June 14, 2025
Israel was now a fully functioning nation. They had a center of worship, laws and a standing army. It was now time to leave Sinai. Yahweh was their Leader and he was going to personally lead them through the activity of the cloud. The journey began on a note of optimism and obedience: When the cloud moved – they moved. When the cloud stopped – they stopped.
However, as the story develops, obedient Israel quickly became rebellious Israel. The journey had hardly begun when the people began to complain about the hardships they encountered. The Bible does not elaborate on the exact circumstances, but whatever they were, Yahweh was having none of it. Fire burned among the people and consumed some on the outskirts of the camp. The people cried to Moses, he prayed and the fire died down.
But wait, there’s more……..
Way back in Exodus 16, when Israel complained about their food situation, God had demonstrated His faithfulness and care for them by providing Manna. And that seems to be their current problem – they were still eating Manna.
Numbers 11:4-6 - The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost – also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"
Manna was their complaint, but the real issue was distrust in God’s care. Forget what he had done in their past – this was now and they wanted more than what he chose to provide. Their NEED was met, but they wanted more. They wanted what they had had in Egypt. They preferred the “comforts” of slavery over God’s provision and leadership. This was beyond complaining – this was high treason.
Moses heard their whining …. And so did Yahweh!
Moses had had enough! Why have you brought this trouble on me? What did I ever do to you that you would burden me with this people? Are they my children? NO! Then why am I carrying them to the land YOU promised? The burden is too heavy. If this is how you are going to treat me, just kill me now!
Yahweh: Appoint 70 men from the elders of Israel to help carry the burden. I will take the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. Next, tell the people to consecrate themselves because I am going to give them what they want – Meat. Not just for 1 or 2 or 5 or 20 days…. Oh no! For an entire month - until it comes out of their noses and becomes disgusting to them.
Moses: Where am I going to get enough meat to feed 600,000 men for a whole month?
Yahweh: Is My arm to short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true.
The elders were selected and then a wind began to blow driving quail in from the sea. There were so many quail that they filled the camp 3 feet deep and a days walk in any direction. For 36 hours the people gathered quail and then they sat down to eat. They were still picking quail out of their teeth when Yahweh’s angered burned against them and he struck them with a severe plague.
So, the name of that place was called “Kibroth-hattaavah” (graves of lust)
But wait, there’s more……..
Numbers 12:1-2 - Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. "Has Yahweh spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?"
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
Miriam and Aaron said these things in earshot of Yahweh and He was not amused. Moses, Aaron and Miriam were called to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and Yahweh came down in the cloud.
He summoned Aaron and Miriam: Listen very carefully. When a prophet is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions and dreams. That is not the case with Moses. He is faithful and I speak to him face to face and he sees my form. Why, then are you not afraid to speak against my servant, Moses?
When the cloud lifted, Miriam was covered with leprosy.
Aaron acknowledged their sin and asked Moses to intercede on her behalf.
Yahweh agreed to heal her, but she would be confined outside the camp for 7 days.
After 7 days, Israel left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran
But wait, there’s more…….
Yahweh told Moses to gather the heads of each tribe and send them up through the Negev to spy out the Land of Canaan. They were instructed to check out:
• The people – are they strong or weak, few or many?
• The land – is it good or bad?
• The towns – are they open or fortified?
• The soil – is it fertile or bad? Are there any trees?
• Bring back some fruit samples (grapes were in season)
The men, including Calab and Joshua, went and explored the land. They came to Hebron, where the descendants of Anak lived. When they came to the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. It was so massive, 2 men carried it on a pole between them – they also collected some Pomegranates and Figs. At the end of 40 days, they returned to camp.
This is the report they brought back: The land is great! Yay! Not so fast….. the people are powerful and the cities are large and fortified. The descendants of Anak live there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.
Caleb raised his hand: We should go and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it!
The other 10 spies were terrified and insisted, “We cannot win against these people! They are too strong for us. All the men are giants – we are like grasshoppers compared to them!”
The people wept and grumbled against Moses and Aaron, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is Yahweh bringing us to this land only to kill us? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt? Why don’t we choose a leader and go back to Egypt?"
Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole assembly. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and said, "The land is exceedingly good. If Yahweh is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land and he will give it to us. Do not rebel against Yahweh. Do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but Yahweh is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
The crowd was so riled up that they were prepared to stone Caleb and Joshua.
Yahweh was prepared to destroy the whole lot of them then and there, but after a bit of back and forth with Moses, he agreed to pardon and spare the nation. “However,” he said, “not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert yet continued to disobey – not one of them will see the land I promised. But Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly. I will bring him into the land and his descendants will inherit it. Tomorrow you are to turn around and head back into the desert….. How long will this wicked people grumble against me? I have heard their complaints, so tell them this, 'As surely as I live, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: your bodies will fall in the desert – everyone 20 years old and older, who have grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore to make your home, except Caleb and Joshua. As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them into the land you have rejected. Your children will be shepherds here for 40 years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. For 40 years – 1 year for each of the 40 days you explored the land – you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.'
The men responsible for spreading the bad report were struck down and died of a plague…. only Joshua and Caleb survived.
The people mourned greatly, HOWEVER, the next day they got up early and went to the top of the ridge and said to each other, “Here we are; we have sinned, but we will go up to the place Yahweh has promised."
Just the day before they’d wanted to stone Caleb and Joshua for the mere suggestion of going into the Land and instead, talked about appointing a leader to take them back to Egypt! But now that God had declared that they WOULD NOT enter the Land, they were hell-bent on going in.
How strange humans are!! Israel didn’t think they could take the Land WITH God, but somehow, they now think they can take it WITHOUT Him.
Moses stood up: Why are you disobeying Yahweh? Your plan will not succeed! You will be defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites, because you have turned away from Yahweh. He will not be with you and you will die.
Despite the warning, they went anyway while both Moses and the Ark of the Covenant remained in camp. The Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in the hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.
Because of unbelief and rebellion, an entire generation of God’s people were banned from the Promised Land. But instead of acknowledging this grave sin, seeking forgiveness and humbly accepting the consequences, they were determined to whine and complain until they breathed their last breath. For the next 40 years they will become bitter, quarrelsome and openly rebellious.
Chapter 15, for the most part, has to do with Unintentional sin vs. Intentional high-handed rebellion and the consequences for each. What comes next sits within this context:
Numbers 15:32-36 - While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. Then Yahweh said to Moses, "The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp." The assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death.
This seems to be a continuation of the rebellious spirit that has infected the people. This was not a case of, “ooops, sorry.” But a case of, “I’m going to do what I want – and what are you going to do about it.”
But wait, there’s more…….
Korah was a Kohathite Levite and a close relative of Moses and Aaron – his clan was responsible for the Temple furnishings. Dathan, Abiram were from the tribe of Reuben. With them were 250 well-known community leaders.
They came to oppose Moses and Aaron. “You have gone too far!! The whole community is holy and Yahweh is with them. Why, then, have you set yourselves above Yahweh people?”
On the surface this might have been a challenge to human authority, but in reality it was a challenge to God’s authority and amounted to mutiny.
Moses was crushed, but he did not attempt to defend himself. Instead he said: We’ll let Yahweh decide. Tomorrow, you will bring your censers to the Tabernacle and put fire in them before Yahweh. The man he chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far! Isn't it enough that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the community and brought you near himself to do the work at the tabernacle and minister to the people, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too? It is against Yahweh that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?
Moses called for Dathan and Abiram to come to the Tabernacle, but they refused: Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? …. No, we will not come!"
The next morning Korah, the 250 leaders, and Aaron brought their censers before Yahweh.
The glory of Yahweh appeared: Tell the people to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
Moses: This is how you will know Yahweh has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death, then Yahweh has not sent me. But if he brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated Yahweh with contempt.
No sooner had Moses stopped talking than the ground split apart and swallowed the men, their households and all their possessions - closing over them.
Fire consumed the 250 leaders who had joined the rebellion.
Does this judgment stop the complaining? NO!!!
The next day the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron accusing them of having caused the death of God’s people.
God showed up AGAIN: Get away from these people because I am going to destroy them!
Immediately a plague begun amongst the people.
Moses instructed Aaron to fill his censer with incense and go into the midst of the people and intercede for them. Aaron stood between the living and the dead and the plague stopped – 14,700 people died that day.
In the aftermath of this rebellion, God desired to remove all doubt regarding the divine appointment of Aaron and his sons, so he instructed Moses to gather the rods from head of each household – 12 total – plus Aaron’s rod. Moses wrote their names on their rods and then put them in the Tabernacle. The rod of the man God chose would bud.
The next morning Moses brought out all the rods for the people to see. Whose rod had buds on it? Aarons! Not only had it budded but it had blossoms and ripe almonds on it.
God instructed Moses to put Aaron’s rod back in the Tabernacle as a continual sign against the rebels and in order to put an end to their grumbling against Him.
Finally, Yahweh clarified his choice by restating the duties of the Levites and the duties of Aaron and his sons in connection with the Tabernacle. He also declared that the priests and Levites would have no inheritance in the Promised Land. They would be supported by the other 12 tribes through the practice tithing.
Until Next Time…………..
