Números 14

Números 14

Morgan - These are the outstanding words of the minority report. They reveal the difference in viewpoint between the minority and the majority. These men saw all the others saw, and more. They had clear apprehension of the goodness of the land; they were by no means blind to the formidable nature of the difficulties that stood between them and possession. But they saw God. They started with that vision, and saw everything else in its light. Therefore the enemies were "as bread" for them; their defences were removed, if indeed Jehovah were with them. Yet these men also saw that there was a condition and they named it in the words: "If Jehovah delight in us." In these words there was surely the recognition of a fact, and the statement of a responsibility. The fact was patent. Jehovah did delight in them. He had ransomed them from slavery, brought them to Himself, provided for all their need, promised them this very land. What further proofs could they have of His delight in them? Nevertheless, they were in danger of placing themselves outside the benefits of that delight, by their rebellion and their unworthy fear. These things were surely written for our learning. Every call of God to His people is a call to those in whom He delights. Therefore they should know that no difficulties need daunt them. They are not called to meet them in their own strength. He will be with them in the path of obedience. (Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible) Chimp Eden If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us. —Numbers 14:8 Today's Scripture: Numbers 14:1-10 Eugene Cussons rescues chimpanzees. Orphaned by those in the business of bush-meat trade and taken from the jungle as infants, many have lived their entire lives confined in a space smaller than a prison cell. When Cussons arrives to take them to the game reserve he calls “Chimp Eden,” he often finds them hostile and untrusting. “These chimps don’t realize that I am one of the good guys,” Cussons says. When he tries to put them into a smaller crate for the trip to their new home, they put up quite a fight. “They don’t know that I’m going to take them back to Chimp Eden and give them a life so much better.” On a much grander scale, God’s offer to liberate us from the slavery of sin is often met with resistance. When He rescued the children of Israel from Egypt, God took them through difficult places that caused them to doubt His good intentions. “Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” they cried (Num. 14:3). On our journey of faith, there are times when the “freedom” of sin that we left behind is more appealing than the restrictions of faith that lie ahead. We must trust the protective boundaries found in God’s Word as the only way to get to the place of ultimate freedom. By: Julie Ackerman Link Obedience to God is the key to freedom. Numbers 14:9 "Only do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." BGT Numbers 14:9 ἀλλὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ κυρίου μὴ ἀποστάται γίνεσθε ὑμεῖς δὲ μὴ φοβηθῆτε τὸν λαὸν τῆς γῆς ὅτι κατάβρωμα ἡμῖν ἐστιν ἀφέστηκεν γὰρ ὁ καιρὸς ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν ὁ δὲ κύριος ἐν ἡμῖν μὴ φοβηθῆτε αὐτούς NET Numbers 14:9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection has turned aside from them, but the LORD is with us. Do not fear them!" NLT Numbers 14:9 Do not rebel against the LORD, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don't be afraid of them!" ESV Numbers 14:9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." NIV Numbers 14:9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." KJV Numbers 14:9 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. YLT Numbers 14:9 only, against Jehovah rebel not ye: and ye, fear not ye the people of the land, for our bread they are; their defence hath turned aside from off them, and Jehovah is with us; fear them not.' LXE Numbers 14:9 Only depart not from the Lord; and fear ye not the people of the land, for they are meat for us; for the season of prosperity is departed from them, but the Lord is among us: fear them not. ASV Numbers 14:9 Only rebel not against Jehovah, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is removed from over them, and Jehovah is with us: fear them not. CSB Numbers 14:9 Only don't rebel against the LORD, and don't be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us. Don't be afraid of them!" NKJ Numbers 14:9 "Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them." NRS Numbers 14:9 Only, do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they are no more than bread for us; their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." rebel: De 9:7,23,24 Isa 1:2 63:10 Da 9:5,9 Php 1:27 do not fear: De 7:18 20:3 prey: Nu 24:8 De 32:42 Ps 14:4 74:14 protection: Ps 91:1 121:5 Isa 30:2,3 32:2 Jer 48:45 the Lord: Ge 48:21 Ex 33:16 De 7:21 Dt 20:1-4 Dt 31:6,8 Jos 1:5 Jud 1:22 2Ch 13:12 15:2 20:17 32:8 Ps 46:1,2,7,11 Isa 8:9,10 41:10 Mt 1:23 Ro 8:31 do not fear: Isa 41:14 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Deuteronomy 7:16 “You shall consume (Heb - akal = eat) all the peoples whom the LORD your God will deliver to you; your eye shall not pity them, nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you. Numbers 24:8 (BALAAM'S PROPHECY OF ISRAEL) “God brings him (ISRAEL) out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour (Heb - akal = eat) the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows. PROHIBITIONS AND A PROMISE Only do not rebel against the LORD (stop rebelling) and do not fear (stop fearing) the people of the land - Here we see that rebellion against Yahweh is associated with fear of men. The latter can cause one to rebel against God. Years later Solomon would echo their words in Pr 29:25 writing "The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted." Israel was in grave danger of being ensnared in their fear of the giants, etc. in the land. This passage begins and ends with the exhortation "Do not fear!' Bush - Lxx “Be ye not revolters, or apostates, from the Lord.” Give way to no murmuring or discontented thoughts; nor think or speak of returning to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb call on Israel to choose faith over fear. For - Term of explanation. Explaining why Israel did not need to fear the inhabitants of the Promised Land. They will be our prey - NET = "for they are bread for us." Prey is lechem which means "bread" and presumably is meant to convey to the people the graphic picture that Israel could destroy the people of the land as easily as they could eat bread! And this could also be a rebuttal to the declaration by the 10 spies that the land "devours (Heb - akal = eat cf Dt 7:16 above; Lxx - katesthio = consumes) its inhabitants." (Nu 13:32+) It was as if they were saying "Au contraire, we will "devour" them!" Joshua and Caleb are speaking prophetically at this point, declaring what God would do for Israel when they entered the Promised Land. (lechem = bread): Israel is assured that the conquest will be as easy as eating bread (cf. Nu 13:32; Nu 24:8; Dt 7:16; Jer 10:25; Ps 14:4).