July 1, 2019
Rebellion Is Our Natural Tendency
Numbers 14:1–19
Karen Henson
Central Truth
Apart from the Lord, we always revert back to hopeless rebellion.
Key Verse | 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?”
Numbers 14:1–19
The People Rebel
1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 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! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” 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.
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? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
Moses Intercedes for the People
13 But Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them, 14 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people. For you, O LORD, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, 16 ‘It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, 18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ 19 Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”
Dive Deeper | Numbers 14:1–19
Israel is so close to the land of Canaan, the land of milk and honey, the people can almost taste victory. But spies sent into the land come back with an unfortunate report: The enemy is too big and too strong to overcome. How can this be? Canaan was supposed to be theirs. Instantly, Israel takes the spies' report as truth. The people begin weeping and grumbling, distraught with crushed dreams. In this moment of despair, rather than turning to God, they look down. Rather than remembering the words of God, they let fear overcome them. Two of the spies, though—Joshua and Caleb—plead for the people to listen to Yahweh, but the people ignore their counsel.
Israel rejects God's plan, His land, His leaders, and instead desires to return to their former condition as slaves in Egypt. This, ladies and gents, is rebellion at its finest. Do you remember who we are talking about here? This is the same Israel who stood by the Red Sea as God split the waters in half, the ones who ate manna that God sent from the heavens, the ones who were told that this land was theirs for the taking. And they said no.
How often do we see God working and choose to turn our face away? How many times can we experience His kindness one moment and forget it the next?
This is my story. I grew up in a loving home and came to know Jesus at a young age. By the time I hit my teenage years, however, I was doubting truth I had known my entire life: God is good; He loves me, and His way is better than mine. The night of my 18th birthday, I drank enough alcohol to land me in the hospital on the brink of death. I should have died that night, and yet He rescued me. After that, my life turned around. Now I understand that rebellion is our natural tendency, and it only leads to death. God's way and His will for our lives is always better. It's time we start listening to Him.
Discussion Questions
1. Where in your life are you rebelling against God? How can you relate to Israel in this passage of Scripture?
2. Do you believe God's will and way are best? Why or why not?
3. Read Titus 3:3-7. Despite our rebellion, have you experienced the loving kindness of God through Jesus Christ? Is there anything stopping you from placing trust in Him today?