Israel refuses to enter Canaan

Numbers 14:1–10
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After the the twelve men returned from Canaan and said there were giants in the land, the people cried all night and complained to Moses and Aaron, “ We wish we had died in Egypt or somewhere out here in the desert (vv. 1-2)! Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword (v. 3)? It would be better for us to return to Egypt? We’d be better off in Egypt.” Then they said,” Let’s choose our own leader and go back to Egypt” (v. 4). If the people had spent as much energy moving forward as they did moving back they could have enjoyed their land. Instead they never even entered  it. When a cry of despair goes up around you, consider the larger perspective before you join in.

Moses and Aaron bowed down before the Israelites (v. 5). They said, We have no reason to be afraid of the people who live there. The LORD is on our side, and they won’t stand a chance against us! Caleb and Joshua were greatly distressed by the people’s refusal to enter the land, and said it is a good land (vv. If we obey the LORD, he will surely give us that land rich with milk and honey (vv. 6-8). So don’t rebel (v. 9). However, the people rejected their advice and even talked of killing them.

But just then, the LORD appeared in a cloud at the sacred tent (v. 10). The path to open rebellion against God begins with dissatisfaction, then moves to grumbling about both God and present circumstances. Next, comes bitterness and resentment, followed finally by rebellion and hostility.

Application

I need to be careful about being dissatified and complaining as these kind of attitudes will lead to rebellion and separation from God’s plan for my life.