Numbers 14: A Study in Unbelief, Intercession, and Consequences
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
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!
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?
And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
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?
I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)
And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.
Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,
The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.
Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord.
But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.
And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.
And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned.
And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper.
Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you.
But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
Numbers 14 provides a powerful and sobering account of Israel's rebellion against God's promise, Moses's remarkable intercession, and the ensuing consequences. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unbelief and the importance of trusting in God's faithfulness, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Let's explore the key themes and lessons embedded within this pivotal chapter.
The Cry of Unbelief (Numbers 14:1-4)
Following the return of the twelve spies, the community of Israel was thrown into turmoil. Ten of the spies delivered a discouraging report, focusing on the strength of the Canaanites and the challenges of conquering the land. Instead of remembering God's power and promises, the people succumbed to fear and doubt. Numbers 14:1-2 tells us, "Once the ten scouts gave a fearful report about the land, the negative thinking multiplied rapidly. The whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night...They literally preferred death in the land of slavery or death in the wilderness to trusting in God’s promises."
Their tears were not born of genuine remorse or a desire for God's will, but of unbelief and a refusal to move forward in God's plan. They even went so far as to accuse God of leading them out of Egypt to die in the desert (Numbers 14:3). In their despair, they proposed appointing a new leader to return to Egypt (Numbers 14:4), effectively rejecting God's deliverance, leadership, and provision. They were cutting themselves off from their only legitimate source of hope and strength. This reveals a profound spiritual crisis: they had lost sight of God's power and faithfulness, choosing instead to dwell on their fears and perceived limitations.
A Plea for Faithfulness (Numbers 14:5-10)
In the face of this widespread rebellion, Moses and Aaron, along with Joshua and Caleb, stepped forward to try and quell the madness (Numbers 14:5-6). Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who had brought back a positive report, made an impassioned plea for the Israelites to remember God's promise and trust in His power (Numbers 14:7-8). They acknowledged the strength of the Canaanites but emphasized that the Lord had removed their protection (Numbers 14:9). They reminded the people that the God who had delivered them from Egypt was more than capable of leading them to victory.
Despite their courageous stand, the community threatened to stone them (Numbers 14:10). They were ready to kill God's leaders! This reveals the depth of their rebellion and their complete disregard for God's authority. It was at this critical juncture that "the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites" (Numbers 14:10), a powerful intervention signaling God's displeasure and his unwavering presence. God had had enough of the nonsense.
Moses's Intercession (Numbers 14:11-19)
Once again, God threatened judgment on Israel for their rebellion. As he had done before, God vowed to destroy them and make Moses into an even mightier nation (Numbers 14:11-12). However, Moses, in a display of remarkable leadership and compassion, interceded on behalf of the people. He didn't try to excuse Israel's sin. Instead, Moses prayed for God to spare them so that he might preserve the glory of his great fame among the nations (Numbers 14:13-16). Moses's concern was not primarily for the Israelites themselves, but for God's reputation and the impact on the surrounding nations.
Moses appealed to God's character, quoting His own words from Exodus 34:6-7: "The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in faithful love, forgiving iniquity and rebellion. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished" (Numbers 14:18). Pointing to the truth of God’s character, Moses pleaded with him to pardon them in keeping with the greatness of [his] faithful love (Numbers 14:19). He reminded God of His mercy and forgiveness, while also acknowledging His justice.
Moses's prayer serves as a powerful example of effective intercession. His motives were pure, and his desires were aligned with God's character and glory. As James 5:16 says, “the prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” This highlights the importance of praying for things consistent with God's character and being deeply concerned that God be glorified.
Divine Pardon and Just Consequences (Numbers 14:20-38)
God, in His mercy, responded to Moses's prayer and pardoned the nation (Numbers 14:20). He would not forsake them entirely. However, God's forgiveness did not negate the consequences of their sin. He declared that none of the adults who had witnessed His glory and miracles in Egypt and the wilderness, and who had tested Him ten times, would enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:22-23).
Caleb and Joshua were exceptions to this judgment because of their faithfulness and loyalty to God (Numbers 14:24). They would be rewarded for their courage and trust. But the rest of the Israelites were sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years, until the entire generation of rebels had died (Numbers 14:34). This period mirrored the forty days the spies spent scouting the land, a year of wandering for each day of unbelief.
This verdict exemplifies poetic justice. The Israelites had lamented, "If only we had died in this wilderness!" (Numbers 14:2). God, in a sense, granted their wish, allowing them to perish in the very desert they had complained about (Numbers 14:28-29). Furthermore, the ten faithless spies who spread the negative report were struck down by the LORD (Numbers 14:37), a swift and direct consequence of their sin. Only Joshua and Caleb remained (Numbers 14:38), a testament to the power of faith and obedience.
A Futile Attempt at Redemption (Numbers 14:39-45)
Upon hearing God's sentence, the people experienced a superficial repentance, wanting everything to go back to the way it was before (Numbers 14:39-40). They vowed to attack the Canaanites, hoping to undo their previous failure. However, Moses warned them not to go, because the LORD was not among them (Numbers 14:42).
This highlights a crucial principle: true victory comes through God's presence and power. Just as you can’t be defeated with the Lord at your side, you can’t be victorious without him. Disregarding Moses's warning, the people presumptuously went up to the high country, even though the ark of the covenant and Moses did not accompany them (Numbers 14:44). Their attempt was a disaster. The Amalekites and Canaanites defeated them soundly (Numbers 14:45), demonstrating the futility of acting without God's guidance and blessing.
Lessons for Today
Numbers 14 offers several valuable lessons for believers today:
- The Danger of Unbelief: Unbelief can lead to fear, despair, and ultimately, disobedience. We must actively cultivate faith by remembering God's past faithfulness and focusing on His promises.
- The Power of Intercession: Prayer, especially intercessory prayer motivated by a concern for God's glory, is a powerful force. We should follow Moses's example and pray for others, seeking God's mercy and intervention.
- The Consequences of Sin: While God is merciful and forgiving, sin has consequences. We must be mindful of our actions and strive to live in obedience to God's Word.
- The Importance of God's Presence: Success in any endeavor depends on God's presence and guidance. We must seek His will and rely on His strength, rather than our own.
Numbers 14 is a sobering reminder of the importance of faith, obedience, and reliance on God. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are not succumbing to the same temptations as the Israelites. By learning from their mistakes, we can avoid the pitfalls of unbelief and experience the fullness of God's blessings in our lives.
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
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!
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?
And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
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?
I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)
And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.
Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,
The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.
Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord.
But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.
And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.
And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned.
And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper.
Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you.
But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
Numbers 14 provides a powerful and sobering account of Israel's rebellion against God's promise, Moses's remarkable intercession, and the ensuing consequences. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unbelief and the importance of trusting in God's faithfulness, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Let's explore the key themes and lessons embedded within this pivotal chapter.
The Cry of Unbelief (Numbers 14:1-4)
Following the return of the twelve spies, the community of Israel was thrown into turmoil. Ten of the spies delivered a discouraging report, focusing on the strength of the Canaanites and the challenges of conquering the land. Instead of remembering God's power and promises, the people succumbed to fear and doubt. Numbers 14:1-2 tells us, "Once the ten scouts gave a fearful report about the land, the negative thinking multiplied rapidly. The whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night...They literally preferred death in the land of slavery or death in the wilderness to trusting in God’s promises."
Their tears were not born of genuine remorse or a desire for God's will, but of unbelief and a refusal to move forward in God's plan. They even went so far as to accuse God of leading them out of Egypt to die in the desert (Numbers 14:3). In their despair, they proposed appointing a new leader to return to Egypt (Numbers 14:4), effectively rejecting God's deliverance, leadership, and provision. They were cutting themselves off from their only legitimate source of hope and strength. This reveals a profound spiritual crisis: they had lost sight of God's power and faithfulness, choosing instead to dwell on their fears and perceived limitations.
A Plea for Faithfulness (Numbers 14:5-10)
In the face of this widespread rebellion, Moses and Aaron, along with Joshua and Caleb, stepped forward to try and quell the madness (Numbers 14:5-6). Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who had brought back a positive report, made an impassioned plea for the Israelites to remember God's promise and trust in His power (Numbers 14:7-8). They acknowledged the strength of the Canaanites but emphasized that the Lord had removed their protection (Numbers 14:9). They reminded the people that the God who had delivered them from Egypt was more than capable of leading them to victory.
Despite their courageous stand, the community threatened to stone them (Numbers 14:10). They were ready to kill God's leaders! This reveals the depth of their rebellion and their complete disregard for God's authority. It was at this critical juncture that "the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites" (Numbers 14:10), a powerful intervention signaling God's displeasure and his unwavering presence. God had had enough of the nonsense.
Moses's Intercession (Numbers 14:11-19)
Once again, God threatened judgment on Israel for their rebellion. As he had done before, God vowed to destroy them and make Moses into an even mightier nation (Numbers 14:11-12). However, Moses, in a display of remarkable leadership and compassion, interceded on behalf of the people. He didn't try to excuse Israel's sin. Instead, Moses prayed for God to spare them so that he might preserve the glory of his great fame among the nations (Numbers 14:13-16). Moses's concern was not primarily for the Israelites themselves, but for God's reputation and the impact on the surrounding nations.
Moses appealed to God's character, quoting His own words from Exodus 34:6-7: "The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in faithful love, forgiving iniquity and rebellion. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished" (Numbers 14:18). Pointing to the truth of God’s character, Moses pleaded with him to pardon them in keeping with the greatness of [his] faithful love (Numbers 14:19). He reminded God of His mercy and forgiveness, while also acknowledging His justice.
Moses's prayer serves as a powerful example of effective intercession. His motives were pure, and his desires were aligned with God's character and glory. As James 5:16 says, “the prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” This highlights the importance of praying for things consistent with God's character and being deeply concerned that God be glorified.
Divine Pardon and Just Consequences (Numbers 14:20-38)
God, in His mercy, responded to Moses's prayer and pardoned the nation (Numbers 14:20). He would not forsake them entirely. However, God's forgiveness did not negate the consequences of their sin. He declared that none of the adults who had witnessed His glory and miracles in Egypt and the wilderness, and who had tested Him ten times, would enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:22-23).
Caleb and Joshua were exceptions to this judgment because of their faithfulness and loyalty to God (Numbers 14:24). They would be rewarded for their courage and trust. But the rest of the Israelites were sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years, until the entire generation of rebels had died (Numbers 14:34). This period mirrored the forty days the spies spent scouting the land, a year of wandering for each day of unbelief.
This verdict exemplifies poetic justice. The Israelites had lamented, "If only we had died in this wilderness!" (Numbers 14:2). God, in a sense, granted their wish, allowing them to perish in the very desert they had complained about (Numbers 14:28-29). Furthermore, the ten faithless spies who spread the negative report were struck down by the LORD (Numbers 14:37), a swift and direct consequence of their sin. Only Joshua and Caleb remained (Numbers 14:38), a testament to the power of faith and obedience.
A Futile Attempt at Redemption (Numbers 14:39-45)
Upon hearing God's sentence, the people experienced a superficial repentance, wanting everything to go back to the way it was before (Numbers 14:39-40). They vowed to attack the Canaanites, hoping to undo their previous failure. However, Moses warned them not to go, because the LORD was not among them (Numbers 14:42).
This highlights a crucial principle: true victory comes through God's presence and power. Just as you can’t be defeated with the Lord at your side, you can’t be victorious without him. Disregarding Moses's warning, the people presumptuously went up to the high country, even though the ark of the covenant and Moses did not accompany them (Numbers 14:44). Their attempt was a disaster. The Amalekites and Canaanites defeated them soundly (Numbers 14:45), demonstrating the futility of acting without God's guidance and blessing.
Lessons for Today
Numbers 14 offers several valuable lessons for believers today:
- The Danger of Unbelief: Unbelief can lead to fear, despair, and ultimately, disobedience. We must actively cultivate faith by remembering God's past faithfulness and focusing on His promises.
- The Power of Intercession: Prayer, especially intercessory prayer motivated by a concern for God's glory, is a powerful force. We should follow Moses's example and pray for others, seeking God's mercy and intervention.
- The Consequences of Sin: While God is merciful and forgiving, sin has consequences. We must be mindful of our actions and strive to live in obedience to God's Word.
- The Importance of God's Presence: Success in any endeavor depends on God's presence and guidance. We must seek His will and rely on His strength, rather than our own.
Numbers 14 is a sobering reminder of the importance of faith, obedience, and reliance on God. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are not succumbing to the same temptations as the Israelites. By learning from their mistakes, we can avoid the pitfalls of unbelief and experience the fullness of God's blessings in our lives.