Numbers 14 (read it all), One Opportunity to Get It Right (Part 2)

This is such an amazing chapter, in both good and bad ways.

·       14:1-10: First, the people refuse to enter the land.  Again, it’s the “oh, if only we had died in Egypt” but with the added complaint, “oh, if only we died in this wilderness.”  That’s a “prayer” that got answered, sad to say.

·       14:6-9: Joshua and Caleb gave an inspiring testimony.  They spoke the truth.  1) The land was everything God said it would be. 2) If God delights in us He will bring us into the land.  3) Don’t act out of fear.  4) “They” … the Canaanites … are God’s provision for us, our bread, our resting place.  5) They have no protection that can stand against the LORD.  ALL TRUE!  But the people were set to stone them.

·       14:10: The glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.  Do you think they understood this immediately to be an “uh-oh” moment?  They had plenty of reasons to believe that their God was real, and a God to be feared/respected.

·       14:11-19: Moses again intercedes for Israel.  They are about ready to stone Joshua and Caleb and Moses sees God’s glory appear and knows God is going to act.  God is going to make a new nation beginning with Moses.  You might think Moses would at least hesitate and think about that.  He could be the new “Abraham.”  But, no, Moses’ concern is with the glory of God.  “If You do that LORD the Egyptians and other nations will make fun of You.”  Notice that Moses also rests on the “Name of God” (v18 from Ex. 34:6-7), reminding God who He is as patient, abundant in mercy, and forgiving.  Oh that we, that I, would pray like Moses!

·       14:20-25: The LORD answers Moses’ two arguments (v20, according to your word).  True to His Name, God pardons the people; He will not destroy the nation.  But also, true to His glory as God, those who refused to give Him glory by trusting Him to fulfill His promise, these ones will never see the land.  They will die in the wilderness.

·       14:26-38: The judgment of God began on that very day, as the ten spies who gave a bad report died from a plague.  Notice that in 14:27 it is God that asks “how long?”  We often read in the Psalms the righteous cry out in their trials, “how long, oh LORD?”  But here it is God who has reached His limit.  In the NT there are two words for patience, only one of which is used of God.  One word emphasizes patience with “things,” such as trials or tribulations.  That is never used of God.  He is the Creator; the “things” serve His purposes.  The other emphasizes patience with people.  That is used of God because He is truly longsuffering with mankind.  God was incredibly patient with Israel.  As He said it, they had put Me to the test now these ten times and have not heeded My voice (14:22).  But now, there is no room for repentance. 

o   The same thing happened to Israel in NT times.  John the Baptist called them to repentance.  Jesus came, with the same message, calling the nation to repentance.  But He was rejected.  God, incredibly, again was patient and repeated the offer through the Apostles.  But again, the nation rejected the offer.  Thus, the judgment Jesus had warned them about, came to pass in 70AD when the city and temple was destroyed by the Romans.  Let us hear and fear!  God is patient.  But His Name includes the not only His mercy and patience; it also says by no means clearing the guilty (Ex. 34:7). 

·       14:39-45: As if their disobedience to the LORD in refusing to enter the land was not enough, the next day the remorseful people again disobey the LORD and try to take on the people of the area.  It is useless.  They had one opportunity to obey the LORD and they refused.  God will bring the nation into the land, but not until forty years passes and all the current generation twenty years and older have died.

Moses uttered some terrible and true words: the LORD will not be with you (14:43).  This had come up once before at Mt. Sinai after the gold calf incident (Ex. 33:1-6).  Moses had interceded, telling the LORD If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here (33:15).  Again, may we hear and fear the LORD!