Lesson 19 - Numbers 13 & 14

                     

  Nay-sayers or AYes@ Men                                                                                     

I.             Numbers 13

A.        Deuteronomy 1:22 tells us that it was the people who asked Moses to send the spies.  A clue to what is going to happen with the Israelites.

 

AHow absurd was it for them to send to spy out a land which God himself had spied out for them, to enquire the way into it when God himself had undertaken to show them the way! A   (Matthew Henry)

 

B.        Verses 13: 3-20 B Specific instructions given to the spies

 

C.        Verses 13: 26-33 B Report of the spies after 40 days of spying out the land.  Ten Verses Two

 

1.              These 12 men had just been on a most remarkable journey, actually walking in the footsteps of their ancestors.

 

2.             Did they remember as they were walking this land the promises made by God to their ancestors and to them B this land was theirs. 

 

3.              All of  the spies saw that this land was a fruitful land, a land that flowed with milk and honey but ten of the spies viewed what they saw from their own limited resources. 

 

4.             The Ten  were intimidated by the fortified cities and by Giants who made them feel like grasshoppers, leaving God out of the equation.

 

5.             God is not intimidated by Giants.  Are there any giants facing you today?  Do they seem overwhelming?   Maybe your God is too small.   Have you tried looking for the abundant clusters of fruit in your life?   Evidence of God=s providential care and His blessings?

 

II.             Numbers 14: 1-12

 

A.        Verses 14: 1-4: A night spent in weeping and what Aiffing?@

 

B.        Verses 14: 5-12  

 

1.             The Israelites once again were experiencing God=s anger because of their disobedience, sin and unbelief,  foolishly forfeiting their

 

 opportunity to enter the Promised Land because of their refusal to obey God. 

 

2.             Something we need to consider B if God calls us to a specific task and we do not obey, the task may be given to someone else to do.  Remember Mordecai=s words to Queen Esther:   ADo not think that because you are in the king=s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father=s family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.@

 

3.             The Israelites chose to remain outside the Promised Land and as a result they would not receive all its blessings.   How are we today like the Israelites?  Have we failed to enter the Promised Land? 

 

C.        Why they didn=t go into the Promised Land?

 

1.             They doubted God=s promise to go before them and prepare the way (Ex. 23)  AMy angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites et al and I will wipe them out.@   27: AI will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter.  I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.@

 

2.             They discouraged God=s people.  Ten were discouraged by what they saw because they lacked faith and they then spread their own discouragement throughout the rest of the people.

 

AUnbelief is serious because it challenges the character of God and rebels against the will of God.@ (Warren Wiersebe B Be Counted)  What message are we relaying to those around us?  Is it grapes or is it giants?

 

3.             They defied God=s will.  His will was for them to follow Him into the Promised Land; instead they wanted to erase all that He done for them and go back to Egypt with new leadership.  

 

AThe will of God is the expression of the love of God for His people, for His plans come from His heart (Ps. 33:11).  God=s will isn=t punishment, it=s nourishment (John 4:31-34); not painful chains that shackle us (Ps. 2:3), but loving cords that tie us to God=s heart so He can lead us in the right way (Hosea 11:4).

God wants us to know His will (Acts 22:14), understand His will (Eph. 5:17), delight in His will (Ps. 40:8), and obey His will from the heart (Eph. 6:6).@  (Warren Wiersbe)

III.             Numbers 14: 13-38  B Another deja vu moment.  Moses once again intercedes on behalf of the Israelites.

 

A.        Moses= arguments: 

 

1.             Moses= first argument is that God=s glory would be tarnished if He destroyed Israel.

 

2.             Moses claimed God=s promises made to the patriarchs hundreds of years before. 

 

3.             Finally Moses pointed to the character of God and quoted what God Himself had said to Moses on Mt. Sinai. 

 

B.        God assures Moses that He did indeed pardon the Israelite=s sin (v. 20), but that He would also give them what they asked for. 

 

AThe distinction made here is that Israel as a nation was pardoned and still remained the people of God, but that generation of Israelites as individuals failed forever in the hope of their calling.@  

(J. Philip & L. J. Ogilvie B The Preacher=s Commentary, Vol. 4

 

IV.             Numbers 14:39-45  B Could things get any worse?

 

A.        What we have here is confession without repentance. 

 

B.        In verse 44 we are told that Ain their presumption they went up.@  Some translations have Athey presumed.@  The word translated Apresume@ comes from a Hebrew word that means Ato be lifted up,@ that is, Ato be proud, arrogant, and swelled up with one=s own importance.@

 

C.        Previously the Israelites were unwilling to go where God led, into the Promised Land.  Now they wanted to go without His leadership and that of Moses=.

 

AHere is a classic case of salvation by human works arrogantly attempting to take the place of salvation by grace through faith, as if human beings are greater than God.  This isn=t courage; it is stupidity.@

(Roy Gane B The NIV Application Commentary B Numbers)

 

D.        This stiff-necked people have trouble walking with God.  God will put them through some basic training for the next 38 years in the quiet of the wilderness and here they will learn the lesson of dependence on Him.