The Graves of Lusters

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Numbers 11:4-6, 18-23, 31-34
Psalters: 306, 299, 213, 213
  1. They desired flesh (fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic) after almost a year of having manna.
    1. It is not sinful in itself to desire, nor to want meat.
    2. It is sinful when forget what Egypt was really like: “it was well with us in Egypt” (18); “we did eat freely” (5)
    3. Thus this is sinful because this longing robbed them of their gratitude for what God had given to them (6b).
    4. It is sinful to want something God has shown He would not give (this many in a wilderness).
      1. They demanded that which they could not have on the way to Canaan.
      2. But the desert was the God-ordained best (necessary, only) way to the promised land (Deut. 8:3).
    5. As a result they grossly exaggerate.
    6. They provoked the Most High (Ps. 78:17), tempted God: “Who shall give us flesh to eat” (4; Ps. 78:18).
  2. In anger God fulfilled their lustful desires, giving them what they wanted (Psalm 78:21,29,30).
    1. Their great desires were matched with millions of quail.
    2. But it came in and with God’s anger (Ps. 78:21,29). He fulfilled their desires (Psalm 106:15a).
      1. Even with such abundance they “were not estranged (deprived) from their lust” (Ps. 78:30).
      2. They were blinded to their own deceit, never satisfied, always wanting more of that which perishes!
    3. God is not mocked, for a horrible plague came while gorging on the quail.
    4. Instead of banqueting, they mourned and the location was forever memorialized with the: “graves of lusters”.
  3. This is recorded for our “examples” and “admonition” (I Cor. 10:6-12).
    1. The earthly material and physical are only the way God has chosen for us to take to heavenly glory.
    2. In the way of self-denial and being satisfied with what God has given to us, our need is always met.