提要
在以色列人啟程之前，上帝最後再交代了有關行進次序的細節。在他們當中要用不同的號角聲來召聚百姓、宣告特定的節期、發佈戰爭警報、及前進訊號。聽從號角聲就是聽從上帝，因為摩西唯有在得到上帝的指示後才會下令吹號。有朝一日，號角聲會從天上響起，就是信徒在空中與主相會的信號（帖前4︰16）。
以色列人停駐在西乃曠野約一年後，上帝吩咐他們的每一件事也都已辦妥，上帝就使雲柱從會幕升上去，以色列人便開始前往應許之地的旅途。十二支派、祭司和利未人都按著上帝的指示起行。只有藉著上帝的引導和百姓的順服，這麼龐大的隊伍才可能井然有序的前進。十章卅三節告訴我們，上帝帶領他們到可安歇的地方，要穿越如此惡劣的環境實非易事，但藉著上帝的引導，一切都能成真。
不過三天之久，以色列就開始抱怨。他們的眼目離開上帝，轉而注視周圍一片荒涼的曠野。上帝向他們發怒，祂的審判也藉著火焰臨到以色列人，直到摩西為他們禱告，火才停熄。許多離會幕最遠的人也在這場火中被吞滅（11︰1）。他們可能是以色列中的閒雜人，大部分無意親近上帝，在以色列人中挑起不滿，對以色列人有極壞的影響，又使他們埋怨上帝所賜的嗎哪，渴望吃他們在埃及享有的食物。對屬靈的事沒有興趣又常埋怨環境的人，實在不是天路客的好同伴。
摩西感到極度煩亂而向上帝呼求，表現出他非常人性的一面，同時也顯示領導這群百姓的擔子多麼沈重。上帝並不要摩西獨自擔此重擔，上帝也不要我們背沈重的擔子。祂很樂意減輕我們的壓力，只要我們求祂並將重擔卸給祂（太11︰28）。上帝憐憫摩西，也瞭解他的沮喪。同樣的，當我們在試煉中，祂瞭解我們的心情和感受。祂會帶我們經過試煉，鼓舞、安慰我們。
上帝指派七十位長老協助摩西，減輕祂的重擔。上帝將祂賜給摩西的靈也分賜在那七十人身上。謙卑又不尋求自我榮耀的摩西樂觀其成，他希望所有的百姓都有上帝的靈降在他們身上（11︰29）。聖靈的工作在整本聖經中都十分明顯。正如當時的以色列領袖需要聖靈，今天的屬靈領袖也同樣需要。
上帝對摩西的困境的第二個答覆是，祂將奇蹟似的派鵪鶉飛到百姓的營邊，讓他們可以輕易的捕捉（11︰31~32）。不過，上帝也藉此顯明了百姓的慾望是多麼愚蠢，因為連續吃了一個月的鵪鶉肉後，他們都厭惡了。那些貪得無厭，一心要滿足自己罪惡慾望，而不為上帝的供應感恩的人，都在一場致命的災殃中被擊殺，死者眾多，所以那地的名字意思是「貪慾之人的墳墓」（11︰34）。
上帝向眾人證明祂有能力實現祂對摩西說的話（11︰23；參賽59︰1~2）。上帝確實照他們所求的賜給了他們──但這個請求並不合乎祂的旨意，所以結果是「使他們的心靈軟弱」（詩106︰15；參詩78︰26~31）。讓我們只想望那些純正、合乎上帝意願的事物，使我們的心靈得以滋長（腓4︰8；西3︰2），因為「敬虔加上知足的心就是大利了」（提前6︰6）。
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Overview
Before the Israelites could begin their journey, God gave the final necessary details for their orderly march. Various distinguishing trumpet blasts served to summon the people, indicate certain feasts, give a warning, sound an alarm of war, unit the people and indicate times to advance. In obeying the sounds of trumpet, they were obeying God, for Moses would order the blasts only after hearing from the Lord. One day there will come a heavenly trumpet sound signaling the meeting of the believers in the air with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16).
After the Israelites were camped in the desert of Sinai for abut a year, and after everything was put in order as the Lord commanded, He lifted the cloud from over the sanctuary and their journey to the Promised Land began. The twelve tribes, priests and Levites all took their proper places according to the instructions of the Lord. It was only by divine leading and the people’s obedience that an orderly march of so vast a multitude was possible. We read that the Lord led them to a resting place (10:33), for the journey through that rough terrain was not easy, but with God’s guidance it was made possible.
After only three days of the journey, the children of Israel began to complain. They took their eyes off God and looked at their situation in the bleak wilderness. God’s anger was aroused and His judgment fell upon them by a fire until Moses interceded. Many of those who were farthest from God’s sanctuary were consumed (11:1). They were probably the mixed multitude, most of whom had no desire to draw near to God and had stirred up discontentment, having a bad influence upon the Israelites, causing them to become dissatisfied with the manna God had given and to long for the foods they had eaten in Egypt. People who are not interested in spiritual things and always complain about their situation are not good company for one seeking to follow the Lord.
Moses was greatly disturbed and cried out to God, showing how very human he was and how great a burden it was for him to lead such a people. God did not want Moses to bear this burden alone, nor does He want us to be heavy-laden with burdens. He would gladly release stress from His people, if they would but ask and give it over to Him (Matt.11:28). God was merciful to Moses and understood His discouragement. Likewise, He understands us when we are in the midst of trials. He will take us through them, lifting us up and giving us comfort.
God made Moses’ load lighter by the appointment of the seventy men to be of assistance. Upon these He placed the same Spirit as He had given Moses. Moses, being humble and not seeking self-glory, was pleased with this, whishing that all the people had God’s Spirit upon them (11:29). The work of the Holy Spirit is clearly evident throughout the whole Bible. Just as His Spirit was necessary upon the leaders then, so it is needful for spiritual leaders today.
God’s second answer to Moses’ dilemma concerning the people’s lustful request for meat was to miraculously send the quail around their camp that they might be easily caught (11:31-32). However, it proved to show the foolishness of their desire, for they ended up being sick of it after one month of nothing but quail. Those who gluttonously gorged themselves, eating to satisfy their greedy, sinful lusts (without thanks to God for His provision), were struck by a fatal plague, killing many; so the meaning of the place is “graves of lust (craving)” (11:34).
The Lord proved to everyone that He was able to do what He had told Moses (11:23; cf. Isa.59:1-2). He did oblige them and gave them their request – a request, which was not in His will. So the result was “leanness into their soul” (Ps.106:15; cf.78:26-31). Let us desire only those things which are pure and in keeping with the Lord’s desires, that our souls may be nourished (Phil.4:8; Col.3:2), for “godliness with contentment Is great gain” (1 Tim.6:6).
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