Friday - Numbers 14 - Fatal Procrastination

This is a continuation of the last chapter. The 10 wicked spies (who had brought back a discouragingly negative report from the Promised Land) prevailed over Joshua's and Caleb's optimistic and faith-filled perspective. The people cried tears of despair and frustration. In fact, they cried all night! To them, they had come all that long way only to face an impossible situation. And, in their deep distress, they made a very foolish statement: "We would have been better off dying in the wilderness!" So, God took them up on that. Over the next 40 years, He let them die in that wilderness.

Now, as they complained and threatened mutiny, four men kept their heads on straight: Moses, Aaron, Joshua & Caleb. Nobody else stood for what was right. Not the newly appointed 70 elders; not the 12 princes of the 12 tribes... there isn't even any record of the Levites stepping in to support Moses here. But, hallelujah! Joshua and Caleb bravely preached a true message to the nation on that day (Numbers 14:8-9). Still, the people would have none of it (Numbers 14:10).  So, God intervened.

At the most precarious moment for Israel's godly leaders, the glorious presence of God was manifested there in the wilderness of Paran. For the second time on record (Exodus 32:10), God offered Moses the privilege of being a "Noah" for Israel. He threatened to wipe out the nation and to start all over with just Moses.  But, instead of taking advantage of that proposal, Moses interceded once again for the people. He prayed to God for mercy for Israel. In fact, while they were still in rebellion against the Spirit, Moses talked with God about His reputation in the earth. While Israel was still in their sin, Moses quoted God's own words back to him (Numbers 14:17-18 from Exodus 34:6-7) and pleaded for pardon yet again for his followers.  And, God did pardon them.  He forgave the people and did not kill them all there.  He did kill the 10 evil spies immediately on that day.  And, He turned the people away from Canaan and promised them that they would die in the wilderness because they had refused His grace.