Question 1

Why was God so angry when the Israelites complained about food?

Accepted Answer

God had already rescued the people from slavery and was feeding them every day with manna from heaven. Their complaints were not simple hunger pains but a settled attitude of ingratitude and distrust. They said life had been better in Egypt, forgetting their suffering there. By despising manna, they were really despising the Lord who lived among them and cared for them. Their whining showed they preferred their old life over trusting God’s present care, so His anger was stirred and He answered with fire and, later, with a plague.

Question 2

What was wrong with the Israelites wanting meat to eat?

Accepted Answer

Wanting food is natural, but in this passage the desire went far beyond normal hunger. The “lusting” came from hearts that were tired of God’s way of providing and wanted their own way instead. They spoke as if God had not been good to them, and they longed for the old comforts of Egypt more than for freedom with God. So the problem was not meat itself, but their greedy craving, their complaining spirit, and their refusal to be content with what God chose for them.

Question 3

Why did Moses feel the burden of the people was too heavy for him?

Accepted Answer

Moses listened to families weeping at the doors of their tents and demanding meat, and he felt crushed. He knew he had not “given birth” to this nation, yet he was expected to carry them like a nursing parent all the way to the promised land. Their constant grumbling made him feel alone and unable to meet their demands. In his prayer he even asked God to take his life rather than leave him in such misery. This shows how real the strain of spiritual leadership can be, even for a faithful servant.

Question 4

What is the meaning of God taking of the Spirit on Moses and putting it on the seventy elders?

Accepted Answer

God was not taking something away from Moses, but sharing the same Spirit who helped Moses so others could help carry the load. The seventy elders were recognized leaders, and when the Spirit rested on them they prophesied, showing publicly that God had equipped them. This was God’s answer to Moses’ cry that the burden was too heavy. It teaches that God knows our limits, provides shared leadership, and supplies His Spirit so that His people are not cared for by one weary person alone.

Question 5

Who were Eldad and Medad, and why is their prophesying important?

Accepted Answer

Eldad and Medad were two of the chosen elders who stayed in the camp instead of going to the tabernacle with the others. Even there, the Spirit rested on them and they began to prophesy. A young man and Joshua wanted Moses to stop them, perhaps fearing they were out of order. But Moses answered that he wished all the Lord’s people were prophets and had His Spirit. Their story shows that God is free to pour out His Spirit where He chooses, and that true leaders are glad when others share in God’s gifts.

Question 6

Why did God give the people so much quail that it became loathsome to them?

Accepted Answer

God promised they would eat meat not just for a day or two, but for a whole month, until it came out at their nostrils and they were sick of it. This was both a provision and a judgment. They had despised Him by despising manna, so He gave them what they craved in extreme measure to show how empty their lust was. While they were still eating, before they finished chewing, God struck many with a severe plague. The place was then named “Graves of Lust,” a lasting reminder of what uncontrolled craving can lead to.

Question 7

What do the names Taberah and Kibroth-hattaavah mean in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Taberah means something like “burning,” and it was named that because the fire of the Lord burned among the people who had complained. Kibroth-hattaavah means “graves of lust,” because many who had lusted for meat were buried there after the plague. These names are like signposts in Israel’s journey, reminding later generations how God reacted to grumbling and greedy desire. They show that God takes both our words and our attitudes seriously, and that constant complaining can end in real loss.

Question 8

How does this passage warn us about complaining and longing for the past?

Accepted Answer

The people looked back on Egypt and talked only about fish and vegetables, not chains and hard labor. Their memories of the past were selective, and that fed their complaints in the present. By longing for old comforts, they treated God’s daily care as worthless. This warns us not to romanticize former days when we are unhappy now, and not to despise the simple ways God may be caring for us. Instead of letting our desires run wild, this passage calls us to bring our needs to God in trust and gratitude.

Question 9

What does this passage show about God’s character in judgment and mercy?

Accepted Answer

In this chapter God’s anger is real: He sends fire at the edge of the camp and later a great plague. Yet He also hears Moses’ prayer and stops the fire. He provides manna every day, then answers the people’s demand with quail, even though their attitude is wrong. He does not ignore sin, but He also listens to intercession and makes a way to care for His weary servant by giving him seventy helpers. We see a God who is holy and just, yet patient and caring, even with a stubborn people.

Question 10

How can a believer today apply the lessons from Israel’s complaints about manna and meat?

Accepted Answer

This passage invites us to check our own hearts. We can ask: Do I complain about what God has given, wishing for something else? Do I speak as if the old life without God was better than following Him now? Instead of feeding discontent, we can turn desires into honest prayer, asking for help without accusing God. We can also learn to thank Him for daily “manna,” even when it feels plain. And if we carry heavy responsibility, we can trust God to provide help and strength, as He did for Moses.

Numbers 11:1

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 burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

The Complaints of the People

The Complaint of Moses

Seventy Elders Anointed

The Quail and the Plague

The Complaints of the People

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Numbers 11:1

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 burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

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The Complaints of the People

The Complaint of Moses

Seventy Elders Anointed

The Quail and the Plague

The Complaints of the People

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