The People Rebel

INTRO

When we started Numbers, we talked about the formation of the Israelite army. Everything was counted and everyone was counted. Yesterday, we started talking about the 12 scouts going into the land.

TEACHING

Wiersbe talks about five blatant sins in Numbers 13—14.¹We can learn much from Israel’s sins:

1. Doubting God’s word (Numbers 13:1–25)

• Israel doubted God’s promise
• In the American church, how many times do we doubt promises can happen today?

1. Discouraging other people (Numbers 13:28–29, 31–33)

• False reporting
• People of the land were too big

1. Defying God’s will (Numbers 14:1–10)

• Israel’s refusal to enter Canaan

1. Deserving of God’s judgment (Numbers 14:11–38)

• Judgment on Israel’s rebel

1. Disobeying God’s command (Numbers 14:39–45)

• Tried to compensate for their sin

Numbers 14:1–2: The spies reported that the Israelites couldn’t take possession of the land. The people wept, and there was more complaining. They wished they had died in the wilderness.

Numbers 14:3: The Israelites started thinking they had it better in Egypt. What they had in Egypt seemed better than the unknown that was waiting for them in the Promised Land.

Numbers 14:4: There was talk of appointing a leader to head back (1 Corinthians 10:10; Philippians 2:14). Every day, we have a choice: Is this life-giving or life-taking? The Israelites had an opportunity to trust God and be blessed beyond imagination, but instead, they listened to a negative report.

Numbers 14:5: Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the whole assembly. Moses and Aaron responded in humility. This seems to become a pattern when men of God, sensing something from the Lord, hit the ground (Numbers 16:4, 22, 45; 20:6).

Numbers 14:6–8: Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and responded in humility. They were dismayed at what was unfolding. These two men began to oppose the grumbling people. Joshua and Caleb believed God would do what He promised.

Numbers 14:9: Joshua and Caleb were saying, “Don’t be afraid, we can devourthem.” The time of Genesis 15:16 was coming. Joshua and Caleb radically stepped up. They are good examples of being in the world but not of the world. At what point will we start acting confident in the Lord?

Numbers 14: 10–16: The whole community (possibly 2 million) threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb, but the glory of the Lord showed up. When the people of God act like the people of God, the Lord shows up. God asked, “When are these people going to get it? I will destroy them and start over with you, Moses.” Moses had a heart for his people. He reminded God that Egypt would hear of the annihilation.

Numbers 14:17-19: “The Lord is slow to anger and rich in faithful love, forgiving wrongdoing and rebellion…” (v. 18), but Israel would not go unpunished. This was consistent with God’s faithful love from Egypt until now. Moses interceded for Israel, praying, “I love the people of God, so God, in keeping with the love that delivered Israel from Egypt, please pardon the wrongdoing of these people!” Moses prayed like Nehemiah, who prayed for God to spare Jerusalem.

Numbers 14:20-21: God heard and pardoned them (Psalm 130:4). Forgiveness always leads to the fear of God. God said, “I forgive them, but there will be judgment.”

Numbers 14:22: No man who had experienced the deliverance journey or seen the Lord’s glory would enter into the Promised Land. They tested God ten times, rejecting His provision:

Exodus 14: Red Sea crossing

Exodus 15: Marah, the bitter water

Exodus 16: Hungered for more

Exodus 16: Ignored Moses coming

Exodus 16: Manna again

Exodus 16: Didn’t want to collect manna for the Sabbath

Exodus 17: Complained about water again

Exodus 32: Mount Sinai, the golden calf

Numbers 11: Raged against the Lord for meat

Numbers 13: Refused to believe the good report

Numbers 14:23: God said, “If you despised Me, you will not enter.” The Israelites would suffer the consequences of their sin.

Numbers 14:26–38: The corpses of all those who were 20 years and older would fall in the wilderness. It was a death march. Only the children would experience Canaan. Joshua and Caleb would be the only adults to enter the Promised Land.

Numbers 14:39–45: There was grief, but no repentance. The Israelites decided they would go ahead and go in themselves. Moses warned them that they would be defeated, but the Israelites did it anyway. Moses stayed in camp; God did not go with them.

CLOSING

Moses warned the people that the Lord would not be with them if they went. We need to learn from the Israelites. When we get out of line with the will of God, it is better to fall on our face before God rather than to try to fix it in our own will and strength. It is time for humility in the body of Christ. It is time for humility in the church. It’s time to admit there might be things out of alignment in the American church. Let’s consider pulling back; God might not be with us. It takes radical humility. Joshua and Caleb had it. Moses and Aaron had it.

Wiersbe wrote, “The British Anglican minister F. W. Robertson (1816–1853) was right when he said that obedience was the organ of spiritual knowledge.”²When we are obedient, we can actually walk it out and know the will of God. Wiersbe wrote, “If we aren’t willing to obey, God isn’t obligated to reveal His will to us.”³When you walk in the Spirit; the Spirit will set you free (John 8:32).