DISRUPTION IN THE WILDERNESS

If you’ve read much in the Old Testament, you know that the children of Israel were chronic complainers. They grumbled when they didn’t have enough to eat. They murmured when there wasn’t water in the wilderness to drink. They repeatedly accused Moses and Aaron of bringing them out into the wilderness to die. After God sent them manna, they weren’t happy because they wanted meat!

But the greatest protest came when they crossed the wilderness and were on the brink of conquering the people who were living in their Promised Land! Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan to report back on what the land was like and how vulnerable they might be.

After forty days of scouting out the land, they (the spies) returned home [Numbers 13:24]. Ten reported that the people of Canaan were too strong and mighty and they would never be able to defeat them. However, two of the spies – Joshua and Caleb – said, Let’s go up and take the land – now. We can do it [13:30].

The whole community was in an uproar, wailing all night long. All the People of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire community was in on it: “Why didn’t we die in Egypt? Or in this wilderness? Why has God brought us to this country to kill us? Our wives and children are about to become plunder. Why don’t we just head back to Egypt? And right now!”

Soon they were all saying it to one another: “Let’s pick a new leader; let’s head back to Egypt.”  [14:1-4]

At this suggestion of rebellion, Moses and Aaron fell prostrate before the multitude. Joshua and Caleb tried to assure the people that God would lead them into this land! At this point, the rabble-rousers began to pick up stones to throw.

Just then the bright Glory of God appeared at the Tent of Meeting. Every Israelite saw it. God said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me like dirt? How long refuse to trust me? And with all these signs I’ve done among them! I’ve had enough—I’m going to hit them with a plague and kill them. But I’ll make you into a nation bigger and stronger than they ever were.”

At this point, Moses argued with God eloquently reminding Him that if He destroys this people many nations would observe that He gave up on them!

Then, going forward boldly and convincingly, Moses appealed to words that God had previously spoken about Himself when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

GOD, slow to get angry and huge in loyal love,

forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin;

Still, never just whitewashing sin.

But extending the fallout of parents’ sins

to children into the third,

even the fourth generation.

[14:18  -  from Exodus 20:5-6] 

Moses pleads with God to forgive the people – and He does!

God said, “I forgive them, honoring your words. But as I live and as the Glory of God fills the whole Earth—not a single person of those who saw my Glory, saw the miracle signs I did in Egypt and the wilderness, and who have tested me over and over and over again, turning a deaf ear to me—not one of them will set eyes on the land I so solemnly promised to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with such repeated contempt will see it.

God then spoke to Moses and Aaron to inform them that Joshua and Caleb WILL be allowed to enter the Promised Land because of their faithful report as spies. However, this entire evil-infested community which has banded against me…will come to their end. There [in the wilderness] they will die [14:35].

When Moses told all of this to the People of Israel, they mourned long and hard. But early the next morning they started out for the high hill country, saying, “We’re here; we’re ready go up and attack the land that God promised us. We sinned, but now we’re ready” [14:39-40].

But Moses said, “Why are you crossing God’s command yet again? This won’t work. Don’t attack. God isn’t with you in this—you’ll be beaten badly by your enemies. The Amalekites and Canaanites are ready for you and they’ll kill you. Because you have left off obediently following God, God is not going to be with you in this.”

But they went anyway; recklessly and arrogantly they climbed to the high hill country. But the Chest of the Covenant and Moses didn’t budge from the camp. The Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in the hill country came out of the hills and attacked and beat them, a rout all the way down to Hormah [14:39 41-45].

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Let’s make several observations – if you’ve stayed with me this far:

1.    We all have a choice to make: will we be people of faith or people of fear?

People of faith believe God and follow Him responsively – like Joshua and Caleb! They are rewarded for their obedience!

2.    Leadership has consequences!

The ten spies who gave a negative report that discouraged the Israelites and incited their rebellion – all died in a plague, confronted by GOD!

3.    We can reason with and speak openly with God!  This says much to us about our prayer life.

Moses argued against destroying the Israelites because of how it would reflect on His image to other nations. Moses also reminded God of words He had spoken earlier that defined the fact that He is slow to anger and steadfast in love!

God can deal with our hurt, anger, disappointment, confusion, fear, doubt… We can take all our emotions to God and not fear rejection!

As a result of Moses’ intercession, God forgave the Israelites!

4.    God forgave the Israelites, but still punished them for their persistent rebellion!

The punishment seems harsh – they would all die in the wilderness! Only Caleb and Joshua would enter the Promised Land. They spent the rest of their lives wandering aimlessly in the wilderness!

We must note that God forgives, but He does not take away the consequences of our sins! However, He will give us grace and mercy to help us to deal with those consequences!

Hebrews 4:16 [NASB]

…let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.