Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” 10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” (Numbers 14)
As we have seen the last two days, God had delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, and had them heading on a journey to the promised land. But when it came time to enter the land, the people became afraid, and refused to enter, so that's where our passage kicks in - them complaining that it was God's fault they refused to trust and obey. When they do, God is ready to judge - quickly and thoroughly - but Moses intercedes, so God goes on to say: "Okay, I have heard your request, and will show grace. But those rebellious leaders will die immediately, and the responsible adults will not enter the land - only Joshua and Caleb, the leaders who wanted to obey, and the children, who were not responsible for this bad decision. The result was what we call the 40 years of wilderness wandering. In fact, the name we use for this book, "Numbers" is not the Hebrew title. It is "in the wilderness", because it covers the time of the wilderness wanderings. The Numbers come from the censuses done at the beginning and end of that time. So what kind of time was it in the wilderness? It was a time of waiting. It was a time of repeated failure and disobedience. It was a time when the people learned a balanced perspective of God's holiness and right to judge and punish, as well as His mercy and grace in preparing a people to live in His Kingdom. The point is that God will accomplish His purpose, even when we, and other stumbling blocks get thrown in the way. So, how does your life seem like a wilderness today? Look around you. What, or who, do you see that seems to be and endless waiting, a repeated failure, a stumbling block, or, on the other hand, a sign and symbol of God's mercy and grace at work in the midst of struggle. Take a pic and show me, posting it to the church facebook page, or emailing or texting it to me with, or without an explanation, and I'll pray for you.
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