The Lie
A Sermon on Numbers 11:4-6
Originally preached May 19, 1957
Scripture
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? 5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, …
Sermon Description
Why is it important to study history? In this sermon on Numbers 11:4–6 titled “The Lie,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows a powerful lesson from the Old Testament and the example of Israel in this passage. The Israelites were brought out of Egyptian slavery when God worked miracles by His sovereign hand. Not only this, but as they traveled through the desert, he provided food to sustain them and clothes that did not wear out. But they soon began to grumble against God and Moses because they were dissatisfied. They spoke of the many foods they had in Egypt, even though they were there as slaves. Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that modern humanity is just like Israel. It refuses to see God’s work in the world and remains ungrateful for all the blessings He has given. In its sin, humanity is like the Prodigal Son, refusing to see his blessings or hold himself accountable. Sinful people will never see themselves for who they are until the gospel works in their hearts and minds to make them new. Jesus came and died so that ungrateful sinners could be freed from sin and death. Those that believe in Christ Jesus are given a new heart and mind so that they can live as new creatures who serve God in truth.
Sermon Breakdown
- The story of the Israelites in Numbers 11 is a perfect portrayal of the condition of mankind.
- The real trouble with the world is that people do not realize the cause of their problems. They cannot apply the right solution without an accurate diagnosis.
- The Bible provides the diagnosis for mankind's condition and the only cure. It reveals what is wrong with man and what alone can put him right.
- The Israelites began to lust and crave for flesh to eat. They persuaded themselves that the manna was not enough, even though God provided all their needs.
- Sin has made man a creature of lust and inordinate affection. Man cannot guarantee how he will feel or act from one moment to the next. He is a slave to sin and Satan.
- Sin has devastated man's mind. The sinner is a fool who does not think clearly or rightly.
- Sin has ruined man completely - body, mind and spirit. The whole man is corrupt.
- The Israelites were miserable and weeping but did not realize the cause was in themselves. They blamed their circumstances instead.
- Man never looks inward at himself. He resents any suggestion to examine himself and his sin. He makes excuses and blames others.
- Finding themselves unhappy, people always blame their circumstances first. They do not suspect the trouble is in themselves.
- Man fails to face and examine himself. He protects himself and makes excuses rather than look at his own sin.
- The results of this failure are: blaming circumstances, failure to examine self, ingratitude toward God, and materialism.
- The Israelites showed no gratitude to God for delivering them from Egypt. Man only mentions God to complain against Him, not to thank Him.
- The Israelites thought if they just had flesh to eat, all would be well. This is the materialistic outlook of sinful man.
- Man deserves only punishment and hell for his sin and rebellion against God. There is no hope in himself or the world.
- The only hope for man is the God he has offended, who sent Christ to die for sinners. By repenting and believing in Christ, man can be forgiven and given new life.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Root Cause of Human Misery from Numbers 11:4-6
What is the main diagnosis Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives for the root cause of human problems?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the root cause of all human problems is that "men does not realize the cause of his ills." He explains that mankind fails to recognize that the source of their troubles is within themselves rather than in external circumstances. Just as a doctor cannot treat a patient correctly without an accurate diagnosis, humanity cannot solve its problems without understanding their true source: rebellion against God and believing the lie that God's way is insufficient for our happiness.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use the story of the Israelites in the wilderness to illustrate mankind's condition?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the story of the Israelites complaining about manna to illustrate mankind's condition. Despite being miraculously provided with adequate nourishment (the manna), the Israelites claimed "our soul is dried away" and wept for meat, remembering the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic of Egypt. This perfectly illustrates how humanity creates its own misery by: 1. Believing a lie about our condition 2. Failing to examine ourselves 3. Blaming external circumstances rather than looking inward 4. Showing ingratitude toward God's provision 5. Adopting a materialistic outlook that assumes physical comforts will satisfy spiritual needs
What biblical examples does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use to support his diagnosis of the human condition?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses three key biblical examples to support his diagnosis:
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Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - They were in paradise with perfect conditions until they believed the devil's lie that God was withholding something good from them.
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The Israelites in the wilderness - Despite God's miraculous provision of manna that kept them perfectly healthy ("thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell these forty years"), they complained and believed the lie that they were undernourished.
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The Prodigal Son - He was perfectly happy at home until he believed the lie that he was being kept down and restricted, leading him to seek fulfillment elsewhere, only to end up in misery.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what are the consequences of mankind's fundamental error?
The consequences of mankind's fundamental error include:
- Blaming circumstances rather than ourselves - "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves."
- Failing to examine ourselves - We protect ourselves, make excuses, and resist honest self-reflection.
- Showing ingratitude toward God - Forgetting all God's blessings and only complaining.
- Adopting a materialistic outlook - Believing that physical comforts like "flesh to eat" will satisfy our deepest needs.
- Becoming spiritually blind to our true condition - Not recognizing that our souls need God, not material things.
What solution does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer for humanity's condition?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that there is only one hope for mankind in this wretched condition - "the God whom he's offended." The solution is not found in ourselves or in the world, but in Christ who "died for the ungodly." Despite our rebellion and foolishness, God sent His Son to:
- Die for our sins
- Provide pardon and forgiveness
- Give us a new heart and nature
- Create in us a new outlook on life
- Enable us to desire God and enjoy His way of life
The preacher urges his listeners to confess their sin to God, acknowledge their rebellion, repent, and believe in Christ, promising that God will receive them just as the father in the parable received the prodigal son.
Old Testament
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.