“Look to God and Live”

“Look to God and Live”
Old Testament Lesson #15,
Gospel Doctrine, Complied by Maren Hale

Reading: Numbers 11-14; 21:1-9

INTRODUCTION

The Book of Numbers recounts a great national tragedy. Within just a few months of their deliverance from Egypt, the Children of Israel had an opportunity to inherit the promised land. But this inheritance was delayed for forty years because of their contentions, divisions, and lack of faith. By the time Israel finally showed enough faith to be able to enter the promised land, most of this faltering generation had died. (Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, p. 13)

Most of the Book of Numbers describes:
● Israel’s encounter with God and his prophet, Moses,
● lessons painfully learned in the desert,
● and the 38-year period from the time Israel left Mt. Sinai until they arrived at Mt. Pisgah on the east side of the Jordan River (a route that should take less than 11 days).

In Numbers 1, a census is taken when the Lord commanded Moses to number all males in all the tribes of Israel over 20 years of age – 603,550 (Numbers 1:46)

The Levites were not numbered in the census.

From this accounting, the total population of Israel was from 2-3 million.
● As we know, the Bible may not be translated correctly.
● Some scholars believe the total number was closer to 500,000.
● This may have been the largest single migration in the history of the world.

Despite the blessings the Israelites received from the Lord, their fear and lack of faith often caused them to wish they had not left Egypt. Their yearning for Egypt delayed and complicated their journey to the promised land.

BODY

An Attitude of Gratitude

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 11:4-6

4. And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

5. We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

6. But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, besides this manna, before our eyes.

It is not difficult to understand the situation of these people. Imagine eating the same thing day after day. Even your favorite meal!

EXPERIENCE: Too much of a good thing

I have always loved asparagus. Being a delicacy and expensive, it is a real treat.
A few years back, our neighbors returned home from visiting their family farm in Washington State where they grew asparagus. They came over with a huge crate of asparagus for us. We were so excited, but after a few days, we had had our fill and still, most of the crate remained. By the end of the week, I didn’t care if I ever saw another spear of asparagus again.

QUESTION: So, what sin were the Israelites guilty of when they tired of manna and desired meat instead? [ingratitude]

QUOTE #1

President Lorenzo Snow: “I have thought sometimes that one of the greatest virtues the Latter-day Saints could possess is gratitude to our Heavenly Father for that which he has bestowed upon us and the path over which he has led us. It may be that walking along in that path has not always been of the most pleasant character; but we have afterwards discovered that those circumstances which have been very unpleasant have often proved of the highest advantage to us.” (Conference Report, April 1899)

Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “Bearing one’s testimony and expressing gratitude are like periodic inventories; counting our blessings is both healthy and invigorating. Counting is better than commiserating.” (Deposition of a Disciple, p. 74)

QUESTION: What happens when we are ungrateful? [It affects our attitudes, our relationship with others, and our relationship with God.]

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind. It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficience. It expresses itself in ugly egotism and frequently in wanton mischief....Where there is gratitude, there is humility, as opposed to pride.” (Conference Report, October 1964)

QUESTION: How can we become more grateful? [Pray and acknowledge our blessings daily. Then we will see the hand of the Lord in all things.]

I have always loved President Monson’s talk entitled “An Attitude of Gratitude.”
He states, “Well could we reflect upon our lives as individuals. We will soon discover much to prompt our personal gratitude.”
He then tells us where our gratitude should be placed:
“First, there is gratitude for our mothers…
“Second, let us reflect gratitude for our fathers….
“Third, all of us remember with gratitude our teachers…
“Fourth, let us have gratitude for our friends. Our most cherished friend is our partner in marriage…
“Fifth, may we acknowledge gratitude for our country—the land of our birth…
“Sixth and finally—even supremely—let us reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life’s greatest questions. He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved…“Only He stood alone.”

President Monson closes his talk with, “Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.” (President Thomas S. Monson, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” Ensign, May 1992)
Shared leadership: Many Hands to Bear the Load

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 11:11 and 14

11. And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? And wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

14. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

Moses is struggling to deal with the childish Israelites. He tells the Lord that it is more than he can bear alone. Moses pleads with the Lord:
“And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight.” (Numbers 11:15)

Moses’ calling had become more than he felt he could handle. There seemed to be no way to accomplish the will of the Lord and he asked the Lord for a way out.

QUESTION: How did the Lord respond?
● The Lord calls 70 to assist Moses in the work. (Numbers 11:16-17)
● The Lord assured Moses that he would provide meat. (v. 18)
● The Lord gave the Spirit to the seventy and they prophesied. (v. 25)

When Joshua saw these men speaking the words of prophecy he asked Moses to forbid them:

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 11:28-29

28. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

29. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

Moses was weighed down with the responsibilities of leading the increasingly resistant and murmuring Israel. The Lord provided seventy elders to lighten his load. Joshua appealed to Moses to restrain two of the elders who were prophesying in the camp, but Moses saw it quite differently. He wished that all the Lord’s people would be moved by the spirit of prophecy, for that is the way the Lord would have it. Spiritual teamwork is one hallmark of a Zion society. (Ed J. Pinegar, and Richard J. Allen, Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, p. 380)

Robert L. Millet: “Indeed, ‘would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!’ When every man or woman – whether ancient or modern Israelite – has the testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy burning within his or her soul, then the work of the Lord moves forward by leaps and bounds.
“The strength of the kingdom of God at any time is not to be found alone in the power and strength of its leaders, but more important in the individual testimonies of the members. Members who gain the witness and enjoy the gifts lift heavy burdens from the shoulders of the leaders, for they now perform their labors in the Church with intelligent obedience.” (Studies in Scripture, 3:188)

QUOTE #2

Elder Russell M. Ballard: “We spend many hours in various meetings talking about [members] and planning how we can bless their lives. Can you see the potential power of the priesthood and auxiliaries working together to systematically reach out to families and individuals? I believe that the answers to the activity problems facing our wards and stakes can be found in the priesthood and auxiliary councils.” (Counseling with our Councils: Learning to Minister Together in the Church and in the Family, p 7)

QUOTE #3

President Brigham Young: “I am like Moses when a messenger came to him saying, ‘The people are prophesying in their tents,’ Said Moses, Well, what of that? I would to God that the Lord’s people were all prophets! I would to God that they all had revelation! When they receive revelation from heaven the story is told, they know for themselves.” (Journal of Discourses, 13:336)


QUOTE #4

President James E. Faust: “With faith in the Lord and humility, a priesthood leader may confidently expect divine assistance in his problems….Brethren, we can learn, we can study, we can comprehend the basic things we need to know as members of God’s holy priesthood. We can learn the giant truths and teach them with intelligence and understanding to those who come to learn. We can also lean upon the strengths of others whose talents are greater than our own.” (in The Power within Us, Russell M. Nelson, p. 179)

EXPERIENCE

How many times have we heard from leaders in our Church, stake, and ward, that they could not have accomplished a task without the help of many other members? We hear this every week. I know I have been the recipient of great help and strength from others in Church callings I have held.

It is amazing how more heads and hands lighten the load. We can gain so much from the ideas and inspiration of others. When many come together for a common cause, the work is easier, more enjoyable, and is accomplished efficiently.

In April General Conference, Elder Koichi Aoyagi stated:
“I do not have time to tell you about all the good things I see Church members do. They follow the counsel of the prophet—not out of duty or responsibility but of their own free will, anonymously and joyfully.” (Conference Report, “Helping Hands, Saving Hands,” April 2010)
Humility versus Taking Authority unto Ourselves.

The priesthood of God operates on principles of humility and meekness. Pride and arrogance have no place in spiritual leadership.

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 12:3

3. (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

QUESTION: What does it mean to be meek? [Again, we go back to the importance of gratitude]

QUOTE #5

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Meekness implies a spirit of gratitude as opposed to an attitude of self-sufficiency, an acknowledgment of a greater power beyond oneself, a recognition of God, and an acceptance of his commandments.” (“With All Thy Getting Get Understanding,” Ensign, August 1988, pp. 3-4)

“Miriam and Aaron complained against Moses and claimed for themselves equal prophetic gifts. They were rebuked by the Lord, and Miriam was exiled for a week with leprosy. The Lord upheld his servant Moses as the chosen prophet and extolled his greatness as one who can speak face to face with the Lord. (Numbers12)

“We must avoid finding fault with the Lord’s anointed and instead sustain and uphold our ordained leaders with faith and humility.” (Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, p. 382)

EXPERIENCE: My mother taught me to sustain the Brethren

One of the greatest examples my mother gave me was in how she sustained the leaders of the Church – never finding fault or murmuring. As a child I had full faith and confidence in the Brethren and my ward and stake leaders. As a young adult, I observed that a Church leader in our area had a different business ethic which ended up impacting our family financially. I never heard my mother find fault or mention what I perceived as a personal weakness in him. She was able to separate his business dealings from his Church office and realized that it was not up to her to judge his actions. This brother continued to serve in many capacities in the Church, to raise his family, to give charitably, and to work out the plan of salvation in his life.

Faith Does Not Murmur

The children of Israel displayed a chronic tendency to murmur, find fault, focus on memories of the abundance of their former Egyptian life, and complain against Moses and the Lord.

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 14:1-3

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

2. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!

3. And wherefore hath the Lord 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?

In his wrath, the Lord plagued them with an abundance of meat so they would be consumed in their greed.

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 14:11

11. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

When their 12 captains were sent to spy out the promised land, ten of them succumbed to fear in the face of the enemy and brought back news of hopelessness. Only Joshua and Caleb had the faith to see Israel victorious with the help of the Lord.

Then the Lord swears that the murmuring people will not enter the promised land.

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 14:33

33. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness.

The Lord’s choicest blessings are reserved for the faithful. Murmuring and fear are not qualities of the righteous.

Some disaffected members of the Church stray towards apostasy as they try to persuade others to pull away from the gospel, the Holy Ghost, and the light of Christ.

QUOTE #6

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “…We see some around us who are indifferent concerning the future of this work, who are apathetic, who speak of limitations, who express fears, who spend their time digging out and writing about what they regard to be weaknesses which really are of no consequence. With doubt concerning its past, they have no vision concerning its future.” (Ensign, November 1995, p. 71)

It is important for us to understand that President Monson receives revelation for the world, while we are privileged to receive personal revelation for ourselves and our stewardships.

QUOTE #7

President James E. Faust: “The prophets, seers, and revelators have had and still have the responsibility and privilege of receiving and declaring the word of God for the world. Individual members, parents, and leaders have the right to receive revelation for their own responsibility but have no duty nor right to declare the word of God beyond the limits of their own responsibility. (Ensign, November 1989, p. 8)

QUESTION: What happens when we find fault with our spouses, children, friends, or workmates? [Hurts their self images, they don’t trust us, we rationalize our own weaknesses, we tear down relationships.]

QUOTE #8

Elder Marvin J. Ashton: “I am acquainted with a wife and mother who is chained securely at the present time to a life-style of murmuring and criticism. She is the first to point out faults in her husband or to repeat neighborhood gossip. How damaging is a habit that permits fault-finding, character assassination, and the sharing of malicious rumors! Gossip and caustic comments often create chains of contentions. These chains may appear to be very small, but what misery and woe they can cause! (Be of Good Cheer, p. 66)

Look to Christ and Live.

In Numbers, chapter 21 Israel destroyed those Canaanites who fight against her. The children of Israel journeyed from Mount Hor by the Red Sea to the land of Edom, and the people were discouraged and they murmured again. “And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” (verse 6)

Then the people came to Moses to repent of their sinning and asked him to pray to the Lord and take away the serpents.

SCRIPTURE: Numbers 21:8-9

8. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

9. “And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

“The Lord responded to the faithless murmuring of the Israelites by sending fiery serpents to humble them. He commanded Moses to set up a token of safety in the form of a brass serpent – signifying the Redeemer – so that all who would focus their eyes on this sign would live.

“The symbolism, which has endured over the millennia, is a powerful reminder that we must take upon ourselves the name of Christ and live by all the principles and ordinances of the gospel if we are to have the hope of salvation.” (Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, p. 385)

QUOTE #9

Elder Carols E. Asay: “We, like Israel of old, must rivet our eyes and minds upon…Christ if we hope to gain eternal life….Our looks must not be allowed to wander across the way or to become fixed upon the perishable things of the world. The eye…must be trained to look upward. We must look to God and live!” (Conference Report, October 1978, p. 81)

CONCLUSION

“The process of coming unto Christ is shown dramatically with the Israelites as they were compelled to humility; then, being teachable, they looked upon the brazen serpent [or symbol of Christ] and were saved.

“This process is duplicated in everyone’s life in order to be saved. We become humbled either by the situation or by the word [of God]….Then, with [a] broken heart and contrite spirit, we come unto Christ by faith unto repentance.

“This process is duplicated every day as people give up the world, humble themselves before God, and come unto Christ. This is the mission of the Church and kingdom of God – to invite all to come unto Christ. (Ed. J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, p. 386)

We can learn a great deal from the lessons of liberated Israel. Many hands lighten the load of building the kingdom of God. We all must learn our duty, sustain our Church leaders, and refrain from finding fault or murmuring. Above all, we must focus obediently on the Savior and keep his commandments.

EXPERIENCE: Lucas Hardy Hale

The past 3 weeks have had its ups and downs for the Hale family. In March, our daughter-in-law, Melinda, began to experience complications in her pregnancy due to a placental abruption or tear. 2 weeks ago she had to be hospitalized for constant monitoring and bed rest to continued bleeding.

I received a phone call from my son, Forrest, at 6:30 a.m. Monday morning, asking me to rush to their home to watch the children, so he could go to the hospital to be with Melinda. The baby’s heart rate had fallen.

By the time Forrest arrived, a C-section had been quickly performed – even before pain medication for Melinda could take effect. Our 1 LB 8 oz. Lucas Hardy Hale was born at only 25 weeks gestation.

We have seen many miracles surrounding Melinda’s pregnancy and the birth of Lucas. At 6 days old things look hopeful, but remain tenuous for him.

I visit him every day in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I sign in at the desk and pass a beautiful painting of Jesus holding a newborn baby in his arms. The painting is very comforting.

I have been focusing on this lesson for 2 weeks, and this great challenge in our family has magnified for me the fact that all is in the Lord’s hands concerning our tiny grandson. This beautiful child and the lovely painting I pass each day, remind me that I must “look to Christ so that I and my loved ones may live with Him eternally.

Elder Richard G. Scott gave a beautiful talk a few weeks ago in general conference entitled “He Lives! All Glory To His Name!” He said:
“I energetically encourage you to establish a personal study plan to better understand and appreciate the incomparable, eternal, infinite consequences of Jesus Christ’s perfect fulfillment of His divinely appointed calling as our Savior and Redeemer. Profound personal pondering of the scriptures accompanied by searching, heartfelt prayer will fortify your understanding of and appreciation for His priceless Atonement. Another powerful way to learn of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is through consistent temple attendance…
“The Savior loves each of us and will make it possible for our every need to be satisfied as we qualify by obedience for all of the blessings He wants us to have on this earth.”
Elder Scott closed with: “I love and adore Him. As His authorized servant I solemnly testify with every capacity of my being that He lives…” (Conference Report, April 2010)
I add my testimony to his – that Christ lives, and that through his Atonement and our obedience, we can and will live eternally with Him. May we “look to our Father in Heaven and Christ and live,” I pray.

References:
April 2010 General Conference talks as noted
Bob Beardall, Gospel Doctrine Lesson 15, quotes
Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, Teachings and Commentaries on the Old Testament, pp. 379-386.
Maren Hale, personal experiences
Old Testament Teacher’s Manual, Lesson 15
President Thomas S. Monson, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” Ensign, May 1992