Numbers 11:1-3

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed those who were in the farthest parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned among them.”

They hadn’t marched but three days from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea when the complaining started probably due to the mixed multitude in v.4 or the ‘back-row’ Baptists sitting in the farthest or uttermost part of the camp. v.1,  “And when the people, God’s people, began to complain (anan) murmur and complain, to be sad, sorrowful and to begin to mourn, but you never do that, right?  This was not uncommon to the children of Israel, in Exodus 16:2 they murmured against Moses and Aaron till they received the (Manna – what is it) from heaven.  Then in Exodus 17:3 they murmured against Moses until they got water from the rock, but it doesn’t end there either as they wandered and were tested, they kept complaining and Moses kept interceding. Psalm 106:25 says, “They murmured in their tents and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.”  But that doesn’t speak of us, right?  1 Corinthians 10:10 says of the church, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”  Interesting He doesn’t say ‘Jewish People’ here in verse one, just people (am) in general; a people, a nation, a kindred, a multitude.  However, he does say, it displeased (rah) (o-zen) “to hear an evil report in one’s ears.”  So when we murmur, complain, or walk around with a puss on so low we can suck marbles out of a gopher hole without bending over, God gets an evil report in His ear and it displeases Him.  He doesn’t like mugwumps, back-row pew warmers, or lemon suckers. As it says in v. 1, “He hears it (sh-ma) and is paying  close attention.” So, be careful with your belly-aching at church!

Not only does He pay attention but His anger (af) the nostrils on His face flair up; in other words He gets angry, and it shows; In fact His anger is kindled (kha-ra) hot, furious, burning, incensed, and the fire (ash) flames, the supernatural fire of the LORD, burnt (ba-ar) or started burning, among them and consumed (akal) ate, devoured, burned up, those in the farthest (ka-tseh) end, extremity, or outskirts, of the camp or encampment. So, the people started complaining, and it was reported to God, and His anger was kindled set on fire and His wrath began to fall on them and consume those farthest from the Tabernacle because it was in the center of the camp and the mourners brigade was in the outskirts, the back rows, and people began to die again!  They never learn, but then do we ever lean? You say but they were stiff-necked and stubborn, ‘Hello!’

So, they call on their chief intercessor; well the only intercessor they know of, to go to God for them before they were all consumed and turned into crispy critters: “And the people cried (tsa-ak) to call out for help, to cry aloud, to summon, they were desperate.  Why?  Their family and friends were dying; that’s why!  They cried unto Moses, “Help us!”  How many people had to die first?  Two, one hundred, two thousand, two hundred thousand?  And Moses prayed (pa-lal) – intervened, interposed, interceded, stepped in the gap!  And the fire was quenched (sha-kah) subsided, collapsed, sunk down, or submergeded.  “And he called the name of the place Tab-erah (tav-a-ra) – Burning, in the wilderness of Paran.

You can’t help but wonder why so much prayer in the book of Numbers as compared to Leviticus, Exodus and Deuteronomy? From Exodus 12:1 when they left Egypt it was the first month, the tenth day of Nisan or Passover. Leviticus lasted 30 days at Sinai and then in Numbers 9:1 it is the first month of the second year and it’s Passover again.  So, from Exodus 12:1 to Numbers 9:1 only one year has passed.  Then from Numbers 9:1 to Deuteronomy 1:1, 38 more years pass as they are about to enter the “Promised Land.”  So, there are 38 more times or years for them to get into trouble and need their intercessor in Numbers than the other Books.  So, fasten your seat belt and grab a falafel and hang onto your yarmulke we have 27 chapters and 37 years to get through on camel yet.

Now as I was saying before their intercessor Moses had a tough row to hoe. You may have one person to intercede for or one congregation.  He had 3 million and a mixed multitude and they were stubborn, stiff necked, hard hearted and had chutzpa!  But you don’t know anybody like that right?  To intercede is to step between two people, to be a ‘Go-Between; a ‘Mediator.’  Inter is the prefix for between; and cede is suffix for ‘to go.’  A go between, to intervene.  Intercession requires sweat on your part, holy-sweat; it’s more perspiration then inspiration at times.  That’s why we have so few ‘intercessors‘ today and so, many ‘interferers, interrupters, interjectors, interlopers, and interrogators.’ in John 15:15.

Moses was a ‘Friend of God,’ Exodus 33:11 and Jesus called us His ‘Friends’ in John 15:15.  Only a ‘Friend’ can go to a Friend‘ on behalf of another to intercede.  We can go to the Father in the name of His Son based on His Son’s authority because He made the way possible.  We don’t come before God in our name and authority, we come in His Son’s name, who is our Friend!  I can intercede for you and you can intercede for me and just in case you are too overwhelmed by the circumstances or you don’t know how or what to pray for, the Holy Spirit who lives in you will make groaning’s for you “which can not even be uttered” because He knows the mind and the will of God!  It’s too bad most of us miss out on this vital ministry in our lives and in the lives of those around us.  Till we meet again, I’ll see you on our knees or “….Between The Lines….” 

“The Back-row Baptist Prayers” 11/25/15