NUMBERS LESSON 18

     This lesson begins in Numbers 14:1 "And all the congregation
lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night."

     The ten spies, that brought back bad news about entering the
promised land, told it in the camp. It did not take long for it to
spread to all of the people. Isn't it interesting, they listened to
the negative talk, and did not hear Caleb. The weeping was in
disappointment.

     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!"

     The murmuring was slanted toward Moses and Aaron, as if it were
their fault. They keep forgetting, they were slaves under hard bondage
in Egypt. Their wish to die in Egypt would not be fulfilled, but their
wish to die in the wilderness would come true. God will let them
wander, until these doubters die off. Their trip through the
wilderness on the way to their promised land, reminds me of our
struggles in this life, on our way to our promised land {heaven}.
Murmuring does not help. In fact, it is showing a lack of faith in
God.

     Numbers 14:3 "And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this
land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be
a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?"

     Hear-say gets a lot of people in trouble. This is certainly the
case here. They have not even seen the promised land. How do they know
the conditions are bad? God had protected them at every turn. Now, as
they are about to enter into their land of promise, they doubt that
God is with them. They do not remember how God defeated Pharaoh's army
at the Red Sea, with no loss of life for them. It is as if they are
saying, that God did that, but is not capable of protecting them here.

     Numbers 14:4 "And they said one to another, Let us make a
captain, and let us return into Egypt."

     This is the worst rebellion up until this time. They are not just
rebelling against Moses, but against the leadership of God, as well.

     Numbers 14:5 "Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all
the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel."

     Moses and Aaron are horrified at the actions of the people. They
are not sure what God will do, but they know this will anger Him. They
fall on their faces, not for the people, but for themselves. Moses and
Aaron were ashamed of the actions of these people. They could not
believe the amount of doubt these people were showing. This is really
like Christians, who have walked with God, suddenly deciding the world
is better. "Egypt" symbolizes the world.

     Numbers 14:6  "And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of
Jephunneh, [which were] of them that searched the land, rent their
clothes:"

     This is a sign of extreme mourning. Joshua and Caleb were the
only two of the twelve, who came back with a good report, and wanted
to take the promised land. They had faith in God, which the others did
not.

     Numbers 14:7 "And they spake unto all the company of the children
of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it,
[is] an exceeding good land."

     Caleb and Joshua try to speak to all the people, and reassure
them that this is an exceedingly good land. The land of promise is
everything that God had told them it would be. Joshua and Caleb had
looked at the land through the eyes of faith. The other 10 spies were
looking with eyes of doubt.

     Numbers 14:8 "If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us
into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and
honey."

     I am sure the LORD did delight in Joshua and Caleb. The truth is,
He did not like the report from the other 10 spies. The delight of the
LORD is in an obedient people. The wrath of God is reserved for those
of doubt.

     Numbers 14:9 "Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye
the people of the land; for they [are] bread for us: their defence is
departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us: fear them not."

     Genesis 48:21 "And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but
God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your
fathers." Even from the beginning, it was faith in God that brought
miracles. Caleb and Joshua had confidence that God would give these
people into their hands. The statement "they are bread for us" just
means they will be theirs to devour. Romans 8:31 "What shall we then
say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?"
All they had to do, was stand fast in their faith, and God would
deliver them.

     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."

     It seems, that this took place at the tabernacle. These angry
people wanted to stone the two that gave them sound advice. The LORD
appeared, before they could carry out their threat to stone them. The
divine glory of God in the tabernacle was evident to all.

     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?"

     They were a rebellious house from the beginning. God asks what
signs and wonders would be necessary before they would believe?  The
sign of the 10 plagues in Egypt should have been enough, without
anything else. The parting of the Red Sea should have certainly been
enough to show God's power. The greatest miracle of all was the manna
feeding them from heaven. The manna showed God's care for their day to
day needs. God that does all of this, could surely be with them to
take the promised land. They do not want to believe. They are worldly,
and will rebel against God every chance they get. They have no faith
in God.

     Numbers 14:12 "I will smite them with the pestilence, and
disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier
than they."

     God is offering Moses the opportunity to be in the place of Jacob
as the carrier of the blessings of Abraham to the whole world. Moses
was of Abraham's descendents, so God would still keep His promise to
Abraham. The wrath of God has risen against these rebellious people.
Moses was such an humble man, he would not accept such an offer of
fame for himself. We know that one Word from the Lord, and they would
be destroyed. God is longsuffering, however. He is not really willing
that one should perish. He wants Israel for His people, He just wants
their rebellious spirit gone. He truly wants their love and loyalty.

     Numbers 14:13  "And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians
shall hear [it], (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from
among them;)"

     Moses is appealing to God to spare His people. Moses did not want
the fame God had offered him. He, instead, reminds God of the heathen
countries looking on, who would doubt the abilities of God, if God
killed His people here.

     Numbers 14:14 "And they will tell [it] to the inhabitants of this
land: [for] they have heard that thou LORD [art] among this people,
that thou LORD art seen face to face, and [that] thy cloud standeth
over them, and [that] thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar
of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night."

     All of the people around had heard that God was with the
Israelites. They knew of the cloud by day, and the fire by night, that
had led them. The Egyptians knew it very well, because it was the fire
of God that held Pharaoh's army off, while the children of Israel
crossed the Red Sea. The world knew that God was with these people,
and that He was hovering over them, protecting them. The world seemed
to be more aware of this, than did the Israelites themselves.

     Numbers 14:15  "Now [if] thou shalt kill [all] this people as one
man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak,
saying,"

     If God kills His people, the nations around would begin to doubt
God themselves.

     Numbers 14:16 "Because the LORD was not able to bring this people
into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them
in the wilderness."

     The heathen would not understand the God that brought the people
this far, killing them for their disobedience. They would have instead
said, that God was not powerful enough to guide so large a people to
victory. Their awe of Israel's God would be gone.

     Numbers 14:17 "And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD
be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,"

     God's greatness is unchangeable. He is all powerful. He can do as
He wishes, anytime He wishes. Moses reminds God that He should not let
the disobedience of these people alter His promise to Abraham.

     Numbers 14:18 "The LORD [is] longsuffering, and of great mercy,
forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing [the
guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto
the third and fourth [generation]."

     Now, Moses begins to intercede for this people. God has forgiven
this people over and over on this trip to the promised land. They did
not deserve to be forgiven, He forgave them, because He is merciful.
Moses reminds Him that the transgressions even though they are
forgiven, are not completely done away with. The consequences of the
sins, sometimes continue on for generations. The blood of an animal
could not abolish sin, it could just cover it up. The blood of Jesus
Christ abolishes sin.

     Numbers 14:19 "Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this
people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast
forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now."

     Moses begged forgiveness from God for these sinful people. He
knows they do not deserve forgiveness, but he, also, knows God's great
mercy. Forgive them one more time Lord, is the prayer of Moses.

     Numbers 14:20 "And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to
thy word:"

     The LORD answers Moses. He grants Moses' request, and pardons
them one more time.

     Numbers 14:21 "But [as] truly [as] I live, all the earth shall be
filled with the glory of the LORD."

     This is a statement of the glory of the LORD, who is Jesus Christ
our Lord. His goodness, and might, and glory shall fill the earth.
Romans 14:11 "For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every
knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
                        Numbers 18 Questions


1.  What effect did the news have on all the people?
2.  What does the author find interesting about their attitude?
3.  Who was their murmuring slanted toward?
4.  What do the people keep forgetting about Egypt?
5.  Their wish to die in the wilderness _______ come true.
6.  What does the struggles of these people in the wilderness remind
    the author of?
7.  Murmuring shows a lack of __________.
8.  What have they forgotten about God's protection of them?
9.  They decided to appoint a captain and ______ _____ ___ ______.
10. What is verse 4 speaking of really?
11. What sign of horror did Moses do?
12. How did Moses and Aaron feel about these people?
13. How are Christians sometimes like these people?
14. What did Joshua and Caleb do in mourning?
15. What statement did they make to the people?
16. Joshua and Caleb had looked at the land through eyes of _______.
17. Who did the LORD delight in?
18. Quote Genesis chapter 48 verse 21.
19. Quote Romans chapter 8 verse 31.
20. What did the congregation want to do to Caleb and Joshua?
21. How did God stop them?
22. What did God say to Moses?
23. The sign of the ____ plagues in Egypt should have been proof
    enough.
24. What does the LORD offer Moses?
25. Why did Moses not take Him up on the offer?
26. What does Moses remind God of, to keep Him from destroying the
    people?
27. What had the heathen people around them heard of the presence of
    God being with them?
28. What will they think, if God kills them here?
29. In verse 18, Moses begins to __________ for the people.
30. Why did God forgive them?
31. In verse 19, Moses begs __________ for these sinful people.
32. How does God answer his prayer?
33. Quote Numbers chapter 14 verse 21.