JOSHUA AND CALEB

THE BOOK OF NUMBERS

CHAPTER 14:24-45
 

            Delighted to have you back with us again for more Daily Bread!  In our study of the book of Numbers, we've been traveling through the wilderness with Moses and the children of Israel on their way to the Promised Land.  In our last study, we found God's people testing Him again, for the tenth time. 

            What does that mean, testing?  When the Bible says that they tested or tempted the Lord, it means they tried His patience, they provoked Him, they knew better and they still did foolish things.  Just like ... everyone does.  They certainly weren't saying to themselves, Let's see if we can make the Lord angry with us.  They didn't mean to anger the Lord, much the same as when you look back on something foolish you did and you want to kick yourself for not realizing how wrong it was before you did it.  They thought at the time that they were doing the right thing, and we've discussed before how the devil has a very crafty way of making people believe that which is wrong  ... Is right. 

            If you'll think back to some of our past studies, we talked about spirits and how a bad spirit can lure people into making wrong decisions.  A bad spirit doesn't have to have a voice to persuade people into bad choices.  Now, let's refresh ourselves as to what's happened most recently.  The Lord is angry, no question about that.  Moses has asked Him not to destroy them utterly, and the Lord agreed, however, He said that they wouldn't see the land that He promised to their fathers.

            God said, But my servant Caleb, because he had a good spirit with him and has obeyed me fully, I'll bring him to the land that he spied out and his children will own it.  Then He told Moses, Tomorrow turn around and go into the wilderness in the direction of the Red sea. 

            The Lord asked Moses and Aaron, How long will I put up with this wicked congregation that complains about me?  I've heard all the things they say.  Tell them, As sure as I live, the things that you've spoken in my ears, I'll do to you.  Your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness, every one of you who were numbered from twenty years old and older that have murmured against me.  You certainly will not go into the land that I promised, except for Caleb and Joshua.  But your little ones that you said would be a prey, those I will take there and they'll live in the land that you despised.  Remember that Joshua and Caleb were the only two who lamented when the spies gave their evil reports of the Promised Land.

            Your children will wander in the wilderness 40 years and pay for your sins until your bodies are decayed.  Those are the number of days that you searched the land, one year for each day you'll carry your sins and you'll feel my breach of promise.  I the Lord have said it, and I'll do it to all this sinful congregation that conspires against me.  They'll be consumed and die here in this wilderness.  The men that gave the bad report about the Promised Land died by the plague in front of the Lord, but Joshua and Caleb lived.

                 Soooooo, God is saying that all those that were 20 years old and older and that repeatedly complained against Him would die in the wilderness and their kids would wander for 40 years but then the next generation would get to enter the promised land.

            Moses told the people what the Lord said and they mourned deeply.  They got up early in the morning and went to the top of the mountain.  They said, Look, we're here and we'll go to the place that the Lord promised.  We have sinned.  But it was too little, too late and Moses said, Why do you go against the commandment of the Lord?  You won't succeed.  Don't go up, the Lord is not with you to protect you from your enemies.  The Amalekites and the Canaanites are in front of you and you'll be killed by the sword because you turned away from God, He won't be with you.

            They boldly went up to the hilltop anyway but the Ark of the Covenant and Moses remained in the camp.  Sure enough, the Amalekites and the Canaanites that lived in that hill came down and killed them and defeated them all the way to Hormah.

            If you don't think the Lord is serious about having His chosen people to be righteous, c'mon back again for our next few sessions of Daily Bread and you're sure to be convinced.  You won't want to miss it!