Números 14
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Números 14
Wiersbe - At Kadesh-Barnea, on the border of Canaan, the people of Israel foolishly forfeited their opportunity to enter the Promised Land and claim their inheritance. This tragic failure has made the name “Kadesh” a synonym for defeat and lost opportunity. Israel’s downfall at Kadesh is a reminder to us today that it’s a dangerous thing to trifle with the will of God. You may end up spending the rest of your life wandering around, just waiting to die. In spite of what some of our hymns declare, Canaan is not a picture of heaven. Certainly there won’t be any battles in heaven! Rather, Canaan is a picture of the inheritance God has planned for each of His children today, the work He wants us to do, and the places He wants us to occupy. Paul called it “good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10NKJV+). The Lord has a perfect plan for each of His children, but we can claim these blessings only by faith and obedience. Like the people of Israel centuries ago, many believers today walk by sight and not by faith, and therefore they fail to enjoy the good things God has for them. They can’t say with David, “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance” (Ps. 16:6NKJV). (Be Counted) THOUGHT - One sin will take a person to hell, but there are some sins which are worse than others. Some sins result in consequences that can't be undone in this lifetime and will have live changing, even devastating effects! Think about Israel's grumbling. They had grumbled from the moment God delivered them out of slavery, and yet for the most part those episodes of grumbling were not devastating. But now they grumbled one time too many and it cost them 40 years of wilderness wandering and thousands and thousands dead in the desert! Beloved, we all need to be wary of presumptuous sins, because we do not know when a sin may result in devastating consequences that we will have to live with the rest of our lives. I think for example of a spouse being tempted to have an affair and finally capitulating, only to suffer lifelong consequences (and regret) as a result of a momentary stupid sin! I know a man who by his own admission knew God was calling him into ministry at a young age. But he was a successful engineer working at NASA and involved in putting men into outer space. He choose to stay with NASA and turned down the call of God on His life. By his own admission, his next 50 years were filled with deep regret at his momentary decision to refuse to "enter in to the Promised Land," which God had prepared for him. Beware of grumbling against Jehovah! Numbers 14:1-11 Thorns or Roses? Two boys were eating some grapes. One of them remarked, “Aren’t they sweet!” “I guess so,” the other replied, “but they’re full of seeds.” Wandering into a garden, the first boy exclaimed, “Look at those big, beautiful red roses!” The other commented, “They’re full of thorns!” It was a warm day, so they stopped at the store for a soft drink. After several swallows, the second youngster complained, “My bottle’s half-empty already.” The first quickly responded, “Mine’s still half-full!” Many people are like the negative-thinking boy in this story. They always look at life through dark glasses. Like the children of Israel in today’s Scripture, they complain and grumble when they should be praising the Lord for His gracious provision. But thank God, not everyone is like that. There are people who concentrate on the bright side and are radiant, happy, and grateful. They are realistic about the somber side of life, but they don’t pout and fret. You can overcome negative thinking. No matter who you are or what your circumstances, there’s always much to be grateful for. Think about God’s love for you. Praise Him for His providential care. Then, instead of complaining about thorns, you’ll be thankful for the roses. Some folks see so many thorns, They scarce can see one rose, While others count two blossoms For every thorn that grows. —Garrison Instead of grumbling because you don't get what you want, be thankful you don't get what you deserve. An Impossible Challenge? Do all things without complaining and disputing. —Philippians 2:14 Today's Scripture: Numbers 14:1-5,26-27 A pastor in Kansas City gave what seemed to be an impossible challenge to his congregation—to go 21 days without complaining (the amount of time some say it takes to develop a new habit). Special bracelets were distributed to participants as a reminder to live complaint-free lives. A movement was started, and millions of bracelets have been distributed all over the world. The biblical principle “Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Phil. 2:14) is an important one. The ancient Israelites discovered this when, because of their constant complaining in the wilderness, they were judged by God and not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Num. 14). How can we learn to develop a noncomplaining, positive attitude that will please the Lord? • By disciplining our thoughts (Rom. 12:2). We need to meditate on Scripture and remember our blessings. • By confessing our critical spirit and committing ourselves to obedience each time we fail (1 John 1:9). • By enlisting God’s help and the help of others. The Spirit will empower us as we depend on Him (John 14:26). Lord, help me stop complaining When things don’t go my way; Instead, give me a thankful heart For all You do each day. —Sper A complaining Christian is a contradiction in terms. Numbers 14:1-4, 11-23 Rearview Mirror "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.- Galatians 5:1 Some people go through life looking into the rearview mirror. They yearn for the "good old days" when life seemed better. Families were stronger, Christians were nobler, people were happier -- or so they think! The ancient Hebrews were masters of glorifying the ugly past. As slaves in Egypt they had been desperate! Yet after Moses led they out of bondage, they were soon idealizing the "good old days." Many of them actually wanted to go back to Egypt and again stick their necks under a yoke and feel Pharaoh's lash. Little wonder that God canceled their passport to the Promised Land. Some Christians would like to get back to the "good old days" of the church. But which church? Believers have faced huge difficulties since the days of Paul. The early church was plagued by sexual immorality (1 Cor. 5:1), heresy (Gal. 1:6-7), and dissension (Acts 15:1-2). There were no good old days for the church -- not in the first century, not in the sixteenth, and not in the twentieth. How often God gives victory And then we revel in the deed, While present opportunity Slips past its bloom and turns to seed. - Gustafson When we live in the past, we tarnish the present and ignore the future. Numbers 14:2 All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! BGT Numbers 14:2 καὶ διεγόγγυζον ἐπὶ Μωυσῆν καὶ Ααρων πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγή ὄφελον ἀπεθάνομεν ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ ἢ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ταύτῃ εἰ ἀπεθάνομεν NET Numbers 14:2 And all the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had perished in this wilderness! NLT Numbers 14:2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. "If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!" they complained. ESV Numbers 14:2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! NIV Numbers 14:2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! KJV Numbers 14:2 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! YLT Numbers 14:2 and all the sons of Israel murmur against Moses, and against Aaron, and all the company say unto them, 'O that we had died in the land of Egypt, or in this wilderness, O that we had died! LXE Numbers 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron; and all the congregation said to them, ASV Numbers 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would that we had died in this wilderness! CSB Numbers 14:2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! NKJ Numbers 14:2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! NRS Numbers 14:2 And all the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron; the whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! NAB Numbers 14:2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, the whole community saying to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt, or that here in the desert we were dead! NJB Numbers 14:2 All the Israelites muttered at Moses and Aaron, and the whole community said to them, 'Would to God we had died in Egypt, or even that we had died in this desert! grumbled: Nu 16:41 Ex 15:24 16:2,3 17:3 De 1:27 Ps 106:24,45 1Co 10:10 Php 2:14,15 Jude 1:16 Would: Nu 14:28,29 11:15 1Ki 19:4 Job 3:11 7:15,16 Jon 4:3,8 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GRUMBLING IS A SERIOUS SIN! The whole congregation quickly shifted from crying to criticizing! All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron - Grumbled is a key word in Numbers 14 (Nu 14:2; Nu 14:27; Nu 14:29; Nu 14:36;) They had had plenty of practice grumbling in the even after God had miraculously delivered them (Ex 15:24; Ex 16:2; Ex. 16:7; Ex. 16:8; Ex. 17:3); Ultimately of course their grumbling was against God! Paul warned of the danger of grumbling writing "Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (1Co 10:10-11) The Lxx translates the Hebrew word for grumbled (lun) with diagogguzo (the prefix "dia-" suggests they did it among themselves) which means to murmur greatly, to express dissatisfaction, complain, grumble (aloud), mutter (all uses - Ex. 15:24; Ex. 16:2; Ex. 16:7; Ex. 16:8; Nu 14:2; Nu 14:36; Nu 16:11; Dt. 1:27; Jos. 9:18; Lk. 15:2; Lk. 19:7). This is the same word used to describe the first century unbelieving Israelites, the Pharisees and scribes (see Lk 15:2+, cf Lk 19:7+) Grumble (murmur) (03885)(lun) means to murmur amd refers to the Israelites' complaining during their escape from Egypt and their wandering in the desert. It is also used of the people's justified grumbling against the leaders of Israel (Josh. 9:18). All uses - Ex 15:24; Ex 16:2; Ex. 16:7; Ex. 16:8; Ex. 17:3; Nu 14:2; Nu 14:27; Nu 14:29; Nu 14:36; Nu 16:11; Nu 16:41; Nu 17:5; Jos. 9:18; Ps. 59:15. NET Note on grumbled - The Hebrew verb “to murmur” is לוּן (lun). It is a strong word, signifying far more than complaining or grumbling, as some of the modern translations have it. The word is most often connected to the wilderness experience. It is paralleled in the literature with the word “to rebel.” The murmuring is like a parliamentary vote of no confidence, for they no longer trusted their leaders and wished to choose a new leader and return. This “return to Egypt” becomes a symbol of their lack of faith in the LORD. THOUGHT - Grumbling is something that is easy to do (unfortunately) and we all do in to one degree or another from time to time. However, we can control our grumbling because God gave us a command not to grumble and He never commands what He does not enable us to obey. So what's the secret? The secret is the Spirit! Paul writes... So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) your salvation with fear and trembling (THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION); 13 FOR (TERM OF EXPLANATION - EXPLAINING HOW TO WORK OUT!) it is God Who is at work in you (HOLY SPIRIT CONTINUALLY AT WORK = ENERGEO IN PRESENT TENSE), both to will and to work (HE GIVES US THE "DESIRE" AND THE "POWER") for His good pleasure. 14 Do (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) all things (HOW MANY?) without grumbling or disputing; (Php 2:12-14+) COMMENT: So there is God's antidote for GRUMBLING! As we yield to and are filled with His Spirit (Eph 5:18+), we are supernaturally enabled to quench our natural fleshly tendency to grumble! Try it! You'll like it! Even better you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord pleasing Him in all respects! And the whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! - God heard their "wish" and would fulfill their wish in Nu 14:28-29. Lesson? Be careful what you pray for! This foolish lament by Israel sounds like the same song, second verse (so to speak) for earlier Moses recorded... The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exod 16:3+) NET Note on their "prayer" - The optative is expressed by לוּ (lu) and then the verb, here the perfect tense מַתְנוּ (matnu)—“O that we had died.…” Had they wanted to die in Egypt they should not have cried out to the LORD to deliver them from bondage. Here the people became consumed with the fear and worry of what lay ahead, and in their panic they revealed a lack of trust in God. When your eyes are on yourself and your circumstances, you lose your perspective and say and do ridiculous things. -- Warren Wiersbe Matthew
Números 14
Wiersbe - In most churches, there are two or three chronic complainers who plague the spiritual leaders and sometime must be disciplined; but here was an entire nation weeping over a plight that they had caused by their own unbelief! They didn’t admit their own failings; instead, they blamed God and decided to choose a new leader and return to Egypt (14:3–4). This was rebellion against the will of God. THOUGHT- When the child of God is in the will of God, there is no place for complaining, even if the circumstances are difficult. The will of God will never lead us where the grace of God can’t provide for us or the power of God protect us. If our daily prayer is, “Thy will be done,” and if we walk in obedience to God’s will, then what is there to complain about? A complaining spirit is evidence of an ungrateful heart and an unsurrendered will. By our grumbling, we’re daring to say that we know more than God does about what’s best for His people! “Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Phil. 2:14, NIV; and see 1 Cor. 10:10). (Wiersbe) Bush comments on Proverbs 19:3 as related to Israel's complaint - How strikingly is this illustrated in the narrative before us! They blasphemously reflect upon their Divine Benefactor, as if he had brought them hither on purpose that they might fall by the sword, and that their wives and children should fall a prey to the ferocious adversaries whom they were called to encounter. Matthew
Números 14
Wiersbe - The ten unbelieving spies argued that the land of Canaan would “eat up” the Jewish people (13:32), but Joshua and Caleb saw the Canaanites as “bread” for the Jewish army to “eat up”. FSB on be our prey - The Hebrew phrase used here, lachmenu hem, presents an unusual metaphor. The idea may be that the toil of the people living in Canaan will put food in Israel’s mouth. Alternately, the metaphor may be comparing the destruction inherent in the consumption of food with the destruction brought by war. Caleb and Joshua also emphasize that the people are without real protection since Yahweh is on Israel’s side, so the metaphor may reflect their expectation of the ease of conquest. Food on the plate typically does not fight back before it is eaten. George Bush on be our prey - Heb. “They are our bread.” That is, we shall devour and consume them as a hungry man does bread. As if they should say, We seemed, indeed, but as grasshoppers to them, but we say unto you that they shall be bread for us; we shall utterly destroy them. The expression is doubtless designed to stand in direct opposition to what was said by the faithless spies, ch. 13:32, “The land through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof.” Gr. “They shall be food for us. Their protection has been removed from them - Protection (see tsel below) is often rendered "shadow" (or shade) and in the hot arid region of Kadesh Joshua's use of this term would have graphically illustrated the protection (shade) without which life could not exist in the intense desert sun. Their adversaries would have no protection, whereas Israel would have the ultimate protection of the Protector Himself with them (Immanuel)! Joshua and Caleb are painting a very clear picture, that Israel will not lose when they battle the people of the land. Their clear pictures reminds me of the old comic strip "Ripley's - Believe it or Not!" Sadly Israel did not believe their words! Protection (06738)(tsel) means shade or shadow and figuratively speaks of a defense, protection or refuge. Tsel frequently used in Psalms in the phrase "in the shadow of Your (Jehovah's) wings." (Ps. 17:8; Ps. 36:7; Ps. 57:1; cf Ps 121:5 "The LORD is your shade", Ps 91:1 = "shadow of the Almighty"). Hartley adds that "Shade, even that of a boulder, gives some relief from the heat of the day, especially for the slave (cf. Job 7:2). "Under the shadow of one's roof' connotes that the head of the house provides protection for his guests (Genesis 19:8, ASV). Similarly a strong nation may offer someone or another nation shelter (Isaiah 30:2f.; cf. Ezekiel 17:23). But God may remove a nation's shelter or defenses in order to enable his people to conquer them (Numbers 14:9). On the other hand shadow serves as a negative metaphor when it is viewed as ephemeral and fleeting. Man's life is compared to a shadow, for it has no permanence and flees quickly away (1 Chron. 29:15). Shadow also describes the failing condition of one who is enduring a sickness (Job 17:7). Yahweh is the shade or the source of protection for his people (Psalm 121:5f.; Isaiah 25:4). Therefore the Psalmist prays that God may hide him under "the shadow of his wings" (Psalm 17:8; cf. Psalm 36:7 [H 8]; Psalm 91:1). God promises to hide the suffering servant in the shadow of his hand in order that he can proclaim his penetrating message for a period of time (Isaiah 49:2): And in the latter days Yahweh's glory will return to Jerusalem. It will be a shade from the heat and a shelter from the other elements (Isaiah 4:6; cf. Hosea 14:8). (TWOT) Tsel - 53x in 51v - protection(4), shade(15), shadow(30), shadows(3), shelter(1). Gen. 19:8; Num. 14:9; Jdg. 9:15; Jdg. 9:36; 2 Ki. 20:9; 2 Ki. 20:10; 2 Ki. 20:11; 1 Chr. 29:15; Job 7:2; Job 8:9; Job 14:2; Job 17:7; Job 40:22; Ps. 17:8; Ps. 36:7; Ps. 57:1; Ps. 63:7; Ps. 80:10; Ps. 91:1; Ps. 102:11; Ps. 109:23; Ps. 121:5; Ps. 144:4; Eccl. 6:12; Eccl. 7:12; Eccl. 8:13; Cant. 2:3; Cant. 2:17; Cant. 4:6; Isa. 4:6; Isa. 16:3; Isa. 25:4; Isa. 25:5; Isa. 30:2; Isa. 30:3; Isa. 32:2; Isa. 34:15; Isa. 38:8; Isa. 49:2; Isa. 51:16; Jer. 6:4; Jer. 48:45; Lam. 4:20; Ezek. 17:23; Ezek. 31:6; Ezek. 31:12; Ezek. 31:17; Hos. 4:13; Hos. 14:7; Jon. 4:5; Jon. 4:6 NET on protection - Heb “their shade.” The figure compares the shade from the sun with the protection from the enemy. It is also possible that the text is alluding to their deities here. George Bush - The original Hebrew (צלם tzillâm) is far more expressive:—“Their shadow, or shade, has departed from them.” That is, their defence, covert, protection, rendered by the Chald. “Their strength has departed from them.” Vulg. “All aid or protection has gone from them.” The Gr. has a rendering peculiar to itself:—“For their time (i. e. season of prosperity) has withdrawn from them;” implying that their iniquities had come to the full, and they had nothing more to hope from the Divine favor. Among the old English versions, Matthews’, Bishop’s, and Geneva have, “Their shield is departed from them.” Comp. Ps. 91:1, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Ps. 121:5, 6, “The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.” The metaphor seems to have been derived originally from the effects of the cloudy pillar in affording a cool and refreshing shade from the ardors of the sun as they journeyed through the desert. But the idea of protection was equally associated with this marvellous cloud, in which the divine presence was supposed to be especially resident. and the LORD is with us - They are saying Jehovah is Immanuel, God with us! That statement should have been like an divine exclamation point in their closing argument as they made the case for why Israel should go forward in faith! We see Moses repeating this truth to the Second Generation preparing to go in and conquer the Promised Land... Deuteronomy 7:21 “You shall not dread them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. Deuteronomy 20:1-4 “When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. 2 “When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. 3 He shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, 4 for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ Deuteronomy 31:6; 8 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”...“The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” NIVSB - There are no walls, no fortifications, no factors of size or bearing, and certainly no gods that can withstand the onslaught of God’s people when the Lord is with them. Do not fear them - In the passages above from Deuteronomy note that the "antidote" for fear of the people in the Promised Land, is a firm conviction that God was on the side of Israel! This is the second time Joshua and Caleb give this prohibition (they recognize the danger of fear in the camp), but now it is buttressed with the truth that the LORD is with them. That should squelch all arguments and quell all fears. Israel had no reason to fear the giants, for God was bigger than the giants. God made the giants and God had removed their protection! Related Resource: How to Handle Fear - four part series David Jeremiah - WE CAN DO IT! NUMBERS 14:9 The LORD is with us. Do not fear them. I love the story of the Israelites when they were in Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 13). Moses sent spies into the land to check it out. The majority came back and reported, “We can’t do it. We checked it out, and we are like grasshoppers in front of the giants of the land.” But Joshua and Caleb went to the same land, saw the same giants, and probably experienced the same initial fear, but they said, “We’re no match for them, but they are no match for God. We can do it!” Joshua and Caleb were honored for their faith. That’s why they got to go into the Promised Land while the other spies didn’t. When you worship God, when you praise Him, when you honor Him, when you hallow His name, your vision will be expanded. You will become a more visionary businessperson, a more visionary spouse, a more visionary parent. You will see life not in the little restricted areas that are yours, but you will begin to see that part of your life expand into that which God wants to do through you. (Sanctuary) Not Fear but Faith The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. Numbers 14:9 Today's Scripture: Numbers 13:25–14:9 “My husband was offered a promotion in another country, but I feared leaving our home, so he reluctantly declined the offer,” my friend shared with me. She explained how apprehension over such a big change kept her from embracing a new adventure, and that she sometimes wondered what they missed in not moving. The Israelites let their anxieties paralyze them when they were called to inhabit a rich and fertile land that flowed “with milk and honey” (Ex. 33:3). When they heard the reports of the powerful people in large cities (Num. 13:28), they started to fear. The majority of the Israelites rejected the call to enter the land. But Joshua and Caleb urged them to trust in the Lord, saying, “Do not be afraid of the people in the land” for the “Lord is with us” (14:9). Although the people there appeared large, they could trust the Lord to be with them. Loving Father, may I not let my fear stop me from following You, for I know that You will always love me and will never leave me. Fear can paralyze but faith propels us to follow God. Trouble Ahead Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land; . . . the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. —Numbers 14:9 Today's Scripture: Numbers 13:25–14:9 Inevitably, trouble will invade our lives: A bad report from a medical test, the betrayal of a trusted friend, a child who rejects us, or a spouse who leaves us. The list of possibilities is long, but there are only two options: forge ahead on our own, or turn to God. Flying solo into the face of trouble is not a good idea. It can lead to bad behavior patterns, blaming God, and retreating into defeat. Like the Israelites, we may spin out of control and into despair (Num. 14:1-4). When the majority of the spies brought a report of intimidating giants and dangers ahead, they used the pronoun “we” seven times with no reference to the Lord (Nu 13:31-33+). The Israelites were on the cusp of the ultimate blessing that God promised to them. They were eyewitnesses to the miracles in Egypt and their feet had walked the dry bottom of the Red Sea in jaw-dropping victory. God’s faithfulness had been amazingly evident. What short memories! What disappointing faithlessness! Sadly, they turned their backs on God and left the blessing behind. In this world of sin and trouble Where so many ills are known, If I shun the ways of evil, I am kept by Him alone. —Smith God’s presence is a life preserver that keeps the soul from sinking in a sea of trouble. Lurking Lions The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. Numbers 14:9 Today's Scripture & Insight: Numbers 14:1–9 When I was young, my dad would “scare” us by hiding in the bush and growling like a lion. Even though we lived in rural Ghana in the 1960s, it was almost impossible that a lion lurked nearby. My brother and I would laugh and seek out the source of the noise, thrilled that playtime with Dad had arrived. One day a young friend came for a visit. As we played, we heard the familiar growl. Our friend screamed and ran. My brother and I knew the sound of my father’s voice—any “danger” was merely a phantom lion—but a funny thing happened. We ran with her. My dad felt terrible that our friend had been frightened, and my brother and I learned not to be influenced by the panicked reaction of others. Caleb and Joshua stand out as men unfazed by the panic of others. As Israel was poised to enter the Promised Land, Moses commissioned 12 scouts to spy out the region. They all saw a beautiful territory, but 10 focused on the obstacles and discouraged the entire nation (Num. 13:27-33). In the process, they started a panic (14:1-4). Only Caleb and Joshua accurately assessed the situation (vv. 6-9). They knew the history of their Father and trusted Him to bring them success. Lord, we face many fears today. Help us distinguish between real danger and empty threats, and help us trust You with all of it. May we live not in fear, but in faith. The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1 Numbers 14:10 But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel. BGT Numbers 14:10 καὶ εἶπεν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ καταλιθοβολῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἐν λίθοις καὶ ἡ δόξα κυρίου ὤφθη ἐν νεφέλῃ ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ NET Numbers 14:10 However, the whole community threatened to stone them. But the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting. NLT Numbers 14:10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle. ESV Numbers 14:10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. NIV Numbers 14:10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites. KJV Numbers 14:10 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. YLT Numbers 14:10 And all the company say to stone them with stones, and the honour of Jehovah hath appeared in the tent of meeting unto all the sons of Israel. LXE Numbers 14:10 And all the congregation bade stone them with stones; and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud on the tabernacle of witness to all the children of Israel. ASV Numbers 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of Jehovah appeared in the tent of meeting unto all the children of Israel. CSB Numbers 14:10 While the whole community threatened to stone them, the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting. NKJ Numbers 14:10 And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel. NRS Numbers 14:10 But the whole congregation threatened to stone them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. But all: Ex 17:4 1Sa 30:6 Mt 23:37 Ac 7:52,59 the glory: Nu 16:19,42 20:6 Ex 16:7,10 24:16,17 40:34 Lev 9:23 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries YAHWEH COMES TO THE RESCUE OF HIS FAITHFUL MEN But - Term of contrast. This is another horrible change of direction (so to speak)! All the congregation said to stone them with stones. (cf. 1Sa30:6; 1Ki12:18) The people's reaction recalls Moses' words in Exodus 17:4+ when "Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me.” THOUGHT - When a person walks by sight and not by faith, they do not have sense enough to know who their true friends are. They tend to turn against those who can help them the most, including their parents, pastor, and Christian friends (ED: IN FACT THEY MAY WANT TO STONE THEM!!!). Israel is turning against their true friends who have told them the truth, but they will not realize it until the damage is done and it's too late. The Forward Four was leading them to do the will of God. True friends will want you to do the will of God in your life. God's will is vital if you want to be a victorious Christian.(Mattoon) Bush - They would thus reward the exemplary fidelity and firmness of these true-hearted servants of the Most High, who were mainly intent upon turning from the heads of their brethren the storm of divine displeasure which they saw impending. “Though Moses and Aaron entreat upon their faces, and Joshua and Caleb persuade, yet they move nothing. The obstinate multitude, grown more violent with opposing, is ready to return them stones for their prayers. Such have been ever the thanks of fidelity and truth. Crossed wickedness proves desperate; and, instead of yielding, seeks for revenge. Nothing is so hateful to a resolute sinner, as good counsel.”—Bishop. Hall. When we walk by sight and not by faith, we don’t have sense enough to know who our real friends are, and we turn against those who can help us the most. -- Warren Wiersbe Then - When? NET Note - The vav (ו) on the noun “glory” indicates a strong contrast, one that interrupts their threatened attack. The glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel - This is an interesting description because we know the pillar of cloud was always over the Tabernacle but day. Now the glory was actually in the Tent of meeting. The very truth that Joshua and Caleb had just promised to the nation (the LORD is with us) they were now experiencing and one would have thought any thinking Israelite would have seen this "visual" demonstration of the truth of Nu 14:9! THOUGHT - Those who, like Caleb and Joshua, faithfully expose themselves for God, are (1) sure to be attacked and (2) are sure to be taken under His protection, and hidden from the rage of men. One thinks of the 3 Hebrew men in Daniel 3 when threatened with the command to "bow or burn" to which they replied Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18“But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” ...25 He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.(Da 3:16-18, 25-26+) NET Note - The glory of the LORD refers to the reality of the LORD’s presence in a manifestation of his power and splendor. It showed to all that God was a living God. The appearance of the glory indicated blessing for the obedient, but disaster for the disobedient. FSB on the tent of meeting - The exact meaning of the Hebrew phrase used here, ohel mo'ed, is unknown. It may refer exclusively to the tabernacle, to a different, simpler structure, or both. It is possible that the simpler structure gave way to the larger tabernacle, and the term was used interchangeably. George Bush - It would seem that their murderous purpose would have been accomplished had they not been deterred by a sudden manifestation of the divine glory, which spoke to their perception the language of fearful threatening. The Shekinah, which usually abode within the Tabernacle, now displayed itself in connection with the cloudy pillar, that seems on this occasion to have lowered itself from its usual elevation, and taken its station immediately over or upon the Tabernacle, and not in it, as we read in our version; as otherwise it could not have been seen by the congregation, as we are nevertheless assured it was. Gr. “And the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud on the tabernacle of witness.” The great and glorious Being, who was invisibly present while the sin conceived in their hearts was working out its fruits, now shows himself to have been all along cognizant of its operation, and he becomes fearfully manifest. Thus the guilty conscience realizes the divine Being present to itself when a sinful act has been committed as it does not before. The pain of remorse is aggravated by the reflection, that the Lord might have been previously seen with the eye of faith to the prevention of that sin which now fills the soul with anguish. Another inference drawn from the narrative is, that the Lord is prone to appear in behalf of his servants when reduced to their utmost straits. For wise ends he withholds the sensible tokens of his presence till danger is fully ripe, till their condition seems absolutely hopeless, and then he triumphantly comes forth from his secret place and rescues and vindicates them. Brian Bell - God waited until the people expressed a desire to replace Moses and return to Egypt; then He began to act. (Warren Wiersbe; Outlines in O.T.) But within 10 verse: The people wept, complained, looked back to Egypt, wanted a new leader, & even threatened to stone Caleb & Joshua. Such are the evidences of unbelief. Faith looks ahead with courage; unbelief looks back with complaint. Faith unites the people of God; unbelief looks for someone to blame. Wiersbe on the will of God - The will of God is the expression of the love of God for His people, for His plans come from His heart (Ps. 33:11). God’s will isn’t punishment, it’s nourishment (John 4:31–34); not painful chains that shackle us (Ps. 2:3), but loving cords that tie us to God’s heart so He can lead us in the right way (Hosea 11:4). Those who rebel against God’s will are denying His wisdom, questioning His love, and tempting the Lord to discipline them. Sometimes God has to put a “bit and bridle” on rebels in order to control them (Ps. 32:8–9), and that’s not enjoyable. God wants us to know His will (Acts 22:14), understand His will (Eph. 5:17), delight in His will (Ps. 40:8), and obey His will from the heart (Eph. 6:6). As we yield to the Lord, trust Him, and obey Him, we “prove by experience” what the will of God is (Rom. 12:1–2). The Spirit of God opens up the Word of God to us and helps us discern what God wants us to do. But it’s important that we are willing to obey, or He won’t teach us what we need to know (John 7:17). The British Anglican minister F.W. Robertson (1816–1853) was right when he said that obedience was the organ of spiritual knowledge. If we aren’t willing to obey, God isn’t obligated to reveal His will to us (Be Counted) “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself." -- Jesus Christ (Jn 7:17) Related Resources: Shekinah glory cloud Garland's The Abiding Presence of God Numbers 14:11 The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? NET Numbers 14:11 The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me, and how long will they not believe in me, in spite of the signs that I have done among them? NLT Numbers 14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? ESV Numbers 14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? NIV Numbers 14:11 The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? KJV Numbers 14:11 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? YLT Numbers 14:11 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Until when doth this people despise Me? and until when do they not believe in Me, for all the signs which I have done in its midst? LXE Numbers 14:11 And the Lord said to Moses, How long does this people provoke me? and how long do they refuse to believe me for all the signs which I have wrought among them? ASV Numbers 14:11 And Jehovah said unto Moses, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them? CSB Numbers 14:11 The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people despise Me? How long will they not trust in Me despite all the signs I have performed among them? NKJ Numbers 14:11 Then the LORD said to Moses: "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? NRS Numbers 14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? How long will this: Nu 14:27 Ex 10:3 16:28 Pr 1:22 Jer 4:14 Ho 8:5 Zec 8:14 Mt 17:17 spurn: Nu 14:23 De 9:7,8,22,23 Ps 95:8 Heb 3:8,16 believe: De 1:30-32 Ps 78:22,32,41,42 106:24 Mk 9:19 Joh 10:38 12:37 Joh 15:24 Heb 3:18 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Deuteronomy 1:30-32 ‘The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place.’ 32 “But for all this, you did not trust (see aman same word used here in Nu 14:11) the LORD your God, Deuteronomy 6:16 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah. Deuteronomy 9:23 “When the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; you neither believed (see aman same word used here in Nu 14:11) Him nor listened to His voice. (ED: Note how "listening" is linked to belief - listening is not just hearing but heeding, responding in faith to what is heard). Jude 1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. Psalm 78:22 Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation. Hebrews 3:8-13 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, 9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. 10 “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; 11 AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’” 12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? - NIV "How long will these people treat me with contempt? Bush says "Heb. “Despise, blaspheme, or contemptuously treat me.” Gr. “Irritate me.” Vulg. “Detract me.” The general import is that of contemning, with special marks of indignity. It occurs Is. 5:24, 52:5, Prov. 1:30, 15:5." Like a stubborn child, the Jews never seemed to learn their lesson. Instead of pleasing the Lord who had done so much for them, they provoked Him to anger and dared Him to act. Spurn (despise, reject, blaspheme) (05006)(naas) means to revile, to scorn, to reject, despise, abhor (hate extremely or with contempt), spurn, treat with contempt, revile. God tells Moses His people "spurn" Him (Nu 14:11) and that those who "spurned" Him would not enter the promised land (Nu 14:23) The rebellion of Korah and those with him in effect "spurned the LORD" (Nu 16:30) by challenging Moses' divinely appointed role as leader (Nu 16:1-3). God prophesied that His people would "spurn" Him by turning to other gods and serving them and thus breaking His (Mosaic) covenant (Dt 31:20). Israel made Jehovah jealous with strange gods, provoking Him to anger (even sacrificing to demons!) and thus Jehovah "spurned them because of the provocation." (Dt 32:19, context Dt 32:16-18) The sons of Eli were worthless men who did not know Jehovah and as a result "despised the offering of the LORD." (1Sa 2:17). Naas is used in the Psalms of a greedy man who "spurns Jehovah" (Ps 10:3), the wicked who "spurned God" (Ps 10:13), "the enemy" who spurned His Name (Ps 74:10), foolish people who "spurned" His Name (Ps 74:18) and His people who "spurned the counsel of the Most High." (Ps 107:11). Israel was disciplined because they "despised the word of the Holy One of Israel" (Isa. 5:24, cp Isa 1:4 "despised the Holy One of Israel"). NET Note on spurn - The verb נָאַץ (na’ats) means “to condemn, spurn” (BDB 610 s.v.). Coats suggests that in some contexts the word means actual rejection or renunciation (Rebellion in the Wilderness, 146, 7). This would include the idea of distaste. And how long will they not believe in Me, "The unbelief now evinced is frequently alluded to elsewhere as the grand procuring cause of their exclusion from the land of promise." (Bush) The Lxx translates aman with pisteuo which is in the present tense which can be translated "how long they did not keep on believing in Him." Compare Jn 3:36+ = "He who believes (present tense = keeps on believing) in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” So Israel did have a form of belief but it was only transient and was not genuine belief unto salvation. For example observe Ex 14:31+ which says "When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses." At first glance that sounds like they were "believers" (analogous to someone who is born again in the New Testament). But Here in Numbers 14:11 we see God's own assessment of the authenticity of their belief, for He says they do not believe in Him (And the word for "not" in the Lxx is "ou" signifying absolute negation = they "absolutely did not believe in Him!") And so their "belief" in Exodus 14:31+ was not unto salvation. In the Septuagint believe is present tense speaking of continual belief. In other words God is asking how long they would continue in unbelief! I would submit that this statement by God supports the premise that Israel's belief in Exodus 14:31 was not belief that led to genuine salvation. The statement by the writer of Hebrews would also support this premise that Israel's belief was not saving belief writing "For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they (CONTEXT SPEAKING OF ISRAEL IN THE OT) also; but the word they heard did not profit them, (WHY NOT?) because it was not united by faith in those who heard." (Hebrews 4:2+) Comment: - Israel's problem was a faith problem and so the "good news" in effect did they no good! The ESV Study Bible on Hebrews 4:2 says "the exodus generation did not receive the promised benefit since they failed to respond in faith." Faith Life Study Bible says this on "faith" in Hebrews 4:2 - "The Greek word used here, pistis, entails believing in the promises of God. People who do not trust God’s promises, who reject that which they have not yet experienced, are excluded from the benefits of those promises." NLTSB says "the hearers were deficient in faith, distrusting God’s word of promise." John
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Wiersbe - It’s the mark of great and godly leaders that they think only of the good of their people and not their own personal gain. In fact, Moses was willing to die for the nation rather than let God destroy it (Ex. 32:32; see Rom. 9:1–3). Brian Bell - A short time before, Moses was complaining because the people were such a burden, and now he was pleading on their behalf. For by Your strength You brought up this people from their midst - The Egyptians had seen Yahweh's power but if Israel were destroyed they would question that power. FSB - Yahweh wants to destroy Israel outright, but as before, Moses pleads with Him to relent on the basis of Yahweh’s own reputation (compare Ex 32:11–14). Others would hear of the destruction and presume Yahweh lacked the power to bring Israel into the land. Ezekiel later uses this idea as a basis for predicting the return of Israel from exile (Ezek 36:16–36; 39:21–29). Moses’ argument is effective F B
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Wiersbe - He doesn’t hold the children responsible for the sins of their parents, but children can suffer because of their parents’ sins. Since many Jewish homes were comprised of three or four generations, this meant that the entire household would suffer because of the sins of the fathers. Brian Bell - How did the sins of the fathers effect the children? Their children, like Moses, had to wander bearing the consequences of other people’s sins. FSB - The idea that later generations would be punished for the sins of others is qualified in Deuteronomy which implies that Yahweh would punish succeeding generations only if they repeated the sins of their ancestors (Dt 5:9–10; compare Ezek 18:4). Although God is a God of forgiveness, he does not erase the consequences of iniquity Seeing God The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. Numbers 14:18 Today's Scripture & Insight: Exodus 34:1–9 Caricature artists set up their easels in public places and draw pictures of people who are willing to pay a modest price for a humorous image of themselves. Their drawings amuse us because they exaggerate one or more of our physical features in a way that is recognizable but funny. Caricatures of God, on the other hand, are not funny. Exaggerating one of His attributes presents a distorted view that people easily dismiss. Like a caricature, a distorted view of God is not taken seriously. Those who see God portrayed only as an angry and demanding judge are easily lured away by someone who emphasizes mercy. Those who see God as a kindhearted grandfather will reject that image when they need justice. Those who see God as an intellectual idea rather than a living, loving being eventually find other ideas more appealing. Those who see God as a best friend often leave Him behind when they find human friends who are more to their liking. God declares Himself to be merciful and gracious, but also just in punishing the guilty (Ex. 34:6–7). Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I worship You. You are holy, just, kind, and loving. You are God alone. God is God alone. Numbers 14:18 (Read Exodus 34:1-9+) Caricature God Caricature artists set up their easels in public places and draw pictures of people who are willing to pay a modest price for a humorous image of themselves. Their drawings amuse us because they exaggerate one or more of our physical features in a way that is recognizable but funny. Caricatures of God, on the other hand, are not funny. Exaggerating one of His attributes presents a distorted view that people easily dismiss. Like a caricature, a distorted view of God is not taken seriously. Those who see God portrayed only as an angry and demanding judge are easily lured away by someone who emphasizes mercy. Those who see God as a kindhearted grandfather will reject that image when they need justice. Those who see God as an intellectual idea rather than a living, loving being eventually find other ideas more appealing. Those who see God as a best friend often leave Him behind when they find human friends who are more to their liking. God declares Himself to be merciful and gracious, but also just in punishing the guilty (Ex. 34:6-7). Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— Oh, Thou blessed Trinity: One in essence, yet three persons— Thou, our God, we worship Thee. —D. De Haan All-powerful, merciful, wise, and just is the God in whom we trust. Numbers 14:19 "Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now." Pardon: Ex 32:32 34:9 1Ki 8:34 Ps 51:1,2 Eze 20:8,9 Da 9:19 according: Isa 55:7 Tit 3:4-7 just as: Ex 32:10-14 Ex 33:17 Ps 78:38 106:7,8,45 Jon 3:10 4:2 Mic 7:18 Jas 5:15 1Jn 5:14-16 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES PLEADS FOR PARDON BASED ON GOD'S ATTRIBUTE OF LOVINGKINDNESS Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness - Moses bases his plea for pardon not on the intensity of his pleas, but based solely on the infinite and great mercy of God. Wiersbe points out that this is a fourth ground for Moses' intercessory prayer - Moses’ final argument for Israel’s forgiveness was the fact that the Lord had forgiven His people many times before (Num. 14:19). “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities” (Ps. 103:10, NKJV; see Ezra 9:13). The fact that God forgives us isn’t an encouragement for us to go on sinning, because the Lord chastens those who rebel against Him. He forgives us so we’ll fear Him (Ps. 130:4) and have no more desire to sin (John 8:10–11). NET Note on pardon - The verb סְלַח־נָא (selakh-na’), the imperative form, means “forgive” (see Ps 130:4), “pardon,” “excuse.” The imperative is of course a prayer, a desire, and not a command. Pardon (05545) salach (See another study) means to free from or release from something and so to pardon, to forgive, to spare. God's offer of pardon and forgiveness to sinners. Salach is never used of people forgiving each other but used of God forgiving. Jehovah Himself announces, in response to Moses' prayers for Israel, that He has forgiven Israel at two of their darkest moments, the golden calf incident and the murmuring at Kadesh Barnea (Ex 34:9; Nu 14:19-20). Vine adds that "The basic meaning (of salach) undergoes no change throughout the Old Testament. God is always the subject of “forgiveness.” No other Old Testament verb means “to forgive,” although several verbs include “forgiveness” in the range of meanings given a particular context (e.g., naca and awon in Ex. 32:32; kapar in Ezek. 16:63)… Most occurrences of calach are in the sacrificial laws of Leviticus and Numbers. In the typology of the Old Testament, sacrifices foreshadowed the accomplished work of Jesus Christ, and the Old Testament believer was assured of “forgiveness” based on sacrifice (see Nu 15:25, 28)… he mediators of the atonement were the priests who offered the sacrifice. The sacrifice was ordained by God to promise ultimate “forgiveness” in God’s sacrifice of His own Son. Moreover, sacrifice was appropriately connected to atonement, as there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Lev. 4:20; cf. Heb. 9:22). Out of His grace, God alone “forgives” sin. The Israelites experienced God’s “forgiveness” in the wilderness and in the Promised Land. As long as the temple stood, sacrificial atonement continued and the Israelites were assured of God’s “forgiveness.” When the temple was destroyed and sacrifices ceased, God sent the prophetic word that He graciously would restore Israel out of exile and “forgive” its sins (Jer. 31:34). The Septuagint (Lxx) translates salach with the Greek verb aphiemi. The verb aphiemi (from apo = prefix implies separation + hiemi = put in motion, send; See also study on noun aphesis) conveys the basic idea of an action which causes separation and means to send from one's self, to forsake, to hurl away, to put away, let alone, disregard, put off. It depicts an action which causes separation that results in total detachment, total separation, from a previous location or condition. In secular Greek aphiemi initially conveyed the sense of to throw and in one secular writing we read "let the pot drop" (aphiemi). From this early literal use the word came to mean leave or let go. Aphiemi basically means to send away and was used to indicate the legal repayment or cancellation of a debt or the granting of a pardon. It is used in Scripture to refer to God’s forgiveness of sin. Through the shedding of His own blood, Jesus Christ actually took the sins of the world upon His own head, as it were, and carried them an infinite distance away from where they could never return. That is the extent of the forgiveness of our trespasses. Just as You also have forgiven (see salach) this people, from Egypt even until now - Moses acknowledges Israel has been a rebellious people the moment they crossed the Red Sea, and that God had repeatedly forgiven them, most notably forgiving them for the abominable worship of an idolatrous golden calf (read Ex 32:10-14+). Numbers 14:20 So the LORD said, "I have pardoned them according to your word; Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JEHOVAH PARDON'S ISRAEL So - term of conclusion. the LORD said, "I have pardoned them according to your word; Intercession led to pardon (Nu 14:20-38) and they were spared immediate judgment. God pardoned the people, but would eventually judge their sins. As Paul said centuries later Do not be deceived (present imperative with a negative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey), God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Gal 6:7-8+). Brian Bell - In His grace, God pardoned their sin; but In His government, He had to allow that sin to produce its bitter fruit. Related Passage: Psalm 106:23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, To turn away His wrath from destroying them.
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Wiersbe - The Jews had lamented that they wanted to die in the wilderness (v. 2), and they had complained that their children would die in Canaan (v. 3); but God declared that their children would live in Canaan and the adults would die in the wilderness! Out of their own mouths, God passed judgment. Be careful what you say to God when you complain, because He may take you up on it! After all, God’s greatest judgment is to let people have their own way. Grumble (murmur) (03885) see note on lun (Key word in Numbers 14 - Nu 14:2, Nu 14:27; Nu 14:29; Nu 14:36) Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask NUMBERS 14:29—If nearly all the men from twenty years up died in the wilderness, why have none of their graves been discovered? PROBLEM: According to Numbers 14:29, the corpses of all the men older than 20 years would fall in the wilderness. The total was over 600,000. But, if so many died in the wilderness, why do their grave sites not litter the landscape? SOLUTION: Because the people were condemned to wander in the wilderness, the conditions were such that they were not able to construct graves that could withstand the weather conditions or even the ravages of wild beasts. The graves were probably shallow burial places just beneath the sand or gravel. Consequently, neither the grave sites nor the skeletons of those who were buried could be preserved for any length of time. Numbers 14:30 'Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. BGT Numbers 14:30 εἰ ὑμεῖς εἰσελεύσεσθε εἰς τὴν γῆν ἐφ᾽ ἣν ἐξέτεινα τὴν χεῖρά μου κατασκηνῶσαι ὑμᾶς ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς ἀλλ᾽ ἢ Χαλεβ υἱὸς Ιεφοννη καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ναυη NET Numbers 14:30 You will by no means enter into the land where I swore to settle you. The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. NLT Numbers 14:30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. ESV Numbers 14:30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. NIV Numbers 14:30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. KJV Numbers 14:30 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. YLT Numbers 14:30 ye -- ye come not in unto the land which I have lifted up My hand to cause you to tabernacle in it, except Caleb son of Jephunneh, and Joshua son of Nun. LXE Numbers 14:30 ye shall not enter into the land for which I stretched out my hand to establish you upon it; except only Chaleb the son of Jephonne, and Joshua the son of Naue. ASV Numbers 14:30 surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. CSB Numbers 14:30 I swear that none of you will enter the land I promised to settle you in, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. NKJ Numbers 14:30 `Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. NRS Numbers 14:30 not one of you shall come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. swore: Heb. lifted up my hand, Ge 14:22 except Caleb: Nu 14:38 26:65 32:12 Dt 1:35-38 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Deuteronomy 1:35-38 ‘Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers, 36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and to his sons I will give the land on which he has set foot, because he has followed the LORD fully.’ 37 “The LORD was angry with me also on your account, saying, ‘Not even you shall enter there. 38‘ Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter there; encourage him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it. THE TWO EXCEPTIONS Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore (Heb. “Lifted my hand.”) to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun - It is interesting that He does not mention Moses here. One wonders what went through Moses' mind. NET Note on swore - The Hebrew text uses the anthropomorphic expression “I raised my hand” in taking an oath. On settle - “to cause you to dwell; to cause you to settle.” (Heb. leshakkan, the root word from whence is derived “shekinah,”) Wiersbe - Caleb and Joshua would be encouraged by God’s promise that both of them would enter the land and enjoy their inheritance. This assurance alone would sustain them during the trying days of the nation’s march, a discipline that wasn’t the fault of either Caleb or Joshua. So the blessed hope of Christ’s return (Titus 2:13+) encourages God’s people today in spite of the trials we experience on our pilgrim walk. (Be Counted) Numbers 14:31 'Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey--I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. BGT Numbers 14:31 καὶ τὰ παιδία ἃ εἴπατε ἐν διαρπαγῇ ἔσεσθαι εἰσάξω αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν καὶ κληρονομήσουσιν τὴν γῆν ἣν ὑμεῖς ἀπέστητε ἀπ᾽ αὐτῆς NET Numbers 14:31 But I will bring in your little ones, whom you said would become victims of war, and they will enjoy the land that you have despised. NLT Numbers 14:31 " 'You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised. ESV Numbers 14:31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. NIV Numbers 14:31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. KJV Numbers 14:31 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. YLT Numbers 14:31 'As to your infants -- of whom ye have said, A spoil they are become -- I have even brought them in, and they have known the land which ye have kicked against; LXE Numbers 14:31 And your little ones, who ye said should be a prey, them will I bring into the land; and they shall inherit the land, which ye rejected. ASV Numbers 14:31 But your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have rejected. CSB Numbers 14:31 I will bring your children whom you said would become plunder into the land you rejected, and they will enjoy it. NKJ Numbers 14:31 `But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. NRS Numbers 14:31 But your little ones, who you said would become booty, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have despised. children: Nu 26:6,64 De 1:39 you said: Nu 14:3 the land: Ge 25:34 Ps 106:24 Pr 1:25,30 Mt 22:5 Ac 13:41 Heb 12:16,17 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Numbers 14:3 “Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” Deuteronomy 1:39 ‘Moreover, your little ones who you said would become a prey (same word baz), and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them and they shall possess it. Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey (plunder) - NET = "whom you said would become victims of war," God quotes the people again and this time corrects their erroneous belief “Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” (Nu 14:3) Notice he does not say the wives would not become plunder. Prey (plunder) (0957) see note above on baz Bush - The very children about whose safety they had shown so much distrust and manifested such irreligious solicitude, should be the persons that should certainly inherit the promised land, though a long and trying period should first intervene. I will bring them in - This is the very thing He had promised He would have done for the first generation, had they only believed His promises. And they will know the land which you have rejected - NET = "they will enjoy the land that you have despised." Their children, by possessing Canaan, would come to know knew what a good land their fathers had despised. Earlier God had mentioned their rejection (using the same verb ma'as) Nu 11:19-20+ ‘You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,but a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you; because you have rejected (ma'as) the LORD who is among you and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’” Rejected (cast off, despised) (03988)(ma'as) means to reject, to despise, to abhor, to refuse. The primary idea is to treat as loathsome (that which is repulsive, detestable, causing disgust). Numbers 14:32 'But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. BGT Numbers 14:32 καὶ τὰ κῶλα ὑμῶν πεσεῖται ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ταύτῃ NET Numbers 14:32 But as for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness, NLT Numbers 14:32 But as for you, you will drop dead in this wilderness. ESV Numbers 14:32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. NIV Numbers 14:32 But you--your bodies will fall in this desert. KJV Numbers 14:32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. YLT Numbers 14:32 as to you -- your carcases do fall in this wilderness, LXE Numbers 14:32 And your carcases shall fall in this wilderness. ASV Numbers 14:32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. CSB Numbers 14:32 But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. NKJ Numbers 14:32 `But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. NRS Numbers 14:32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. Nu 14:29 1Co 10:5 Heb 3:17 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Hebrews 3:16-19+ For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief (NOTE - UNBELIEF HERE = DISOBEDIENT IN V18). Comment - The argument is pursued with a series of rhetorical questions. The important truths are that the people who failed to enter Canaan were the ones who had heard God’s promise concerning the land and that they refused to believe and to act on what God had promised—an action described as rebellion (v. 16), sin (v. 17), disobedience (v. 18) and unbelief (v. 19). Consequently, God in his anger closed the doors of Canaan in the face of that whole generation of Israelites (Nu 14:21–35). (NIVSB) But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness - God repeats their fate (Nu 14:29). It would not be by the sword they feared in Nu 14:3 but (in effect) by the hand of the LORD as their bodies wore out and died. Paul gives us the NT commentary in 1 Corinthians 10:5 writing "Nevertheless (INTERESTING - SAME WORD THAT MARKED TURNING POINT IN Nu 13:28+), with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness." Numbers 14:33 'Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness. BGT Numbers 14:33 οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν ἔσονται νεμόμενοι ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη καὶ ἀνοίσουσιν τὴν πορνείαν ὑμῶν ἕως ἂν ἀναλωθῇ τὰ κῶλα ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ NET Numbers 14:33 and your children will wander in the wilderness forty years and suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your dead bodies lie finished in the wilderness. NLT Numbers 14:33 And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness. ESV Numbers 14:33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. NIV Numbers 14:33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. KJV Numbers 14:33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. YLT Numbers 14:33 and your sons are evil in the wilderness forty years, and have borne your whoredoms till your carcases are consumed in the wilderness; LXE Numbers 14:33 And your sons shall be fed in the wilderness forty years, and they shall bear your fornication, until your carcases be consumed in the wilderness. ASV Numbers 14:33 And your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your whoredoms, until your dead bodies be consumed in the wilderness. CSB Numbers 14:33 Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for 40 years and bear the penalty for your acts of unfaithfulness until all your corpses lie scattered in the wilderness. NKJ Numbers 14:33 `And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. NRS Numbers 14:33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. shall be shepherds - wander in the wilderness: or, feed, This implies, that they should move from place to place in the deserts, as the Bedounin Arabs, who have no certain dwelling, but rove about seeking pasture for their flocks. Nu 32:13 Jos 14:10 Ps 107:4,40 forty years: Nu 33:38 De 1:3 2:14 suffer: Nu 5:31 Jer 3:1,2 Eze 23:35,45-49 Ho 9:1 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness - "That is, reckoning from the time of their coming out of Egypt; of which period one year and a half had already elapsed. Deut. 2:14, “And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years.” Comp. Nu 10:11." (Bush) NET Note on shepherds - It means that the people would be wilderness nomads, grazing their flock on available land. Bush on shall be shepherds - The original term is not the appropriate term for wandering, but is still related to it, as sheep obtain their food by wandering from place to place over their pasture grounds. This was especially the case with the flocks of the Arabian shepherds, who inhabited a region so wild, rocky, and barren, that they could not long remain in one place, but were obliged to strike their tents and seek new grazing places, as one after another would be speedily exhausted. Chazkuni explains it:—“As sheep feed sometimes here and sometimes there, so your sons shall remove hither and thither, till their carcases be consumed.” FSB - shepherds That is, nomads, an unsettled people who dwell in desert tents rather than in the fortified walls of a prosperous land such as the spies saw in Canaan. And they will suffer for your unfaithfulness - KJV = "bear your whoredoms." LXE = " they shall bear your fornication (porneia)." Here is a prime example of the sins of the fathers affecting the next generation! THOUGHT - And we are seeing this dynamic unfold in America, for our leaders and courts are progressively throwing God's Word and God's righteous standards "out the window" and God is giving us over as summarized in Romans 1:28-32+ "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with (CONTROLLED BY) all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God (WOE!!!), that those who practice such things are worthy of death (Ro 6:23+), they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." Believers and their children and grandchildren (if the Lord tarries) will suffer for our unfaithfulness as a nation to the Most High God! Dear brother or sister, may God's Spirit continually prompt in us a prayer for national revival in the line of 2 Chr 7:13-14 while we still have time. In Jesus' Name. Amen NET Note on unfaithfulness - Heb “you shall bear your whoredoms.” The imagery of prostitution is used throughout the Bible to reflect spiritual unfaithfulness, leaving the covenant relationship and following after false gods. Here it is used generally for their rebellion in the wilderness, but not for following other gods. FSB - unfaithfulness God removes any ambiguity as to the cause of the nomadic lifestyle forced upon the Israelites. Any suffering experienced during this time is attributed to the people’s choice in refusing to believe the promises of Yahweh. Unfaithfulness (02184)(zenuth) fornication. Gilbrant writes "It is used primarily in a figurative sense of spiritual adultery, although it has one literal use in Hos. 4:11, which says that "fornication, wine and new wine take away the heart." Used figuratively, this noun always refers to adultery with false gods. The children of God's people wandered in the wilderness and bore the guilt of their parents' spiritual fornication (Num. 14:33). God's people "polluted the land with their fornication," referring to the prostitution in the high places (Jer. 3:2), prostitution with stones and stocks (Jer. 3:9), and the abominations on the hills in the fields (Jer. 13:27). Some see the occurrence of this word in Ezek. 23:27 used figuratively, speaking of adulterous relations with other nations. In reality, rather than speaking of prostitution with Egypt, the text speaks of Israel's whoredoms in their own land. Through the prophet, God tells his people that if they put away their whoredom, He will dwell in their midst forever (Ezek. 43:9). In Hosea, the Lord says He has "seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel, that is, the whoredom of Ephraim, and Israel is defiled" (Hos. 6:10). In the allegory of Ezek. 23, both Israel and Judah are charged with fornication in regard to their relationships with other nations. This accusation conveys a double entendre. In the course of constructing alliances, one is forced to swear by the power of the deities of all parties involved. Further, a more serious violation of the relationship of the leaders with Yahweh is that the leaders were to trust in the power of Yahweh alone, rather than rely upon their own strength or that of alliances. (Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary) Zenuth - 8x in 8v - harlotry(6), prostitution(1), unfaithfulness(1). Num. 14:33; Jer. 3:9; Jer. 13:27; Ezek. 23:27; Ezek. 43:7; Ezek. 43:9; Hos. 4:11; Hos. 6:10 The Lxx translates zenuth here with porneia originally referred to any excessive behavior or lack of restraint, but eventually became associated with sexual excess and indulgence, of every kind of extramarital, unlawful, or unnatural sexual intercourse. Until your corpses lie in the wilderness - So when the last soul of the first generation dies, it marks the time to enter into the Promised land. NET Note on the word "lie" - The infinitive is from תָּמַם (tamam), which means “to be complete.” The word is often used to express completeness in a good sense—whole, blameless, or the like. Here and in Nu 14:35 it seems to mean “until your deaths have been completed.” See also Ge47:15; Dt 2:15. Question: Why was Israel cursed with forty years of wilderness wandering? Answer: “Wilderness wandering” refers to the plight of the Israelites due to their disobedience and unbelief. Nearly 3,500 years ago, the Lord delivered His people from Egyptian bondage as described in Exodus, chapters 1–12. They were to take possession of the land God had promised their forefathers, a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). Prior to entry, however, they became convinced they could not oust the current inhabitants of the land, even though God told them they could. Their lack of belief in God’s word and promises brought forth the wrath of God. He cursed them with forty years of wilderness wandering until the unbelieving generation died off, never stepping foot in the Promised Land. A seven-year famine was responsible for God’s chosen people ending up in Egypt. Initially, they flourished under the leadership of Joseph, number two in charge of the country after Pharaoh. “Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt” (Exodus 1:8), and soon, “the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites” (Exodus 1:12). For the next several centuries the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians who “worked them ruthlessly” (Exodus 1:13). Eventually, God heard their cries (Exodus 2:23-25) and sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them. After enduring the last of the ten plagues—the death of the firstborn males—Pharaoh finally agreed to release the Israelites. Upon their arrival at Kadesh Barnea, which bordered the Promised Land of Canaan, they sent out twelve spies to survey the land and its people (Numbers 13:18-25). They returned after forty days of exploration. Ten of the spies had a bad report: “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are…All the people we saw were of great size…We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes” (Numbers 13:31-33). Only Joshua and Caleb dissented (Numbers 14:6-7). Believing the report of the ten doubters, the people lost heart and rebelled. They “raised their voices and wept aloud,” grumbling against Moses and Aaron, saying, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword” (Numbers 14:1-2, emphasis added). Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them” (Numbers 14:11). However, Moses once again interceded for his people and turned away the wrath of God (Numbers 14:13-20). Although God did forgive them, He decided that “not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it” (Numbers 14:23). Rather, they would suffer by wandering in the wilderness for forty years, one year for each of the forty days they explored the land (Numbers 14:34). Furthermore, God would give them what they asked for: “I will do the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall, every one of you twenty years old or more” (Numbers 14:28-29). Additionally, the ten men who had given the bad report were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord (Numbers 14:37). Only Joshua and Caleb survived, the two faithful spies who believed God’s promise to give the land over to them. God had promised them victory. The land He commanded them to go in and take was already theirs; they simply had to trust and obey, but this they did not do. God will never lead us where His grace cannot provide for us or His power cannot protect us. Indeed, the Israelites had seen the powerful hand of God at work during the plagues and miracles of the Exodus. Yet, like many people, they walked by sight and not by faith, and their unbelief displeased God. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Their failure to believe in God’s word kept them from entering the Promised Land. This truth has never changed. GotQuestions.org Numbers 14:34 'According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition. BGT Numbers 14:34 κατὰ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν ἡμερῶν ὅσας κατεσκέψασθε τὴν γῆν τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας ἡμέραν τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ λήμψεσθε τὰς ἁμαρτίας ὑμῶν τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη καὶ γνώσεσθε τὸν θυμὸν τῆς ὀργῆς μου NET Numbers 14:34 According to the number of the days you have investigated this land, forty days– one day for a year– you will suffer for your iniquities, forty years, and you will know what it means to thwart me. NLT Numbers 14:34 " 'Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years-- a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.' ESV Numbers 14:34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.' NIV Numbers 14:34 For forty years--one year for each of the forty days you explored the land--you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.' KJV Numbers 14:34 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. YLT Numbers 14:34 by the number of the days in which ye spied the land, forty days, -- a day for a year, a day for a year -- ye do bear your iniquities, forty years, and ye have known my breaking off; LXE Numbers 14:34 According to the number of the days during which ye spied the land, forty days, a day for a year, ye shall bear your sins forty years, and ye shall know my fierce anger. ASV Numbers 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my alienation. CSB Numbers 14:34 You will bear the consequences of your sins 40 years based on the number of the 40 days that you scouted the land, a year for each day. You will know My displeasure. NKJ Numbers 14:34 `According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. NRS Numbers 14:34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day a year, you shall bear your iniquity, forty years, and you shall know my displeasure." According: Nu 13:25 2Ch 36:21 the number: Ps 95:10 Eze 4:6 Da 9:24 Rev 11:3 bear: Nu 18:23 Lev 20:19 Ps 38:4 Eze 14:10 shall: 1Ki 8:56 Ps 77:8 105:42 Jer 18:9,10 La 3:31-33 Heb 4:1 De 31:16,17 1Sa 2:30 Zec 11:10 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A FORTY YEAR REMINDER OF SIN! According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years - This reminds me that sin is always more costly than we are led to believe before we commit the sin. Hosea 8:7a says "For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind." Note that (1) it will come, (2) it may be delayed and (3) it is more that the original sowing! FSB - Forty is often a number associated with purging and purification. This length of time allows for the old rebellious generation to pass away, and a new generation to emerge. This 40 years is an approximation, as Deut 2:14 makes clear. The Israelites actually wander for 38 years, in addition to the two years that passed before this episode (see Exod 12:2; 40:17; Num 1:1; 10:11). And you will know My opposition - They would know by experience! The Hebrew word for opposition (tenuah) is only here and Job 33:10. Here in Numbers 14:34 the Septuagint translates it with two words, both of which mean wrath (gnosesthe ton thumon tes orges mou), thumos and orge! In other words clearly Yahweh's opposition is manifest against the unfaithful first generation by His wrath (in a sense "in duplicate!") NET - "The phrase refers to the consequences of open hostility to God, or perhaps abandonment of God. The noun תְּנוּאָה (ténu’ah) occurs in Job 33:10 (perhaps). The related verb occurs in Num 30:6 HT (30:5 ET) and 32:7 with the sense of “disallow, discourage.” (NET) One year in the wilderness for each day the spies were on their mission. This verse provides essentially the only Biblical argument for the "year/day" school of prophetic interpretation, which converts prophetic "days" into years, especially in the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. But this verse was spoken explicitly as a judgment on the faithless generation of Israelites, not as a key to future prophecy. All males 20 years old or above would die during their 40 years in the desert. Thus only Joshua and Caleb, who were excepted because of their faith, were more than 60 years old when the Israelites finally crossed the Jordan, even though God through Moses had indicated the normal life span at the time to be 70 or 80 years (Psalm 90:10). Joshua actually lived to age 110, and Caleb was still in full strength at age 85 (Joshua 14:10-11; 24:29). Gleason Archer - If nearly the whole adult generation of Israel died during the forty years’ wandering, why is not that whole region full of their graves (Nu 14:34–35)? Under the nomadic conditions of the wilderness journey, with a constant shifting from one site to another, there is no way that sturdy or well constructed graves could have been made as the adult generation passed away. Shallow burials beneath the surface of the sand or gravel would have failed to preserve any of the skeletons for a very long period, even though they might have escaped disturbance by carrion-eating wild animals (which is doubtful). No excavations conducted anywhere in the world have ever exhumed identifiable burials of this type, and in the nature of the case it would be very surprising if they did. The failure to uncover shallow, unprotected burials of this sort therefore constitutes no evidence whatever against the historical accuracy of the account that all the adults involved in the rebellion at Kadesh Barnea passed away before the crossing of the Jordan under Joshua—except, of course, for Caleb and Joshua himself. (NIEBD) Question: What is the significance of 40 days in the Bible? Answer: The number 40 shows up often in the Bible. Because 40 appears so often in contexts dealing with judgment or testing, many scholars understand it to be the number of “probation” or “trial.” This doesn’t mean that 40 is entirely symbolic; it still has a literal meaning in Scripture. “Forty days” means “forty days,” but it does seem that God has chosen this number to help emphasize times of trouble and hardship. Click Here to Watch the Video Here are some examples of the Bible’s use of the number 40 that stress the theme of testing or judgment: In the Old Testament, when God destroyed the earth with water, He caused it to rain 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:12). After Moses killed the Egyptian, he fled to Midian, where he spent 40 years in the desert tending flocks (Acts 7:30). Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18). Moses interceded on Israel’s behalf for 40 days and 40 nights (Deuteronomy 9:18, 25). The Law specified a maximum number of lashes a man could receive for a crime, setting the limit at 40 (Deuteronomy 25:3). The Israelite spies took 40 days to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13:25). The Israelites wandered for 40 years (Deuteronomy 8:2-5). Before Samson’s deliverance, Israel served the Philistines for 40 years (Judges 13:1). Goliath taunted Saul’s army for 40 days before David arrived to slay him (1 Samuel 17:16). When Elijah fled from Jezebel, he traveled 40 days and 40 nights to Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:8). The number 40 also appears in the prophecies of Ezekiel 4:6; 29:11-13 and Jonah 3:4. In the New Testament, Jesus was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:2). There were 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:3). Whether or not the number 40 really has any significance is still debated. The Bible definitely seems to use 40 to emphasize a spiritual truth, but we must point out that the Bible nowhere specifically assigns any special meaning to the number 40. Some people place too much significance on numerology, trying to find a special meaning behind every number in the Bible. Often, a number in the Bible is simply a number, including the number 40. God does not call us to search for secret meanings, hidden messages, or codes in the Bible. There is more than enough truth in the plain words of Scripture to meet all our needs and make us “complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). GotQuestions.org Numbers 14:35 'I, the LORD, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they will die.'" BGT Numbers 14:35 ἐγὼ κύριος ἐλάλησα ἦ μὴν οὕτως ποιήσω τῇ συναγωγῇ τῇ πονηρᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ ἐπισυνεσταμένῃ ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ταύτῃ ἐξαναλωθήσονται καὶ ἐκεῖ ἀποθανοῦνται NET Numbers 14:35 I, the LORD, have said, "I will surely do so to all this evil congregation that has gathered together against me. In this wilderness they will be finished, and there they will die!"'" NLT Numbers 14:35 I, the LORD, have spoken! I will certainly do these things to every member of the community who has conspired against me. They will be destroyed here in this wilderness, and here they will die!" ESV Numbers 14:35 I, the LORD, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die." NIV Numbers 14:35 I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this desert; here they will die." KJV Numbers 14:35 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. YLT Numbers 14:35 I am Jehovah, I have spoken; if I do not this to all this evil company who are meeting against me; -- in this wilderness they are consumed, and there they die.' LXE Numbers 14:35 I the Lord have spoken, Surely will I do thus to this evil congregation that has risen up together against me: in this wilderness they shall be utterly consumed, and there they shall die. ASV Numbers 14:35 I, Jehovah, have spoken, surely this will I do unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. CSB Numbers 14:35 I, the LORD, have spoken. I swear that I will do this to the entire evil community that has conspired against Me. They will come to an end in the wilderness, and there they will die." NKJ Numbers 14:35 `I the LORD have spoken this; I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.'" NRS Numbers 14:35 I the LORD have spoken; surely I will do thus to all this wicked congregation gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die. surely: Nu 23:19 this evil: Nu 14:27-29 26:65 1Co 10:5,11 Heb 3:19 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The Failed Reconnaissance Mission (ESBSB) THE LORD HAS DECREED I, the LORD, have spoken surely this I will do - Moses emphasizes the attribute of God later writing God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" Bush on surely this I will do - Heb. “If I do not this;” which has the force of an affirmative, as the Gr. renders it, “I will surely do.” That is, I will surely do or execute what I have threatened. To all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me - "That is, gathered in a mutinous and seditious manner. The gathering was ostensibly against Moses and Aaron, but in reality against Jehovah himself who had commissioned his servants to lead and govern the people in his name." (Bush) In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they will die - Bush says "This sentence or decree is so frequently repeated that they might know that it was peremptory and irreversible. "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” (Heb 4:11+) The writer of Hebrews gives us a good summary of this writing And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:18-19+) Numbers 14:36 As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, BGT Numbers 14:36 καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι οὓς ἀπέστειλεν Μωυσῆς κατασκέψασθαι τὴν γῆν καὶ παραγενηθέντες διεγόγγυσαν κατ᾽ αὐτῆς πρὸς τὴν συναγωγὴν ἐξενέγκαι ῥήματα πονηρὰ περὶ τῆς γῆς NET Numbers 14:36 The men whom Moses sent to investigate the land, who returned and made the whole community murmur against him by producing an evil report about the land, NLT Numbers 14:36 The ten men Moses had sent to explore the land-- the ones who incited rebellion against the LORD with their bad report-- ESV Numbers 14:36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land-- NIV Numbers 14:36 So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it-- KJV Numbers 14:36 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, YLT Numbers 14:36 And the men whom Moses hath sent to spy the land, and they turn back and cause all the company to murmur against him, by bringing out an evil account concerning the land, LXE Numbers 14:36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, and who came and murmured against it to the assembly so as to bring out evil words concerning the land,-- ASV Numbers 14:36 And the men, whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up an evil report against the land, CSB Numbers 14:36 So the men Moses sent to scout out the land, and who returned and incited the entire community to complain about him by spreading a negative report about the land-- NKJ Numbers 14:36 Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, NRS Numbers 14:36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report about the land-- Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE FATE OF THE TEN SPIES As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land (see list Nu 13:4-16) and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him - Their grumbling spread like gangrene and poisoned the hearts of almost 2 million people. Watch out when you begin to grumble, because it may "rumble" further than you ever thought or wished it would! Grumble (murmur) (03885) see note on lun (Key word in Numbers 14 - Nu 14:2, Nu 14:27; Nu 14:29; Nu 14:36) by bringing out a bad report concerning the land - The bad report about the good land landed the 10 in a bad place! NET Note on bringing out a bad report - The verb is the Hiphil infinitive construct with a lamed (ל) preposition from the root יָצָא (yatsa’, “to bring out”). The use of the infinitive here is epexegetical, that is, explaining how they caused the people to murmur. Numbers 14:37 even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the LORD. BGT Numbers 14:37 καὶ ἀπέθανον οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ κατείπαντες κατὰ τῆς γῆς πονηρὰ ἐν τῇ πληγῇ ἔναντι κυρίου NET Numbers 14:37 those men who produced the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD. NLT Numbers 14:37 were struck dead with a plague before the LORD. ESV Numbers 14:37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land-- died by plague before the LORD. NIV Numbers 14:37 these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD. KJV Numbers 14:37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. YLT Numbers 14:37 even the men bringing out an evil account of the land die by the plague before Jehovah; LXE Numbers 14:37 the men that spoke evil reports against the land, even died of the plague before the Lord. ASV Numbers 14:37 even those men that did bring up an evil report of the land, died by the plague before Jehovah. CSB Numbers 14:37 those men who spread the negative report about the land were struck down by the LORD. NKJ Numbers 14:37 those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD. NRS Numbers 14:37 the men who brought an unfavorable report about the land died by a plague before the LORD. died: Nu 14:12 16:49 25:9 Jer 28:16,17 29:32 1Co 10:10 Heb 3:17 Jude 1:5 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE TEN ARE TAKEN BY A PLAGUE even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the LORD - The congregation's seeing these 10 men killed by plague who leave no doubt that their bodies would also lie as corpses in the desert over the next 40 years! Bush - So in the present case, it is stated that the ten unfaithful emissaries perished by some special visitation or stroke of the divine displeasure. Having fomented and ripened the mutiny, they became the first sacrifice to the avenging justice of heaven. Bush on before the LORD - That is, before the Tabernacle, where the glory of the Lord appeared. So it is said of Uzzah, 1 Chron. 13:14, that “he died there before the Lord,” whereas in the parallel narrative 2 Sam. 6:7, it is said that “he died there before the ark of God.” Numbers 14:38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land. BGT Numbers 14:38 καὶ Ἰησοῦς υἱὸς Ναυη καὶ Χαλεβ υἱὸς Ιεφοννη ἔζησαν ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐκείνων τῶν πεπορευμένων κατασκέψασθαι τὴν γῆν NET Numbers 14:38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the men who went to investigate the land, lived. NLT Numbers 14:38 Of the twelve who had explored the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive. ESV Numbers 14:38 Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive. NIV Numbers 14:38 Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived. KJV Numbers 14:38 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. YLT Numbers 14:38 and Joshua son of Nun, and Caleb son of Jephunneh, have lived of those men who go to spy out the land. LXE Numbers 14:38 And Joshua the son of Naue and Chaleb the son of Jephonne still lived of those men that went to spy out the land. ASV Numbers 14:38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, remained alive of those men that went to spy out the land. CSB Numbers 14:38 Only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men who went to scout out the land. NKJ Numbers 14:38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land. NRS Numbers 14:38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh alone remained alive, of those men who went to spy out the land. Nu 26:65 Jos 14:6-10 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GRACE TO THE FAITHFUL DUO But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land - Brian Bell writes "Faith leads to obedience and glorifies God; unbelief leads to rebellion and death. Why wander in unbelief when we can walk in victory! Did you ever think grumbling could have such drastic results? Why did God take their grumbling so personally? (grumbling stemmed from unbelief)" Numbers 14:39 When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. BGT Numbers 14:39 καὶ ἐλάλησεν Μωυσῆς τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα πρὸς πάντας υἱοὺς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐπένθησεν ὁ λαὸς σφόδρα NET Numbers 14:39 When Moses told these things to all the Israelites, the people mourned greatly. NLT Numbers 14:39 When Moses reported the LORD's words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief. ESV Numbers 14:39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. NIV Numbers 14:39 When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. KJV Numbers 14:39 And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. YLT Numbers 14:39 And Moses speaketh these words unto all the sons of Israel, and the people mourn exceedingly, LXE Numbers 14:39 And Moses spoke these words to all the children of Israel; and the people mourned exceedingly. ASV Numbers 14:39 And Moses told these words unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. CSB Numbers 14:39 When Moses reported these words to all the Israelites, the people were overcome with grief. NKJ Numbers 14:39 Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. NRS Numbers 14:39 When Moses told these words to all the Israelites, the people mourned greatly. mourned greatly: Ex 33:4 Pr 19:3 Isa 26:16 Mt 8:12 Heb 12:17 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GRUMBLERS NOW MORPH TO MOURNERS! When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, Pardon led to presumption (v39-45). The people had acted stubbornly like the mule, and now they acted impetuously like the horse (Ps 32:9). God forgives us that we might fear Him (Ps130:4), not that we might tempt Him. The flesh can never accomplish what only faith can do. (Dt 1:41-44.) (Wiersbe) Bush on Moses spoke - That is, made known to the multitude the calamity that had happened and the reasons of it; communicating to all quarters of the camp the sentence which had now gone forth from the Lord’s lips, and which had probably as yet been but partially circulated among the immense host consisting of two or three millions of people. The people mourned greatly - Bush comments "Being overwhelmed with anguish in view of the doom which they had so foolishly brought upon themselves, and which they were assured was irreversible. Knowing this to be the fact, they did not sue to Moses to pray for them, as they had done on other occasions, Nu 11:2+. They had now abundant and just cause for weeping, whereas before, Nu 14:1+, their weeping was causeless." NET Note on mourned - The word אָבַל (’aval) is rare, used mostly for mourning over deaths, but it is used here of mourning over bad news (see also Exod 33:4; 1 Sam 15:35; 16:1; etc.). (ED: James Smith - Handfuls of Purpose - THE SIN OF PRESUMPTION Numbers 14:39–45 “Deep is the sea, and deep is Hell, but pride mineth deeper; It is coiled as a poisonous worm about the foundations of the soul. If thou expose it in thy motives, and track in thy springs of thought, Complacent in its own detection, it will seem indignant virtue.” It has been said that “Wise men presume nothing, but hope for the best; presumption is hope out of her wits.” In this portion of Scripture we have a solemn example of the foolhardiness of attempting to do work for the Lord without His presence with us. 1. Who they were. 1. PILGRIMS from Egypt who had been saved by the power of God. 2. FOLLOWERS of the Divine pillar, who had again and again witnessed the wonder working of Him who dwelt therein. 3. MURMURERS who had refused to accept the report of the two faithful spies, and who desired to make themselves a captain and return to Egypt (v. 4). 2. What they did. When they heard that the Lord had, because of their unbelief, sentenced them to forty years wanderings in the wilderness (v. 34), they said, “Lo, we be here, and we will go up.” In doing so they went— 1. AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD. “Wherefore do ye now trespass? It shall not prosper” (v. 41). What was their duty and privilege yesterday becomes disobedience to-day. God had said, “In this wilderness they shall die.” They said, “We will go up.” But now it was in their own strength. Vain effort. 2. PRESUMING ON THE PAST MERCIES OF GOD. “Lo, we be here.” We have been preserved and brought through to this point. “We will go up.” It is in vain we lean on past favours and experiences when by our sin we have grieved the Holy Ghost. Murmuring is sure to lead to failure. 3. WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD. “They presumed to go up, nevertheless the ark of the Lord departed not out of the camp” (v. 44). If we go contrary to God’s Word we must go without His presence. Without Me ye can do nothing. The Lord is with you while you be with Him in His will and purposes (2 Chron. 15:2). Except Thy presence go with us, carry us not up hence. 4. THINKING THAT A FORMAL CONFESSION WOULD SATISFY GOD. “We will go up, for we have sinned” (v. 40). Confession without the submission of the will to the mind of God is ardent hypocrisy. Sin may be felt, yet not forsaken. Unless the moth has been hopelessly scorched with the flame at its first contact it will seek it again. 3. What they experienced. “The Amalekites came down and smote them, and discomfited them” (v. 45). In their self-confident effort they only gained for themselves— 1. DISAPPOINTMENT. They did not reach the place which the Lord had promised. They had built their hopes on a foundation of sand. 2. DEFEAT. The enemy overcame them. The foes of the soul are numerous and powerful. He that trusteth his own heart is a fool. Without the armour of God we cannot withstand the wiles of the devil. 3. DISGRACE. I use this word advisedly, “Out of favour.” Conscious of having lost the favour and presence of God. This is a most alarming discovery to a true child of God. Out of favour with God means also dishonoured among men. Miserable backslider. 4. DEATH. Many were smitten. In a spiritual sense presumption is always accompanied by the smiting blight of death. Pride goeth before a fall. “Uzziah was marvellously helped till he was strong”—strong in self-confidence. The wages of the sin of self-trust is death to all fruitfulness for Christ. 4. What they teach us. These things which happened to them are ensamples to us (1 Cor. 10:11). There is here a solemn warning to the— 1. CHRISTIAN WORKER. Beware of godless effort, of hoping to succeed in Christ’s work without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit with you and in you. Except the Lord build the city they labour in vain who build it. 2. SELF-RIGHTEOUS. Beware of seeking the heavenly inheritance, the land of promise, without first making sure that God is with you by His Word and promise. 3. FORMALIST. Beware of trusting formal prayers and confessions while the revealed will of God stands opposed to your character and purposes (vs. 41, 42). 4. PROCRASTINATING. Beware of depending on a late repentance. Those Israelites found that the eleventh hour for them was too late. Their last effort was a fatal one. The ark did not always rest in Jordan. If one thief was saved at the eleventh hour, the other perished. Here again, “Beware of the sin of presumption.” For this sin there was no sacrifice appointed (Heb. 6:4–6). Go Fever Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7 Today's Scripture & Insight: Numbers 14:39-45 On January 28, 1986, after five weather-related delays, the space shuttle Challenger lumbered heavenward amid a thunderous overture of noise and flame. A mere 73 seconds later, system failure tore the shuttle apart, and all seven crewmembers perished. The disaster was attributed to an O-ring seal known to have vulnerabilities. Insiders referred to the fatal mistake as “go fever”—the tendency to ignore vital precautions in the rush to a grand goal. Our ambitious human nature relentlessly tempts us to make ill-advised choices. Yet we are also prone to a fear that can make us overly cautious. The ancient Israelites demonstrated both traits. When the 12 scouts returned from spying out the Promised Land, 10 of the 12 saw only the obstacles (Num. 13:26-33). “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are,” they said (v. 31). After a fearful rebellion against the Lord that led to the death of the 10 spies, the people suddenly developed a case of “go fever.” They said, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised” (14:40). Without God, the ill-timed invasion failed miserably (vv. 41-45). Before making a quick decision, consider why you want to make it quickly. Consider if it will honor God and what it might cost others. If you are afraid to make a decision, think about why that might be. Most of all, pray! A moment of patience can prevent a great disaster. Numbers 14:40 In the morning, however, they rose up early and went up to the ridge of the hill country, saying, "Here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised." BGT Numbers 14:40 καὶ ὀρθρίσαντες τὸ πρωὶ ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ ὄρους λέγοντες ἰδοὺ οἵδε ἡμεῖς ἀναβησόμεθα εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν εἶπεν κύριος ὅτι ἡμάρτομεν NET Numbers 14:40 And early in the morning they went up to the crest of the hill country, saying, "Here we are, and we will go up to the place that the LORD commanded, for we have sinned." NLT Numbers 14:40 Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. "Let's go," they said. "We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the LORD has promised us." ESV Numbers 14:40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, "Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned." NIV Numbers 14:40 Early the next morning they went up toward the high hill country. "We have sinned," they said. "We will go up to the place the LORD promised." KJV Numbers 14:40 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. YLT Numbers 14:40 and they rise early in the morning, and go up unto the top of the mountain, saying, 'Here we are, and we have come up unto the place which Jehovah hath spoken of, for we have sinned.' LXE Numbers 14:40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, Behold, we that are here will go up to the place of which the Lord has spoken, because we have sinned. ASV Numbers 14:40 And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up to the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we are here, and will go up unto the place which Jehovah hath promised: for we have sinned. CSB Numbers 14:40 They got up early the next morning and went up the ridge of the hill country, saying, "Let's go to the place the LORD promised, for we were wrong." NKJ Numbers 14:40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, "Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised, for we have sinned!" NRS Numbers 14:40 They rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, "Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned." rose up: De 1:41 Ec 9:3 Mt 7:21-23 26:11,12 Lu 13:25 Numbers 14 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CONFESSION DOES NOT NEGATE CONSEQUENCES And regret does not equate with repentance! In the morning, however, they rose up early and went up to the ridge of the hill country - They should have been getting early to have a time of devotion to the LORD. Here they get up early to get a good start on their foolish endeavor! NET NOTE on rose...went up - The verb וַיַּשְׁכִּמוּ (vayyashkimu) is often found in a verbal hendiadys construction: “They rose early … and they went up” means “they went up early.” Ridge of the hill - The Hebrew text says literally “the top of the hill,” but judging from the location and the terrain it probably means the heights of the hill country. Bush on rose up Heb. “Went up;” i. e. set about it, made all their preparations for it, and actually proceeded a considerable distance towards the summit. Men are often said in Scripture to do what they intend and endeavor to do. See this illustrated in the Note on Gen. 37:21. Struck with a temporary panic, a transient fit of slavish fear, as the sequel clearly proves, the people now were as forward to advance as they had been backward before, and though dissuaded by Moses from their rash attempt, they obstinately ventured forth; with what results we are soon informed. Saying here we are - To this statement, I would say "So what?" We have indeed sinned - This sounds good. It is good to admit our sins, but God wants us to confess our sins. They admit they "missed the mark," and they are sorry but lack a broken spirit or repentant heart (see Ps 51:17). They should have been on their faces instead of going up to the place God promised! Notice they don't say what David said when he confessed his sin with Bathsheba in Psalm 51 declaring "Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge." (Ps 51:4) THOUGHT - Some people say, “I have sinned,” and really mean it, like Achan (Josh. 7:20), David (2 Sam. 12:13; Ps. 51:4; 1 Chron. 24:8, 17), and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:18, 21); others are merely saying pious words, like Pharaoh (Ex. 9:27), Balaam (Num. 22:34), King Saul (1 Sam. 15:24, 30; 26:21), Shimei (2 Sam. 19:20), and Judas (Matt. 27:4). It takes more than words to exhibit true repentance. (Wiersbe) Israel reminds me of another man name Judas Iscariot who made a tragic, costly decision and then felt remorse... (Mt 27:3-4) Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” But we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised - They may have confessed sin, but their confession was shallow and short-lived and certainly not accompanied by repentance. In fact, they now seek to try to "make things right with God." Presumably they now foolishly think they can reverse the consequences, specifically the divine desert death decree! But it was too little, too late. Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. -- Proverbs 16:18 Bush on we will go up - That is, we are now prepared to do what the Lord commanded, and trust that he will make his promise good. We acknowledge that we have sinned in not at once complying with the divine mandates, and in murmuring and rebelling as we have done, but as we confess our guilt and folly now, and are disposed to make up for our past delinquencies by an exemplary obedience henceforth, we look for the divine favor. But alas, they were obedient and valiant too late! Having sinned against the clearest light and the most emphatic warnings, their transgressions could not be retrieved by the forced repentance and reformation which they now evinced. Matthew