20250408 [새벽묵상] 탐욕이 일으키는 나비효과 | The Danger of Craving What We Left Behind (민/Num 11:10~23)

11:10 백성의 온 종족들이 각기 자기 장막 문에서 우는 것을 모세가 들으니라 이러므로 여호와의 진노가 심히 크고 모세도 기뻐하지 아니하여

11:11 모세가 여호와께 여짜오되 어찌하여 주께서 종을 괴롭게 하시나이까 어찌하여 내게 주의 목전에서 은혜를 입게 아니하시고 이 모든 백성을 내게 맡기사 내가 그 짐을 지게 하시나이까

11:12 이 모든 백성을 내가 배었나이까 어찌 내가 그들을 낳았나이까 주께서 내게 양육하는 아버지가 젖 먹는 아이를 품듯 그들을 품에 품고 주께서 그들의 열조에게 맹세하신 땅으로 가라 하시나이까

11:13 이 모든 백성에게 줄 고기를 내가 어디서 얻으리이까 그들이 나를 향하여 울며 이르되 우리에게 고기를 주어 먹게 하라 하온즉

11:14 책임이 심히 중하여 나 혼자는 이 모든 백성을 감당할 수 없나이다

11:15 주께서 내게 이같이 행하실진대 구하옵나니 내게 은혜를 베푸사 즉시 나를 죽여 내가 고난 당함을 내가 보지 않게 하옵소서

10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

11:16 여호와께서 모세에게 이르시되 이스라엘 노인 중에 네가 알기로 백성의 장로와 지도자가 될 만한 자 칠십 명을 모아 내게 데리고 와 회막에 이르러 거기서 너와 함께 서게 하라

11:17 내가 강림하여 거기서 너와 말하고 네게 임한 영을 그들에게도 임하게 하리니 그들이 너와 함께 백성의 짐을 담당하고 너 혼자 담당하지 아니하리라

16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

11:18 또 백성에게 이르기를 너희의 몸을 거룩히 하여 내일 고기 먹기를 기다리라 너희가 울며 이르기를 누가 우리에게 고기를 주어 먹게 하랴 애굽에 있을 때가 우리에게 좋았다 하는 말이 여호와께 들렸으므로 여호와께서 너희에게 고기를 주어 먹게 하실 것이라

11:19 하루나 이틀이나 닷새나 열흘이나 스무 날만 먹을 뿐 아니라

11:20 냄새도 싫어하기까지 한 달 동안 먹게 하시리니 이는 너희가 너희 중에 계시는 여호와를 멸시하고 그 앞에서 울며 이르기를 우리가 어찌하여 애굽에서 나왔던가 함이라 하라

18 “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. 19 You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”

11:21 모세가 이르되 나와 함께 있는 이 백성의 보행자가 육십만 명이 온데 주의 말씀이 한 달 동안 고기를 주어 먹게 하겠다 하시오니

11:22 그들을 위하여 양 떼와 소 떼를 잡은들 족하오며 바다의 모든 고기를 모은들 족하오리이까

21 But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ 22 Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”

11:23 여호와께서 모세에게 이르시되 여호와의 손이 짧으냐 네가 이제 내 말이 네게 응하는 여부를 보리라

23 The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

                  오늘 말씀을 보면서 제 머리에 제일 처음 들었던 생각은 이것이었습니다. 분명히 이스라엘 백성들도 하나님께 불평을 하고 있고 모세도 하나님께 불평을 하고 있는데 하나님께서는 이스라엘 백성들의 불평에는 심히 진노하시고 모세의 불평에는 진노하셨다는 말씀이 없으실까? 게다가 오늘 말씀 후반부에 보면 모세가 하나님의 능력을 의심하는 부분도 있지 않습니까? 그 때에도 하나님께서는 모세를 나무라지 않으시고 당신이 하신 말씀대로 이루어지는 것을 보게 될 것이라는 말씀만을 하십니다. 그래서 말씀을 계속 묵상하면서 깨닫게 된것이 “아 모세는 지금 하나님께 불평을 하고 있는 것이 아니구나. 모세는 하나님께 도움을 구하고 있는 것이구나” 였습니다. 그렇다면 이스라엘 백성들의 불평에는 왜 진노하시는가? 오늘 말씀에서 하나님은 그 이유에 대해서 이렇게 설명하십니다. 20절입니다. “너희가 너희 중에 계시는 여호와를 멸시하고 그 앞에서 울며 이르기를 우리가 어찌하여 애굽에서 나왔던가 함이라” 하나님이 이들에게 진노하셨던 이유가 바로 이것입니다. 하나님을 거절하고 다시 종되었던 삶으로 되돌아가기를 원하였던 것입니다. 그리고 이들의 이런 불평은 어제의 말씀을 보니 지극히 작은 탐욕으로부터 시작되었습니다. 오늘은 이들의 탐욕으로부터 시작한 불평들이 공동체에 일으키는 일들에 대해서 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

As I reflect on today's passage, the first thought that came to my mind was this:

Both the Israelites and Moses are complaining to God, yet God is deeply angered by the Israelites' complaints while there's no mention of Him being angry with Moses. Moreover, in the latter part of today's passage, doesn't Moses even question God's power? Even then, God doesn't rebuke Moses but simply says that Moses will see His word fulfilled. As I continued to meditate on this passage, I realized, "Ah, Moses isn't complaining to God. Moses is seeking God's help."

So why does God become angry with the Israelites' complaints? In today's passage, God explains the reason. Verse 20 says: "You have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, 'Why did we ever leave Egypt?'" This is precisely why God was angry with them. They rejected God and wished to return to their lives as slaves. And as we saw in yesterday's passage, their complaints began from the smallest of desires. Today, I want to share how these complaints, born from greed, affect the community.

첫번째로 탐욕과 불평은 공동체에 번져서 공동체를 무너뜨립니다. 오늘 말씀의 시작은 사실 어제의 말씀으로부터 시작하지요. 어제의 말씀인 4절 말씀이 이 모든 사건의 시작입니다. 제가 읽겠습니다. “그들 중에 섞여 사는 다른 인종들이 탐욕을 품으매 이스라엘 자손도 다시 울며 이르되 누가 우리에게 고기를 주어 먹게 하랴” 처음 시작은 매우 작은 것이었습니다. 공동체의 대부분이었던 이스라엘 백성이 아니라 그들 중에 섞여사는 소수 다른 인종들이 품었던 탐욕이었습니다. 그러나 그 탐욕이 공동체 전체에 삽시간에 퍼지게 되지요. 그래서 오늘 말씀 10절을 보니 이렇게 말씀하고 있습니다. “백성의 온 종족들이 각기 자기 장막 문에서 우는 것을 모세가 들으니라.” 분명히 소수에 불과했던 의견이었는데 어느새 공동체 전체를 지배하는 의견이 되어버렸지요. 손을 쓸새도 없이 공동체 전체가 탐욕에 무너져서 불평으로 모든 이가 울고 있습니다. 순식간에 공동체 전체가 아수라장이 되어서 질서와 통제가 무너진것이에요. 이렇듯 탐욕과 불평은 압도적인 전염력으로 순식간에 공동체를 무너뜨립니다.

First, greed and complaints spread throughout a community and destroy it. Today's passage actually begins from yesterday's reading. Verse 4 from yesterday is where this whole incident begins. Let me read it: "The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, 'If only we had meat to eat!'" It started very small. It wasn't the Israelites, who made up most of the community, but a minority of other races living among them who harbored this craving. Yet this desire quickly spread throughout the entire community.

So in verse 10 of today's passage, it says: "Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents." What was initially the opinion of just a few somehow became the dominant sentiment of the entire community. Before anything could be done, the whole community had fallen into greed and everyone was wailing in complaint. In an instant, the entire community became chaotic, with order and control breaking down. This is how greed and complaints destroy a community with overwhelming contagiousness.

두번째로 탐욕과 불평은 리더를 무너뜨립니다. 10절에서 이들이 이렇게 우는 것을 모세가 듣습니다. 모세가 마음이 기쁘지 않아요. 왜 일까요? 이들이 모세의 통제력을 다 벗어나 버렸어요. 모든 백성이 저렇게 자기 장막 문에서 다 울고 있는데 모세가 이들을 어떻게 이끌 수 있나요? 모세가 얼마나 마음이 힘들었는지 11-15절 말씀에 모세가 하나님께 나아와서 자기 마음을 다 토해놓습니다. 그 마지막인 15절 보니까 “내게 은혜를 베푸사 즉시 나를 죽여 내가 고난당함을 내가 보지 않게 하옵소서” 라고 해요. 모세가 완전히 무너진거에요. 주님 제가 이 인원들을 도저히 감당할 수가 없습니다. 제 능력 밖이에요. 차라리 저를 죽이셔서 저로 이 고난을 피하게 하옵소서 라고 간청하고 있는 것이에요.

여러분 그런데 가만히 생각해보세요. 모세가 지금 이야기하는 것처럼 모세는 정말 능력이 부족했던 것일까? 그래서 지금 자신의 능력 부족으로 하나님께 간청을 하고 있는 것인가? 아니지요. 오늘의 사건이 일어나게된 시작이 무엇이라고요? 탐욕. 그리고 그 탐욕의 뿌리는 바로 애굽에서 이들을 구원하신 하나님을 멸시하고 다시금 종 되었던 그 애굽 땅으로 되돌아 가려는 것이지요. 죄인 되었던 우리를 구원하신 예수님의 십자가를 멸시하고 우리가 죄인되었을 때에 누리고 즐겼던 쾌락만을 기억하여 다시 죄의 종이었던 세상으로 되돌아 가려는 것과 마찬가지인 것입니다. 여러분 이것이 정말 이들에게 필요한 것입니까? 아니지요. 이들에게 필요한 것은 이미 하나님께서 다 공급하셨습니다. 이들이 구하고 있는 것은 이들의 실질적인 필요가 아니라 이들의 탐욕으로 일어난 필요에요. 이것을 모세가 공급할 수 있습니까? 없습니다. 여러분 교회에서 여러분의 탐욕으로 일어난 필요. 목사님이 공급할 수 있습니까? 없습니다. 그런데 문제는 뭐라구요? 이러한 탐욕으로 일어난 불평이 리더인 목사를 무너뜨린다는 거에요. 교회에 이런 불평들이 번져서 공동체가 무너질때 목사는 자신의 역량을 의심하게 된다는 것이에요. 진짜 필요가 아닌 탐욕으로 일어난 필요, 또 불평때문에 말입니다.

Second, greed and complaints break down leadership. In verse 10, Moses hears these people wailing. Moses isn't happy about this. Why? Because these people have completely escaped his control. With everyone wailing at the entrance of their tents, how can Moses lead them? We see how distressed Moses was in verses 11-15, where he pours out his heart to God. Finally, in verse 15, he says: "If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin." Moses has completely broken down. "Lord, I simply cannot handle these people. It's beyond my ability. Please just kill me so I can escape this suffering," he pleads.

But think about this: Was Moses truly lacking in ability as he claimed? Is he pleading with God now because of his insufficient capabilities? No. What was the root cause of today's incident? Greed. And the root of that greed was their contempt for God who rescued them from Egypt and their desire to return to that land where they were slaves. It's just like despising the cross of Jesus who saved us sinners and remembering only the pleasures we enjoyed when we were sinners, wanting to return to the world where we were slaves to sin. Is this truly what these people needed? No. God had already supplied everything they needed. What they were asking for wasn't their actual need but a desire born from their greed. Could Moses supply this? No. In our churches, can pastors supply the desires born from your greed? No. But what's the problem? Such complaints born from greed break down leaders. When such complaints spread and the community falls apart, pastors begin to doubt their own capabilities—all because of desires born not from real needs but from greed, and the resulting complaints.

자 이렇게 모세가 하나님께 나아와 간청하였더니 하나님께서 모세의 기도를 다 들으십니다. 그리고는 두가지를 약속하십니다. 하나는 17절, 모세와 함께 백성의 짐을 담당하게 될 70명의 지도자를 세우십니다. 그들에게 모세와 같은 성령을 임하게 하셔서 모세가 이제는 혼자 이 백성들을 담당하는 것이 아니라 함께 통치할 수 있도록 하시지요. 사실 출애굽기 18장에서도 모세의 장인 이드로가 와서 천부장, 백부장과 같은 리더들을 세워서 모세의 짐을 더는 장면이 나오지요. 민수기 1장에서도 각 지파의 지파장을 세워 모세를 돕게 하지 않습니까? 어쩌면 모세에게는 이미 충분한 도움이 있었는지도 모릅니다. 그런데도 모세의 간청에 하나님께서 70명의 지도자들을 새로 임명하신 것은 하나님께서 모세에게 그의 기도를 들으심을 보여주시는 것이라고 생각합니다.

두번째는 18-20절, 고기를 약속하십니다. 모세가 13-14절에서 자신이 감당할 수 없다고 말하였던 간청에 대한 해결책이지요. 그러나 조금 이상합니다. 18절을 보니 고기를 주시겠다고 하는데 “너희의 몸을 거룩히 하여 내일 고기 먹기를 기다리라” 라고 하십니다. 고기를 먹는데 몸을 거룩히 할 필요가 왜 있죠? 그것 뿐만이 아니라 고기를 주시는 이유를 알려주시는데 그 이유가 “너희가 울며 이르기를 누가 우리에게 고기를 주어 먹게하랴 애굽에 있을 떄가 우리에게 좋았다 하는 말이 여호와께 들렸으므로”라고 하십니다. 그리고 마지막으로 20절에 “냄새도 싫어하기까지 한 달 동안 먹게 하시리니” 라고 하시는데 이 말씀은 고기가 너희 콧구멍으로 삐져나와 역겨워질때까지라는 말입니다. 이렇게 하나님께서 고기를 주시겠다고 말씀을 하시는데 분위기가 이상한 이유는 바로 이 고기가 백성의 탐욕에 대한 심판이기 때문입니다. 이 말씀이 저는 너무나 무섭습니다. 왜냐하면 우리가 우리의 탐욕으로 인하여 불필요한 필요에 대해서 불평할 때에 하나님께서 그 구하는 것을 주신다는 것입니다. 그런데 그 주시는 것이 무엇이라고요? 심판이라는 것입니다. 우리가 그것을 알지 못한다면 우리는 그것이 하나님의 심판인 줄도 모르고 그것에 취하게 되는 것입니다. 로마서 1:24 “하나님께서 그들을 마음의 정욕대로 더러움에 내버려 두사” 우리의 탐욕을 채워주시는 것이 곧 하나님의 심판이라는 것입니다.

When Moses approached God with his plea, God heard all of Moses's prayers. And He promised two things. First, in verse 17, He appointed 70 leaders to share the burden of the people with Moses. He put the same Spirit that was on Moses upon them, so Moses would no longer bear the burden of these people alone but could govern together with them. In fact, in Exodus 18, Moses's father-in-law Jethro came and set up leaders of thousands and hundreds to lighten Moses's load. In Numbers 1, didn't God also appoint tribal leaders to help Moses? Perhaps Moses already had sufficient help. Yet God's appointment of 70 new leaders in response to Moses's plea shows that God was listening to his prayers.

Second, in verses 18-20, God promised meat. This was the solution to Moses's complaint in verses 13-14 that he couldn't handle the burden. But something seems odd. In verse 18, God says He will provide meat, but adds, "Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat." Why would they need to consecrate themselves to eat meat? Not only that, God reveals why He's giving them meat: "For the Lord has heard you cry, 'If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!'" And finally, in verse 20, He says, "You will eat it for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it." The atmosphere feels strange because this meat is actually God's judgment on the people's greed. This terrifies me, because it means that when we complain due to our greed for unnecessary things, God may give us what we ask for. But what is this gift? It's judgment. If we don't recognize this, we may become intoxicated by it without realizing it's God's judgment. Romans 1:24 says, "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts." Fulfilling our greed becomes God's judgment itself.

말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘 말씀의 시작은 미약한 사람들의 탐욕이었습니다. 그 탐욕이 자라서 공동체 전체를 무너뜨리고 공동체의 리더 마저도 무너뜨립니다. 하나님께서 이들의 탐욕을 채워주시지 않았던 것은 하나님의 능력이 없어서가 아닙니다. 이들이 하나님 만을 의지하게 하기 위함이었던 것입니다. 아무것도 없는 광야에서 그들을 공급하시는 것은 오직 하나님 한 분 뿐임을 가르치기 위함이셨던 것입니다. 그러므로 우리는 하나님으로 만족해야합니다. 하나님께서는 우리의 모든 실질적인 필요를 이미 채워주고 계시기 때문입니다. 우리가 계속 세상에서 살던 쾌락을 구한다면 우리는 그것을 얻게될지도 모릅니다. 그러나 그것이 곧 하나님의 심판임을 기억해야 할 것입니다.

To conclude: Today's passage began with the small cravings of a few people. That greed grew to destroy the entire community and even broke down the community's leader. God's withholding wasn't due to any lack of power, but was intended to teach them to rely solely on Him. It was to teach them that in the barren wilderness, only God could provide. Therefore, we must find satisfaction in God alone. God has already supplied all our practical needs. If we continue to seek the pleasures we enjoyed in the world, we may obtain them. But remember, that very thing might be God's judgment upon us.