to be saved?" All inquirers can be ranged under two heads: they have either the spirit of the Pharisee, or the spirit of the publican. If a man having the spirit of the Pharisee comes into an after-meeting, I know of no better portion …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 21:5 NIVNumbers 21:5 NLTNumbers 21:5 ESVNumbers 21:5 NASBNumbers 21:5 KJV
Numbers 21:5 Commentaries
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