Transcript of Sabbath Meeting - 07/14/00

Tonightt I would like to share something I have shared before, but I believe to be a quite important conviction.

I would like to share what the scriptures have to say about "Complaining/Grumbling/Murmuring against Yahweh"

Perhaps often times we do not realize it when we follow the example of the Israelites in the wilderness on their way to the promised land

The Israelites trek into the land flowing with milk and honey is symbolic of our own journey to the promised land when Yahshua returns for His people

They were called out of bondage (Egypt), led by the Spirit into a time of trial and testing and were eventually led into the Promised land

We too were called out of bondage (sin), and are being led into righteousness and trials and testings by the Spirit of Yahweh Most High

And we, if we endure will eventually be led into the kingdom of Yahweh.. also by one named Yahushua..the Messiah!

Let's consider our walk.. Are we like the Israelites?

Do we complain about our daily circumstances?

Do we complain not only behind closed doors but also publicly for all to hear, even unbelievers?

Let's examine what Yahweh did to the children of Israel as a result of their murmurings:

Numbers 11:1 - And when the people complained, it displeased YAHWEH: and YAHWEH heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of YAHWEH burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

Complaining is often due to a lack of faith:

Numbers 13:30 - And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Numbers 13:31 - But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Numbers 13:32 - And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

Numbers 13:33 - And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Numbers 14:1 - And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

Numbers 14:2 - And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would Elohim that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would Elohim we had died in this wilderness!

Numbers 14:3 - And wherefore hath YAHWEH brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Numbers 14:4 - And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Numbers 14:27 - How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.

Numbers 14:28 - Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith YAHWEH, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:

Numbers 14:29 - Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,

It was for the reason of complaining that Yahweh was going to totally destroy Israel ...

And it was for the reason of murmuring, grumbling, and complaining that Yahweh did NOT allow the children of Israel to enter the promised land!

Does Yahweh change in this day and age?

Romans 9:20 - Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against YAHWEH? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Romans 9:21 - Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

On our journey, let us be thankful for the blessings we are given

If not, the implications are enormous

I believe there is too much complaining going on in the body of Messiah and repentance is a must!

It is also time that all brothers and sisters stop complaining about one another

James 5:7 - Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Master. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

James 5:8 - You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Master is at hand.

James 5:9 - Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

James 4:11 - Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

It is particularly wicked in Yahweh's eyes for a wife to complain about her husband or a circumstance that she thinks that her husband has created.

As Solomon noted, this is a very common situation for a wife to be contentious

Proverbs 21:19 - It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

For Yahweh has placed the husbands in the position of authority over the wives, not unlike Yahweh placed Moshe in the position of authority over the children of Israel.

In every case that the children of Israel spoke against Moshe, Yahweh viewed it as murmuring against Him

Now let's examine what took place to the children of Israel who spoke against one in authority over them:

Numbers 16:1 - Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

Numbers 16:2 - And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

Numbers 16:3 - And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against _aron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and YAHWEH is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of YAHWEH?

Numbers 16:4 - And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

Numbers 16:31 - And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

Numbers 16:33 - They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

Numbers 16:32 - And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

Numbers 16:33 - They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

But we read later that..

Numbers 16:41 - But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of YAHWEH.

So the children of Israel were to respect Moshe's authority as unto Yahweh and not murmur or complain against him.

This does not mean that Moshe was Yahweh but it does mean that any authority that is from Yahweh is to be obeyed and respected as unto Yahweh:

Ephesians 5:22 - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to Yahushua.

But it does mean that every husband and every wife has a certain role to fulfill before Yahweh. And there should be none of this grumbling and complaining by any spouse concerning what duty Yahweh has given us!

This goes for the husband as well as the wife. We should honor our wives, not dishonor. We should not despise our duty unto Yahweh, lest we fall into the same condemnation as the children of Israel who did not respect their duty, but sought to exalt themselves over their authority.

I know I may receive persecution for these statements but the women's lib. movement does not change the clear teaching of scripture!

Now let's examine what a righteous man will do when enduring circumstances that seem unfair or unwarranted:

Joseph was a righteous man. Though he did no wrong, he was sold as a slave by his own brethren.

He could have spent the rest of his life complaining about his circumstances, but what did he do?

Genesis 37:28 - Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Genesis 39:1 - And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

Genesis 39:4 - And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Did he then sit in prison and moan over his circumstance?

Did he murmur and complain at this unfairness?

Genesis 39:17 - And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

Genesis 39:18 - And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

Genesis 39:19 - And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

Genesis 39:20 - And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Genesis 39:21 - But YAHWEH was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

But Joseph bided his time and committed himself to Him who judges righteously and finally Yahweh delivered him and made him 2nd in command over all Egypt!

We as children of Yahweh should follow that same example!

Even if we are treated unfairly all our lives..

Let's wait on the salvation of Yahweh

And if it be not in this life, truly He is coming soon and His reward is with Him!

Now let's examine a key difference between 12 disciples of Yahshua and all the others whom Yahshua did not choose:

Luke 5:30 - But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

Luke 5:31 - And Yahushua answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

Luke 15:2 - And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Luke 19:7 - And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

John 6:51 - I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 6:41 - The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

John 6:57 - As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

John 6:58 - This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

John 6:59 - These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

John 6:60 - Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

John 6:61 - When Yahushua knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

John 6:62 - What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

John 6:63 - It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 6:64 - But there are some of you that believe not. For Yahushua knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

John 6:65 - And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

John 6:66 - From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

John 6:67 - Then said Yahushua unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

John 6:68 - Then Simon Kepha answered him, Rabbi, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Somebody please show me one example of Yahshua complaining about HIS circumstances!!?

Yahshua did not complain!!

Yet, one might say that He had every right to!

He was perfect and sinless before Yahweh yet He was marred more than any man and He was tortured, hung and killed by his enemies, betrayed by his friends.

Brothers and sisters, I would like to say that I believe whatever situation you are in, it is ordained by Yahweh!

He can cause great things to come from unpleasant circumstances!

Philippians 2:12 - Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:13 - For it is YAHWEH which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:14 - Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Philippians 2:15 - That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of YAHWEH, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Philippians 2:16 - Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of the Messiah, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Will our journey to the promised land come to end in the following fashion?

Numbers 11:1 - And when the people complained, it displeased YAHWEH: and YAHWEH heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of YAHWEH burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

Numbers 14:22 - Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

Numbers 14:23 - Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

Numbers 15:31 - Because he hath despised the word of YAHWEH, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

Numbers 16:31 - And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

1Corinthians 10:8 - Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

1Corinthians 10:9 - Neither let us tempt the Messiah, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

1Corinthians 10:10 - Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

1Corinthians 10:11 - Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Psalms 106:21 - They forgat El their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

Surely He has!

Let's not forget!

Psalms 106:22 - Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

Psalms 106:23 - Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

Psalms 106:24 - Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

Psalms 106:25 - But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of YAHWEH.

Psalms 106:26 - Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:

Psalms 106:27 - To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.

It is particularly wicked to complain about Yahweh's chastening:

Lamentations 3:37 - Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when YAHWEH commandeth it not?

Lamentations 3:38 - Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Lamentations 3:39 - Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Lamentations 3:40 - Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to YAHWEH.

It just may be that Yahweh is trying to get our attention. If so, repent and turn again to Yahweh!

So what shall we do next time some difficult circumstance should befall us?

Certainly it is not an evil thing to pray for Yahweh to deliver us. This is what we are supposed to do.

Psalms 50:15 - And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

"PRAISE YAHWEH!"

Give Him the praise no matter what life's trials might be

Yahweh often tests us to see if we will still serve Him and praise Him when in an unpleasant situation.

We must endure brethren! I pray that we all do

Let's heed the words of the psalmist

Psalms 146:1 - Praise ye YAHWEH. Praise YAHWEH, O my soul.

Psalms 146:2 - While I live will I praise YAHWEH: I will sing praises unto my Elohim while I have any being.

Psalms 146:3 - Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Psalms 146:4 - His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Psalms 146:5 - Joyful is he that hath the El of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in YAHWEH his Elohim:

Psalms 146:6 - Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

Psalms 146:7 - Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. YAHWEH looseth the prisoners:

Psalms 146:8 - YAHWEH openeth the eyes of the blind: YAHWEH raiseth them that are bowed down: YAHWEH loveth the righteous:

Psalms 146:9 - YAHWEH preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

Psalms 146:10 - YAHWEH shall reign for ever, even thy Elohim, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye YAHWEH.

Therefore let us put our hope and trust in Him that He is leading us in that direction...no matter what are circumstances may be

Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in YAHWEH with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6 - In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.