By Robert Olsen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
REBELLION AND JUDGMENT
Numbers 14:11–24
God’s Judgment (11–16)
As Christians, our attitudes should not be dictated by our circumstances. Throughout the Bible, we see episodes where God’s people overcome situations that on the surface look impossible. This is because all things are possible with God (Matt. 19:26).
In the Israelites’ case, they were told God would give them the promised land, but instead of believing God they believed the narrative of the spies and trusted in their own senses instead of God’s power.
This lack of trust in the promises of God led to severe consequences for the Israelites.
Even when it may not seem to be the case, God wants what is best for us. This is why we are to continually focus on God and His will for us and not trust our own perception.
Paul says it best when he says, “We do not focus on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).
God’s Glory (17–19)
Because of their sin, God planned on destroying all of the Israelites except for Moses and his family. However, Moses interceded on their behalf and pleaded with God to be merciful toward the Israelites.
In this way, Moses was functioning as a type of Christ, asking God to pardon their sin against a holy and righteous God just as Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who mocked Him at the crucifixion.
This teaches us that we are able to go to the Lord on behalf of others and even for entire nations and plead with God for mercy. It is appropriate that we pray for our leaders and country (see 1 Tim. 2:1–2.) We pray for God to bring peace to nations and raise up godly leaders so that society would benefit from their guidance and not be hindered by it so that the gospel may spread throughout the nations.
Future Consequences (20–24)
God told Moses that the Israelites would not see the promised land because of their sin. It is important to note that even though God forgave them, there were still consequences for their bad attitudes.
This should remind us that even though we repent of sin, there are still repercussions. It is often said that all sin equally separates us from God and this is true, but it is often said with the intent to make all sins equal.
While all sin equally separates us from God, different sins have different consequences. Thinking ill of someone in your heart is a serious problem that Jesus addresses in the Sermon on the Mount, but it is not going to put you in jail.
However, murdering someone will send you to jail, and you may incur the death penalty.
Christians need to always call out sin because this is what separates us from God. It is only because of what Christ has done on the cross that our sins are washed away.
While the Israelites had to depend on Moses to go to God on their behalf and while they were required to bring sacrifices to God to show the severity of sin, we can go to Christ who died in our place, taking the punishment we deserve.
The only solution for sin is Christ, and this is what we need to preach to the people around us.
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