Life Is A Series Of Choices (Numbers 14:1-38) Series

Last week, we read the story about how Moses, at God's command, sent 12 men into the promised land to explore it. Before Moses sent them, he specifically asked them to bring back a report about the people living there-- are they strong, or weak, are they few, or many? Are their cities fortified, or unwalled? He also wanted to know about the soil, and agriculture. Is it good soil? Does it grow great crops?

When the 12 returned, all 12 were in total agreement about all of those things. The land was a great land, that grew great crops. And there were lots of people, including the Nephilim, who were legitimately viewed as giants, to say the least. And those Nephilim lived in strong, fortified cities.

Where those 12 men disagreed, was on what they should do next. 10 of the men believed that it would be impossible to conquer such a land, because the Nephilim were stronger than them. 2 of the men-- Caleb and Joshua-- were excited about the land, were ready to immediately do battle and take it, and were totally confident that they could conquer it.

So that's the report that the 12 brought back with them, and the advice that they gave.

In Numbers 14, we get to hear the response of the people to this report. Let's read through verse 9, to start:

(1) And the whole assembly/congregation lifted up,

and they gave their voice,

and the people wept that day,

(2) and they grumbled against Moses and against Aaron-- all the sons of Israel--,

and they said to them-- the whole assembly/congregation--

"If only we had died in the land of Egypt!,

or in this wilderness, if only we had died!,

(3) and why [is] Yahweh bringing us to this land to fall by the sword?

Our wives and our little children shall become plunder.

Is it not good/better for us to return to Egypt?,"

(4) and each one said to his brother,

"Let's choose a head/leader,

that we may return to Egypt!,"

(5) and Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces before the whole assembly-- the congregation of the sons of Israel --

(6) and Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Yiphuneh-- from the ones searching out the land-- tore their cloaks,

(7) and they spoke to the whole assembly/congregation of the sons of Israel, saying,

"The land that we passed through in it to explore it-- good, the land [is] (same word as verse 3, "good"; "good"

is focused), exceedingly, exceedingly."

(8) If Yahweh delights in us, He will bring us to this land,

and He will give to us the land that flows with milk and honey.

(9) Only, against Yahweh, may you not rebel,

while you, may you not fear the people of the land,

because our bread, they [are]. [a deliberate contrast to Numbers 13:32]

It has been removed-- their protection-- from over them,

while Yahweh [is] with us.

May you not fear them,"

God's people hear the report, and they have two choices. They can believe the 2, or they can believe the 10. And they believe the 10. The people decide it's hopeless, and that it's time to democratically elect new leadership, and go crawling back to Egypt. They complain about the position that God put them in. And when they do complain, we have a pretty good idea, at this point in Numbers, what will happen next. When people complain about God, God hears that, and He punishes that.

So the response of the congregation is a total disaster in the making. Right?

But before anything bad has happened, starting in verse 6, Joshua and Caleb, the two faithful spies, step up one last time, to encourage the people to take the other option. "Everyone, listen: Yahweh delights in you. He is with you. So all of this is totally going to work out. Taking the land isn't just up to you; God will bring you in, and He will give you the land."

Only, there's a condition to all of that (first word, verse 9). God's promise isn't unconditional. The people need to not rebel. They need to trust God, and not give in to fear. God delights in people who obey him, and stay loyal to him.

So because Joshua and Caleb step in, the people get a second chance. They once again have two choices set before them, and they are given more theological arguments in favor of being brave, and taking the land. At this point, they can still repent, and turn back to God, and Moses, and Aaron, and Joshua, and Caleb.

This is what the people do. Verse 10:

(10) and the whole congregation threatened/proposed to stone them with stones.

The people make their choice. They double down, and threaten to stone Joshua and Caleb.