The Book Of NUMBERS
Numbers 21:8 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole:
and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live."
 CHAPTER 32: The events recorded in this chapter are directly connected to the successful conquest of the Transjordan region that was recorded in Numbers 21:21-35, as seen in the map above, courtesy of Logos Bible Software. Verses 1-5: The tribes of Reuben and Gad come before Moses, Eleazar, and the other leaders of Israel to make a special request. The lands of the Transjordan are rich and fertile for the grazing of livestock. (v.3-4) They request that their people not cross over the Jordan River with the rest of the nation when the time comes to enter the promised land. (v.5) They would prefer to settle in the regions that are listed in verse 1 and 3, which is the land that was formerly occupied by the Amorites and the kingdom of Og. (Numbers 21:21-35, Deuteronomy 3:13, Joshua 13:17, 25-26, 2 Samuel 24:5) Verses 6-15: Moses is understandably upset by this request, and he responds rather harshly. While still within the borders of the promised land, God intends for the nation as a whole to conquer all the promised land first before settling any of it. That’s the central issue with this request, and Moses rightly points out to these men that it’s not fair to their fellow tribes for them to remain behind in a life of ease and comfort while the rest of the nation goes to war on the other side of the Jordan. Doing so will be a great discouragement to the other tribes. (v.6-7) Moses then compares this request to the lack of faith and courage displayed by their fathers thirty-eight years earlier when the twelve spies returned from their mission when the nation was camped at Kadesh-barnea. (v.8-13) Moses briefly summarizes God’s wrath and judgment against that generation because of their disobedience, and he warns the men of Reuben and Gad that they are in danger of committing the same sin. (v.14-15) Verses 16-32: The men reassure Moses three times that their soldiers will go to war with the rest of the nation for as long as is needed in order to conquer the promised land. (v.17-18, 27, 32) Moses reminds them that if they renege on this promise they will be sinning against the LORD, and He will punish them accordingly. “…be sure your sin will find you out…”. (v.23) (Genesis 4:7, 44:16, Joshua 7:1, Isaiah 59:12, Galatians 6:7) Part of that punishment will be that some of that land east of the Jordan will go to the other tribes and not Reuben or Gad. (v.30) Moses confirms this agreement with Eleazar and Joshua since he will not be around to see this agreement fulfilled. Verses 33-42: It’s not just Reuben and Gad that will inherit the land of the Transjordan. Half the tribe of Manasseh is also given some of that land (v.33), possibly because of the inheritance law that was changed when the daughters of Zelophehad presented their case in chapter 27. Further repercussions of that law are dealt with in chapter 36, which also probably affects Moses’ decision to include part of Manasseh in this agreement. (Deuteronomy 3:13-15, Joshua 13:29-31, 17:1-2) The two and a half tribes not only build new cities but also rename existing ones. (v.34-42) CHAPTER 33: This chapter is a travel summary of all the places where Israel camped since their exodus from Egypt. There’s a total of forty locations named in this passage, and with some of them is a mention of the important event that took place there. Their journey began in Rameses (Exodus 12:37), on the 15th day of the first month (Exodus 12:2, 13:4), the morning after the first Passover was held (v.3). Moses reaffirms in verse 4 that God’s judgment, the death of all the firstborn (Exodus 12:29), was on the Egyptians because of their belief and worship of false gods. (Exodus 12:12, 18:11, Isaiah 19:1) The miraculous crossing of the Red Sea is mentioned in verse 8, and verse 14 names the location where the LORD brought forth water from the rock the first time. (Exodus 17:1, 6) Kibroth-hattaavah, which is literally “The Graves of Craving”, is where God provided quail because the people complained about the manna. (v.16) (Numbers 11:34) They ate to the point of gluttony, thus incurring God’s wrath. Verses 18-36 are a list of campsites with no previous mention in the books of Exodus, Leviticus or Numbers. My study Bible suggests that verses 31-33 possibly relate to Deuteronomy 10:6-7, probably because of the name “jaakan” in both passages, as well as the mention of Aaron’s death in the Deuteronomy passage. Here in chapter 33, though, it’s recorded in verses 38-39 as taking place after the Israelites moved from those campsites to that of Kadesh at the base of Mount Hor, near the border of Edom. It’s likely, then, that the campsites listed in 31-35 are all in the same region near Kadesh. Though not recorded in chapter 20, Moses writes here in verse 39 that Aaron was 123 at the time of his death up on Mount Hor. He also records the day, month and year in verse 38. The victory against King Arad and his army is recalled in verse 40. (Numbers 21:1-3) Verses 41-47 is another list of campsites, only a few of which have been mentioned in the previous chapters, and verses 48-49 brings us to the current day, the aftermath of the victory over the Midianites and the request of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and part of Manasseh for the land west of the Jordan River. The warning given by the LORD to Moses in verses 50-56 relates directly to that request that was recorded in chapter 32, as well as the brief travel summary of Israel’s journey since the exodus from Egypt recorded here in chapter 33. As He did forty years earlier, God reminds the children of Israel of what they are to do to the peoples of Canaan once they cross into the promised land. The first command is to tear down their idols and destroy their places of pagan worship. (v.52) (Exodus 23:24, 33, 34:13, Deuteronomy 7:2, 5, 12:3, Judges 2:2, Psalm 106:34) They are to completely drive out all the inhabitants and fully possess the whole promised land before settling there permanently. (v.53) (Deuteronomy 11:31, Joshua 21:43) Verse 54 is a reminder of how they are to divide up the land. The size of the tribe determines the amount of land that each one gets. Verses 55-56 are both a reminder and a warning. Failure to obey the commands of verses 52-53 will cause the children of Israel much grief and suffering. (Joshua 23:13, Judges 2:3) But more than that, it will bring upon them the same wrath that has come upon those very nations whom God has already judged and condemned. As we already know, the Israelites failed to heed this warning, and it resulted in the Assyrian captivity of Israel and the Babylonian captivity of Judah. (Leviticus 26:31-33, Deuteronomy 28:64-66)  CHAPTER 34:
Verses 1-15: God now instructs Moses on the precise borders of the promised land. (See map above, courtesy of Logos Bible Software.) The southern border is from the end of the Salt Sea (Dead Sea) along the Wilderness of Zin that borders Edom, including Kadesh-barnea, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea whose coast is the western border. (v.3-6) (Numbers 20:1, Joshua 15:1, Ezekiel 47:13, 19) The northern border begins near Mount Hor (not the one where Aaron died) and ends at Hazar-enan. (v.7-9) This border also includes Hamath. (Numbers 13:21, Joshua 13:5, 2 Kings 14:25) The eastern border begins at Hazar-enan and extends all the way past the Sea of Chinnereth (Sea of Galilee), following the Jordan River all the way to the Salt Sea. (v.10-12) These borders, however, do not include the land east of the Jordan River that has already been granted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. (v.13-15) (Numbers 32:33) Verses 16-29: Next, God commands Moses to select a leader of the ten tribes that will be settling the land west of the Jordan to assist Joshua and Eleazar when the time comes to actually divide up the land. (v.17-18) Once again, the tribe of Judah is mentioned first (v.19) and Caleb is named as its representative. He is the only leader mentioned here that is also named elsewhere in the Scriptures. The fact that God names these men specifically signifies the importance of this task. It’s also important to note that the tribe of Levi does not inherit any land, but instead will receive specific cities throughout the land. This will be addressed in more detail in the next chapter. According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, as well as other commentaries and online Biblical sources, the total area of the borders as described in this chapter is about 160 miles long and 50 miles wide, which doesn’t include the land east of the Jordan that is given to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. That’s a massive area, but as I already noted in the previous chapter, Israel doesn’t fully conquer and settle all of this land. Their failure to completely drive out all of Canaan’s inhabitants causes them to forfeit most of the promised land, a consequence that it is, sadly, still in effect today. The land that the current nation of Israel now occupies is less than half of what God promised them here in Numbers. But a day is coming when all of this land will belong to the re-gathered nation of Israel; a day when Jesus Christ will sit on His throne in Jerusalem in the newly restored temple, and He will reign over all the earth. Israel will the preeminent nation, the one to whom all nations of the earth are subject, and the twelve tribes will each reside in their respective regions as described here in chapters 32 and 34. God’s chosen people will receive their full inheritance, amen!
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Verses 1-11: The four daughters of Zelophehad first mentioned in the previous chapter now take center stage in the beginning of Chapter 27. (v.1) They come before Moses, Eleazar, and all the congregation of Israel at the door of the tabernacle to present a legal case involving the law of inheritance. (v.2-4) Zelophehad had died in the wilderness as part of the faithless generation that came out of Egypt. He was not involved in Korah’s rebellion, and he had no sons. It’s unclear from the text why this specific distinction is made, but perhaps it has something to do with dilemma that his four daughters now face. If Zelophehad had been part of Korah’s rebellion, perhaps God wouldn’t have allowed his daughters to inherit their family’s portion of the promised land?
Whatever the reason, the daughters come before Moses with a bold request. Under the current Levitical law, if there are no living sons to inherit a man’s land and/or goods, the inheritance would pass on to the nearest male relative, starting with his brothers, or his uncles if no brothers remained living. Because of this, the man’s name and lineage could be forever lost since his daughters would be taking on the family name of their husbands when they married. (Deuteronomy 25:6) What Zelophehad’s daughters are requesting now of Moses is a change to the inheritance law that would give them equal property rights to those of a son regarding their father’s inherited portion of the promised land. (v.4) There is a magnificent demonstration of faith on the part of these four women. Unlike their father’s generation, these children believe in the promise of God to Abraham that they will, indeed, inherit the promised land. There is no doubt in their minds about this, and that faith is what emboldens them to come forward with this request. The Moody Bible Commentary states it this way: “This request by the daughters models what the author of Numbers wanted to highlight, namely, great faith. These daughters so trusted the LORD that they were confident of receiving an inheritance of their father’s estate. They took the effort to deal with the issue of property rights before any property in the promised land was actually parceled out. Earlier they expressed concern that they did not want their father’s name to be withdrawn from among his family (v. 4) so they seem to have believed in the LORD who established the Abrahamic covenantal blessing, and they did not want their father’s household to miss out on the legacy that covenant provided. In spite of the murmuring and rebellion of the nation in the wilderness, these daughters exemplified great faith in God’s promises to Israel, and they wanted to lay hold of them. They provide a role model as to how this new generation should respond to God’s promises.” Moses, in a familiar demonstration of wise, godly leadership, promptly takes their case to the Lord. (v.5) God rewards the faith of these four daughters, granting them their request. (v.7) Furthermore, He amends the law to allow for a man’s inheritance to pass to his surviving daughter(s) if he has no living sons. (v.8) If he has no children at all, then his land and goods will pass to his brother(s) (v.9), and if he has no brothers, then his inheritance will pass to his paternal uncle(s) (v.10). If he has no uncles, then it will go to the nearest surviving kinsman. (v.11) Verses 12-23: The last half of this chapter deals with the impending death of Moses. God tells Moses to ascend Mount Abarim, which is actually a range of mountains east of the dead sea. (Deuteronomy 32:49-50 names Mount Nebo, which is part of this range, as the actual site of Moses’ death.) From this peak Moses will be able to view the promised land, and after that “…thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.” (v.13) Because of Moses’ sin of rebellion in the desert of Zin, at the rock of Meribah in Kadesh, both he and Aaron were forbidden by God to enter the promised land. (v.14) (Numbers 20:12, 24, Deuteronomy 1:37, 32:51, Psalm 106:32-33) In another display of humility and true leadership character, Moses has one last request for the LORD: the selection of a new leader for the children of Israel. (v.16-17) Moses has no concern for himself but instead is worried “…that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” (v.17) Moses recognizes the need for a godly, upright, strong leader because of the nation’s propensity to go astray so easily. Once again, he is assuming the role of a mediator between the Israelites and God, pleading on their behalf that the LORD not leave His chosen people without a man to take Moses’ place as they enter the promised land. Moses, as we see him here towards the end of his life, is a radically different man than the one we met at the beginning of Exodus. That man was a coward, quick to anger, rash, impulsive, and utterly lacking in any of the characteristics required for true, godly leadership. Moses, along with Abraham and Joseph and King David, is an excellent example of the old saying, “God does not call the qualified, but instead qualifies the called.” Moses initially threw up every excuse in the book for why he wasn’t the man to confront Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. And he was absolutely right. He wasn’t an eloquent, persuasive orator. He lacked self control, he was impatient and quick to anger. And his only experience in leadership was as a sheep herder. But none of that mattered to God, and Moses eventually surrendered his will and his life to the LORD. God used him in a mighty and miraculous way, transforming Moses into one of the greatest and godliest leaders of Israel. The man that we see now displays the opposite of all those characteristics that I listed above. He is wise, humble, and unselfish. He isn’t perfect by any means, as proven by his sin at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, but God changed him over the years, refining Moses’ upright qualities, and teaching him how to subdue his faults to bring them under the will of God. It was only after Moses surrendered to the LORD’s calling for his life that God began to work in him in a mighty way. Moses is the prefect example of how every believer today must first surrender, beginning at the point of salvation. We must set aside our pride and all other excuses, humble ourselves and seek God’s face, and acknowledge our need for a savior if we are to be truly saved. After that, as we continually surrender ourselves daily (Romans 12:1-2), God will begin to work in us to qualify us for whatever calling He has already given us at the time of our salvation. The more that we allow God work in us and through us, the more that we study His word and grow in faith, the more we will see of His transforming power in our lives. That day at the burning bush, on the backside of the desert where he had spent forty years, Moses must have thought his life was pretty much done. He was then eighty, and he probably assumed his remaining years would be spent with his family in Midian, herding sheep and watching his children grow into adulthood, get married, and father children of their own. He could not have imagined the wild, crazy, radical new adventure that was about to begin when he first spied the sagebrush that was on fire, yet not consumed. Now, as he nears the end of his life, Moses pleads with the LORD to not leave His chosen people without a leader. God tells Moses to bring Joshua, son of Nun, “…a man in whom is the spirit…”, before Eleazar to lay hands on him in the presence of all the congregation of Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:9) Moses is to “…give him a charge in their sight…” (v.19) and “…transfer some of thine honour upon him…” (v.20). (Deuteronomy 3:28, 31:3, 7-8, 23) Furthermore, God will not speak directly with Joshua as He did with Moses. Instead, Joshua will seek the LORD’s counsel through Eleazar who will use “…the judgment of Urim before the LORD…” (v.21). This references the Urim and Thummim that are kept in the breastplate of judgment worn by the high priest. (Exodus 28:30, 1 Samuel 28:6) The reference in verse 18 of Joshua possessing the spirit indicates that God had already chosen Joshua to succeed Moses. (Genesis 41:38, Judges 3:10, 1 Samuel 16:13) Joshua has been Moses’ faithful servant ever since the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 17:9), and he has demonstrated all of the same qualities of true, godly leadership the LORD instilled in Moses. Moses has taught Joshua well, as is seen by Joshua's obedience in the last two verses of this chapter, as well as the book that bears his name. Verse 22: “And Moses did as the Lord commanded him…”. Though Moses’ story is not yet finished, this phrase accurately sums up his life from the moment God called and ordained him at the burning bush. In the forty years since that time, there are only two instances of disobedience on record (Exodus 4:24-26, Numbers 20:10-12), demonstrating a career of genuine faithfulness and striving for godliness that has set an example for all the children of Israel to follow. It is an epitaph that every believer today should strive for. Because of his submission and obedience, God used a violent, angry, coward in a mighty way, making Moses one of the greatest leaders that Israel has ever known, even to this present day. CHAPTER 13: Shortly after arriving in the wilderness of Paran, the Israelites set up camp at Kadesh-barnea. (v.26) (See map below, courtesy of Logos.) (Numbers 20:16, 32:8, 33:36, Deuteronomy 1:19, Joshua 14:6) Kadesh is a desert oasis about 50 miles southwest of Beer-sheba. It’s where Abraham stopped during his journeys to and from Egypt (Genesis 20:1), and it’s also in this same area that God appeared to Hagar after she had been cast out of Abraham’s household the first time. (Genesis 16:7, 14) Here also is where Miriam dies and is buried. (Numbers 20:1)  From Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea Verses 1-3: Even though it says here that God commands Moses to send the spies into Canaan, this is actually done at the request of the people. (Deuteronomy 1:22) Their lack of faith and trust in God is evident from the beginning, and this is another instance of God graciously acquiescing to a demand from His chosen people, only to have that selfish desire disastrously backfire upon them with terrible consequences. (1 Samuel 8:7, 9) Had the children of Israel simply trusted God and followed His leading from their first arrival at Kadesh-barnea, they could have conquered the promised land much sooner and avoided forty years of strife, discontent, and hardship. But because of their lack of faith and, later, their rebellion against God and Moses when ten of the twelve spies encouraged the people’s fear and lack of trust in God, this current generation doomed themselves to death in the desert instead of joy and peace in the promised land. (Deuteronomy 9:23) Verses 4-16: Each of these men is a leader in his tribe (v.3) though, obviously, these are not the same elders that assisted Moses in the tribal census at Mount Sinai. The men selected for this special mission are most likely young and physically fit, which is what is needed for a task of this kind. It also makes sense that the younger men do not have as strong a faith in God as their elderly fathers, which becomes evident later. These twelve men are also most likely the up-and-coming candidates to replace their fathers as the official tribal representatives, thus making them another logical choice for this scouting mission. Because of their status in their respective tribes, their voices carry significant weight, which will also become evident later in this chapter. Joshua, son of Nun, is named in verse 8, albeit with a different spelling: Oshea. In the original Hebrew the name is spelled “Hoshea”, which means “salvation”. Verse 16 states that Moses changes Oshea’s name to “Jehoshua”, which means “Jehovah is salvation”, though there’s no explanation given here for the name change. It’s very likely that this was done for the official record much later, after Caleb and Joshua’s public display of faith in God, when Moses was writing down all these events for the official record some time before his death. It's also significant that Caleb, son of Jephunneh, is of the tribe of Judah. (Numbers 14:6, 30, 34:19, Joshua 14:6-7, Judges 1:12, 1 Chronicles 4:15) He is the only other one who shows great trust and faith in God’s ability to deliver the peoples of Canaan into the hands of Israel. (Note: this is not the same Caleb that is mentioned later in 1 Chronicles 2:9, 18.) Verses 17-20: Take special note of Moses’ instructions to the spies. He tells them which route to take (v.17), to determine the numbers as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the inhabitants there (v.18), the status of the land itself and the cultures of the peoples there (v.19), and, finally, what kinds of crops and trees grow in the promised land (v.20). Moses also exhorts the men to “…be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land.” (v.20) for this is the time of year of the grape harvests. (Deuteronomy 31:6-7, 23) He is encouraging the spies to have faith in God and to look at the promised land in light of God’s promise to Abraham and to them, his descendants. Sadly, what the spies actually report upon their return does not reflect Moses’ exhortation here. Verses 21-25: The route of the spies begins in the south at the Wilderness of Zin and ends in the north at Rehob and Hamath, near the city of Damascus. (v.21) (See map below, courtesy of Logos.) (Numbers 34:8, Joshua 13:5, 19:28)  Route Of The Spies The Wilderness of Zin (Numbers 27:14, Joshua 15:1) is not to be confused with the Wilderness of Sin that is mentioned Exodus 16:1. That location is on the eastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula. The Wilderness of Zin is in the northwest region of the peninsula. (Refer back to the map at the beginning of this post.)
The children of Anak (v.22) are listed as inhabitants of Hebron (Deuteronomy 2:21, Joshua 11:21-22, 14:15, 15:13-14, Judges 1:10). The word “ânâq” in the original Hebrew means “neck”, and it refers to a “tribe of the giant people in Canaan”, according to the Brown Driver Briggs Bible dictionary. (One such giant is Goliath of Gath. (1 Samuel 17:4)) Most Biblical scholars seem to agree that these giants are descendants of the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis 6:4 and Ezekiel 32:26-27, though it’s unclear how these people would have come about in the time after the Flood. There’s a good reason for the parenthetical statement in verse 22 about Hebron being built seven years before Zoan in Egypt. According to the Moody Bible Commentary, “Zoan is associated with the city of Tanis in the north Nile delta and was to become a political capital for Egypt around the time of King David. That Hebron predates this Egyptian city certainly underscores Hebron’s importance.” John MacArthur has this to say about Hebron in his Bible commentary: “This was the first major city the spies came to in Canaan. Abram had earlier built an altar to the Lord here (Genesis 13:18). Abraham and Isaac were buried here (Genesis 49:31). The city had been fortified around 1730 B.C., seven years before the building of Zoan in Egypt, and later became the inheritance of Caleb (Joshua 14:14) and then David’s capital when he reigned over Judah (2 Samuel 2:1–4).” The valley of Eshcol, too, is a familiar reference. (v.23) (Genesis 14:13, Numbers 32:9, Deuteronomy 1:24-25) The name of that place is a reference to the Amorite that is mentioned in Genesis 14:13, and the name in original Hebrew, “eshkôl” means “cluster”. This is a reference to huge clusters of grapes that the spies bring back with them, carried on a pole between two men because it is so large. (v.23-24) The spies were in the promised land for forty days, and this is why the nation is punished by God to wander forty years in the wilderness. (v.25) (Number 14:34) Verses 26-33: Although the spies begin their report on a positive note (v.27), they immediately shift focus to the negative (v.28-29). With the exception of Caleb and Joshua, the men report of the walled cities, the giants that inhabit them (v.28), and then they list all of the major enemies of Israel that dwell throughout the land. (v.29) Although Caleb is quick to shift the focus back to Israel’s strength in the LORD, the other men repeat their warning about the sons of Anak (v.33), as well as the more wild and rugged parts of the land that they view as a difficulty in settling there. (v.32: “…a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof…”) (Numbers 14:36-37, Deuteronomy 1:28, 9:2, Psalm 106:24) Ten of the spies, as well as the children of Israel, were so quick to distrust God, and their weak faith crumbled in the sight of what they believed were enemies greater than them. Instead of focusing on the promise of the Lord and on His might, they chose to view the promised in land in the light of their own numbers and their own physical strength. It’s no wonder, then, that they trembled in fear when they saw the large populations of the peoples living in Canaan, as well as the size of the giants and their heavily fortified cities. Once again, it seems astonishing that the nation of Israel could so quickly forget all the miraculous ways in which God had delivered them out of Egypt, provided for their daily sustenance in the desert, and brought them all this way to the promised land. Even after Caleb, Joshua, and Moses try to remind them of all that, the people refuse to believe them. As will be seen in chapter 14, it’s easier for the Israelites to give into their fear than to trust in God. And because of this, the current generation will never see the wondrous and miraculous ways in which God goes forth before His people to deliver unto them the promised land. Their lack of faith will cost them a great blessing. CHAPTER 14: Verses 1-4: For the tenth time since the exodus from Egypt (v.22) the congregation of Israel cries against God and complains against Moses and Aaron. (v.1-2) (Exodus 16:2, 17:3, Numbers 16:41, Psalm 106:25, 1 Corinthians 10:10) They believe God has brought them to the promised land only to have them perish at the hands of the mighty armies that inhabit Canaan. (v.3) They long to be put out of their misery, wishing that they had died in Egypt or in the wilderness. (v.2) The people even begin talking of deposing Moses and selecting another leader who will take them back to Egypt! (v.4) The sad irony is that God gives the Israelites exactly what they ask for. All those who are twenty years and older will die in the wilderness and never see the promised land. Their complete lack of faith and disobedience against God is punished accordingly, and it costs them greatly. Because of their sin of unbelief, the Israelites forfeit happiness, peace, and prosperity in a land rich in natural resources and an abundant variety of crops. That’s the true lesson of this account here in Numbers. A lack of faith in God is sin! Doubt and disbelief are, in fact, a form of rebellion against Him! The Israelites, in essence, are accusing God of lying because they refuse to believe that He will keep His promise to their father Abraham. God told Abraham that He would make his descendants as great in might and number as the stars of the heavens, and that He would deliver them into the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. (Genesis 12:1-2, Exodus 3:8) To claim that God – who is holy and perfect, which means He is without any sin – will not keep His word and, thus, commit sin, is blasphemy! That is exactly what the Israelites are doing here! Every time they rise up against Moses and grumble and complain about their circumstances or the daily sustenance God has graciously given them, they are committing the sin of blasphemy by accusing God of failing them and not keeping His promise to them and their forefathers. Verses 5-9: That’s why the reaction of Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua is so dramatic. (v.5-6) They recognize the great and grievous sin of the people, and they implore the congregation to cease in their sin and to believe the word of the LORD. “If the LORD delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us…”. (v.7) (Deuteronomy 10:15, 2 Samuel 15:25-26, 1 Kings 10:9, Psalm 147:11) “…rebel not ye against the LORD…” (v.9) (Deuteronomy 1:26, 9:7, 23-24, 1 Samuel 15:23) They extol God’s power and sovereignty by reminding the nation that they have nothing to fear from the inhabitants of the land, that the Canaanites are “…are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.” (Genesis 48:21, Exodus 33:16, Numbers 24:8, Deuteronomy 7:18, 20:1, 3-4, 31:6, Joshua 1:5, Judges 1:22, 2 Chronicles 13:12, Psalm 46:7, 11, Zechariah 8:23, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5) Verses 10-12: But the pleas of Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua fall on deaf ears. The people become so angry with them, in fact, that they desire to stone the four men! (v.10) (Exodus 17:4) Only the sudden appearance of “…the glory of the LORD…” in the tabernacle silences the mob. God’s wrath is kindled against the Israelites yet again because of their doubt and disbelief. (v.11) (Psalm 95:8, John 12:37, Hebrews 3:8) As He did in the aftermath of the incident with the golden calf, God tells Moses that He will wipe out the nation of Israel as punishment for their rebellion and start again with just Moses and his family. (v.12) (Exodus 32:10) Verses 13-19: And, once again, Moses intercedes on behalf of Israel. His argument here is the same as it was in Exodus 32:12: if God wipes out the Israelites now, the Egyptians are sure to hear of it, and they will mock God to the other nations who have also heard of the LORD and His might. (Deuteronomy 2:25) Moses makes the argument that God’s judgment against Israel will reflect more on His character and name than on that of disobedient and rebellious Israel. (v.14-15) How will God be glorified if He cannot fulfill His own word? The heathen nations of Canaan, as well as Egypt, will mock God, claiming that He delivered the Israelites from slavery only to kill them all in the wilderness. (v.16) (Deuteronomy 9:28) Moses then makes an appeal to God’s attributes of mercy, patience, and longsuffering. (v.17-18) How can God claim to be all of those things and then wipe out an entire nation whom He promised to deliver into the land of Canaan? At the same time, however, Moses also recognizes that the consequences of rebellion and disobedience can – and often do – bleed into the next generation. (v.18) Moses repeats here the Lord’s own words to him at Mount Sinai: “…and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7) The word for “mercy” in this verse is the Hebrew word “chêsêd” which means “goodness, kindness, faithfulness”. This is the same word God used when He gave Moses the ten commandments. (Exodus 20:5-6, Deuteronomy 5:9) While God is a righteous and jealous God, He is also a loving and merciful God who is faithful and just. He made a covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, and while He allows the consequences of sin to carry over from one generation to the next, He is also a faithful and merciful God who cannot go back on His word. On the basis of all that, Moses pleads with the LORD to pardon the iniquity of the Israelites. (Exodus 32:32, 34:9, Psalm 51:1, 78:38, 106:45) He is, in essence, asking God to remember His covenant with His chosen people. “…according unto the greatness of thy mercy…” (v.19). That chêsêd, that covenantal mercy, is one of the foundational characteristics of God, and it’s the only reason that the children of Israel are not wholly destroyed here at the border of the promised land for their sins of doubt and rebellion. Verses 20-25: God hears the intercessory prayer of His servant Moses, and He pardons the iniquity of the Israelites. (v.20) (2 Samuel 12:13, Micah 7:18, 1 John 5:14) However, the attributes of mercy and faithfulness must also be in harmony with the attributes of justice and holiness. Sin cannot go unpunished. As stated earlier at Mount Sinai, God is a righteous and a jealous God, and, therefore, He cannot allow His glory and honor to be given unto anyone else or any thing. It is just as impossible for God to allow sin to go unpunished as it is to go back on His covenantal word. To allow this generation of the Israelites to escape the punishment for their doubt, their lack of faith, and their rebellion against God would be just as harmful to God’s honor and glory among all the earth as if He wiped out the entire nation. (v.21) God promises Moses that “…all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” (v.21) (Psalm 72:19, Isaiah 6:3, 66:18-19, Habakkuk 2:14) He is going to keep His covenantal promise to Abraham, but He is also going to punish the Israelites for their disobedience. Verse 22 is God’s summary of that disobedience: the children of Israel had witnessed firsthand their salvation from bondage and oppression in Egypt, the miracles in the desert that provided their sustenance, as well as God’s glory in the form of the cloud resting upon the tabernacle and the pillar of fire at night. Despite all of that, however, they had continually tested God and tried His patience. They had refused to believe in God’s might, providence, and faithfulness, instead choosing rebellion by way of doubt, fear and utter lack of faith. For that reason God declares that this current generation will never see the promised land. (v.23) (Deuteronomy 1:35, 1 Corinthians 10:5, Hebrews 3:17-19) He pronounces judgment on them for their sin of unbelief. Caleb and Joshua, however, are spared judgment because of their faith and obedience. (v.24, 38) (Joshua 14:6, 8-9) God even refers to Caleb as “…My servant…” who has “…another spirit with him…” and who “…hath followed me fully…”. (v.24) (Numbers 32:12) This goes back to the heart of the issue and the true source of the Israelites’ disobedience: they did not wholly trust and follow God. We who are His children, who have surrendered completely to Him, and whom He has saved and called to follow Him, must follow and obey Him wholly! That means absolutely, completely, and without any shadow of doubt or lack of faith! That also means that we do not question God, but instead trust that He knows our needs as well as our failings and our shortcomings, and that He will never leave us nor forsake us! Moses, Aaron, Caleb and Joshua demonstrate in this account what it means to wholly trust and obey God. For that they are spared judgment, and all but Moses – only because of his later transgression – are allowed to enter the promised land. For the rest of the nation, God orders them to turn back and begin marching towards the Red Sea. (v.25) (Numbers 21:4, Deuteronomy 1:40) Verses 26-35: God asks another rhetorical question: “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation…”. (v.27) He has heard “…murmurings of the children of Israel..”, and their desire will be granted. (v.28-29) (Exodus 16:12) “ ‘As surely as I live…’ is the language of the court as Yahweh, God of Israel, took an oath on His own honor and announced the verdict against the guilty spies. (Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary) The Israelites had promised to obey God when they agreed to His covenant with them at Mount Sinai. (Exodus 19:8, 24:3, 7) Their disobedience here at the border of the promised land is a violation of that covenant, hence the formal, legal language of the Lord their God. All of their number, from twenty years old and up, who are guilty of grumbling and complaining against God will perish in the wilderness. (v.29) (Numbers 1:45-46, 26:64, Joshua 5:6) Their children, whom they feared would be conquered and/or killed by the peoples of Canaan, will instead be the conquerors and will reap the LORD’s blessing that their parents have forfeited. (v.31) (Deuteronomy 1:39) Until that time, however, the children will be forced to wander for forty years, bearing their parents’ “whoredoms”, until the judgement against their parents is complete. (v.33) (Numbers 32:13, Psalm 107:40, Ezekiel 23:35) This is another aspect of that phrase that Moses used earlier, “…visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children…” (v.18) Because of their parents’ sin, the children must also suffer some of that consequence, even though they themselves have done nothing wrong. The number of years of wandering corresponds to the same number of days that the spies scouted the land. (v.34) (Psalm 95:10, Ezekiel 4:6) But it’s also so that the Israelites “…shall know My breach of promise.” (1 Kings 8:56, Hebrews 4:1) They will have four decades to contemplate their sin of disobedience and rebellion. As I noted earlier, they violated their covenant with God, and that kind of sin carries a heavy consequence. God closes His pronouncement of judgment with another oath: “I the Lord hath said…”. (v.35) (Numbers 23:19) This is an echo of the statement in verse 28 (…as truly as I live…), where God is again affirming His authority by swearing upon His own name. Because of who He is only He can take an oath in His own name, and He possesses the right and authority to pronounce this judgment upon His people because He is their LORD and ruler. Furthermore, what God decrees will come to pass. His word is eternal and binding, and there is nothing on earth or in the heavens that can break it. Verses 36-38: The ten spies that did not believe the word of the LORD and encouraged the nation’s rebellion suffer immediate judgment by dying of a plague within a few days of God’s pronouncement of punishment. (v.36-37) Only Joshua and Caleb are spared because of their obedience and demonstration of faith in God’s promise. (Joshua 14:6) It’s clear from this entire passage why the Lord selects Joshua to be the next leader of Israel. Verses 39-45: When Moses relays God’s judgement to the people, they are sorrowful, but this leads to another rash and foolish decision. (v.40) Perhaps because they now realize the gravity of their sin of disobedience, or in an effort to change God’s mind and will – or perhaps a combination of the two – the people decide to march forward into the promised land. But God has already commanded them to journey to another destination (v.25), and another act of disobedience doesn’t make right the previous sin. The Israelites recognize that they sinned (v.40), but they don’t truly understand or accept the source of it. They’re only sorrowful that they lost a great blessing. There’s no indication in these closing verses that they experienced true repentance, which will be seen in the later chapters of Numbers. During their forty years of wandering the Israelites will continue to grumble and complain and rebel against God. True repentance occurs when one acknowledges his/her true nature in light of God’s holiness and sovereignty. True repentance is a change of the heart from one of defiance and pride to genuine humility and a sincere desire to seek God’s face and will. The Israelites still do not grasp this. All they are mournful of is that they are facing forty years of wandering in the desert until they die. They regret the punishment, not the attitude that caused the sin that brought about that punishment from God. Like Pharaoh, the Israelites completely missed the point of God’s judgment against them, and this leads to their second act of rebellion wherein they attack the Amalekites. Even after Moses warns them they will fail because God is not with them (v.41-43), the Israelites insist on going anyway. (Deuteronomy 1:42, 31:17) But Moses and the Ark of the Covenant remain in the camp. (v.44) As predicted, The Amalekites defeat Israel, chasing them all the way back to Hormah. (v.45) (Numbers 21:3) The stubbornness and defiant will of the children of Israel caused them even more unnecessary pain and sorrow. They thought they could regain God’s blessing and favor by obeying after the punishment was meted out, but this only brought them more grief and discomfort. Even in our chastening from the LORD we must be mindful that we listen closely and obey His leading. We must take our eyes off the forfeited blessing, acknowledge that it was our disobedience and rebellion that cost us that blessing in the first place, humble ourselves before God, ask for forgiveness, and then seek His guidance for where to go next. When He clearly gives us a new direction, we must humbly obey without any grumbling or protest. Continuing to mourn for a lost blessing, and wondering what life would have been like on that other parallel course had we only obeyed the first time, will only plant the seed of bitterness that will rapidly take root and overcome our life. We must let it go, focus on the LORD, and move forward in the new direction that He leads us. We must also remember that God, our loving and gracious heavenly Father, will not fail to give us other blessings for our renewed obedience. Not only is He faithful and just to forgive us our sin once we confess it (1 John 1:9), but He also remembers it no more. When the fellowship is restored, there is also fresh opportunity for our loving Father to shower us with more blessings. He will also lead us to new callings where we can serve Him just as well as we would have served Him at Kadesh-barnea; or He might very well lead us back around to that original promised land by a different route once the prescribed time of chastening has passed. Either way, the lesson has – hopefully and prayerfully – been learned: trust, faith and cheerful obedience in the LORD should always be our immediate response to His leading, especially when the task ahead appears utterly impossible and hopeless! |
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