Numbers 14 - Fear and Rebellion

This chapter has way too many themes to unpack well in one post. The Israelites demonstrated their doubt of God's promise, their fear of the enemy nations, their discounting of God's mighty power, their presumption and their utter disregard for God's judgment. We also see God's anger rise up, his relationship to Moses, his defense of His own reputation in the nations, his longsuffering with this nation and His judgment against sin.  Any one of these topics could be a post in itself.  

There is so much in this chapter that applies to our stewardship. I would just like to sketch out some lessons for us:

1.  Fear can keep us paralyzed. This nation looked at the power of the enemy rather than the greatness of God. They wished to go back to slavery rather than stand in God's power against such a formidable enemy. Fear keeps us from witnessing, from exposing our beliefs, from stepping out of our comfort zone into God's calling in our lives. When we operate in fear, Satan gains the upper hand in our lives and we stand opposed to God. God called such fear, "treating Him with contempt". 

Our opponents know about the great things God has done and His reputation precedes Him. In all things God gets the glory and we his people join in the bounty of His victory.  

2.  Sin deserves judgment. God cannot just stand by while His name, His reputation and His power is degraded and mocked - not from His people and not from among the nations. 

The Israelites received the bad news that they would not enter the land they rejected in fear, but their children would enjoy the blessing of the promised land. All the spies to the land would be struck with a plague and die except Joshua and Caleb for inciting this fear and discounting the peers of God. 

When our sin comes before God it must be judged. It cannot be ignored.  Payment must be made. Jesus came to bear the penalty of sin on our behalf, but we must not recklessly continue in sin once we have received such a great promise of salvation. 

The people received God's judgment that they would not go into the promised land, they saw the death of the spies and yet they decided to take action on their own to go into the land. There because of their utter disregard, God allowed them to be defeated. 

3.  God's relationship to Moses. God was prepared to bring complete destruction to the nation and raise up for himself a remnant from Moses that would receive the promise. 

Moses pleads with God to spare the people and His own reputation. Moses could have accepted God's offer and turned his back on the nation, but his love for the people and his concern for God's reputation would not allow him to accept the offer. 

God listened to Moses' reasoning and honored Moses' request to spare the nation. God longs for our fellowship and looks for the man or woman who will look to Him and find His provision and His direction all sufficient. 

Moses had an abiding faith in The Lord, will you be the next Moses and trust God for the results?

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.