In this chapter the people complained against the Lord, so He sent fire into the camp.

Moses had no idea the people were complaining in their tents. He had no idea fire had broken out in the rear of the camp until the people cried out.

But as soon as He realized what was happening, he prayed and the plague of fire stopped. Because he was a righteous man God heard his request.

God will answer the prayer of a righteous man. James chapter 5 verse 16 says, "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

The prayer is effectual or powerful because the person making the prayer is righteous in God’s eyes.

Solomon said, in Proverbs chaper 15 verse 29, that the Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Moses was a righteous man and another part of his righteous nature was revaled when he did not rejoice when the people were punished for complaining.

The book of proverbs says we should not be glad when trouble or calamity falls upon someone.


Proverbs 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Moses was saddened by what happened to the people and he was saddened by the people's response to God's provision. He wished they could be like Him, he was content with God's daily provision.

We note that it was common for kings to require their people or subjects to be happy in their presence.

It was a crime to appear before a king with a sad countenance, or to show any sign of mourning. As it was an insult to his governance. A good king, did his best to provide for his people.

For this reason Nehemiah was afraid when the king asked him why he was sad.

Here’s the text:


Nehemiah 2:2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

Nehemiah 2:3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

Nehemiah made it clear to the king, that his sad countenance was because of His father’s sepulchres.

His sad countenance had nothing to do with anything pertaining to the kingdom or the honor and the privilege of being the kings servant.

So if human kings are angered at unnecessary sadness or grief, when they are doing their best to provide for their people, should we expect less from God who is King of kings and Lord of lord’s.

The one who made the earth and lets the sun rise on the evil and the good and sends the rain on the just and the unjust, gives us food in due season and the breath of life. And has forgiven our sins and blessed us with eternal life.

Should we complain after he’s done so much for us?

Shortly after, that incident, the people whined and complain again. This time we are told the mixt multitude started the complaining and the children of Israel chimed in and suddenly, everyone in the camp ground was crying, asking why they left Egypt.

Because at least they had leeks, onions, melons, garlic and fish in Egypt. They said all they had was Manna in their face. They were sick of eating Manna, they wanted meat to eat.

So God decided to fulfill their request. He told Moses to tell the people he would send so much meat into the camp ground they would have enough meat to eat for a whole month.

Yet, while they were still eating the meat, while the food was still in their mouths, a plague spread throughout the camp and many died.

So, we may get what we want from God if we whine and complain long enough but we may end up regretting it and wishing we never got it.

Balaam knew God did not want him to go with Balak’s men but he kept going to God about it and God finally told Him to go ahead.

But when he went the Lord got angry. An angel met Balaam, while he was on his way and started to kill him. The angel said, Balaam’s way was perverse.

We should not insist or persist in asking God for things we know he doesn’t want us to have or do things we know he doesn't want us to do.

Because he may say, go ahead and in the end we could reap destruction. Balaam was later killed by the Israelites.

We are encouraged to pray about all things and to be content with such things as we have because the most important thing we need and have is the presence of God in our lives.

The Israelites were in the desert with the wealth of Egypt. The Philistines could have come against them but they dared not. Because of the cloud and the pillar of fire that rested in the midst of the camp, proving God was with them, the same God that defeated Pharaoh and his army was in their midst.

God’s presence was more important than leeks and onions. So the writer of Hebrews tells us to be content with the things we have.

Here’s the text:

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.