Numbers 14 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Phil Wickham – Battle Belongs (Official Lyric Video)
• Charity Gayle – I Speak Jesus (feat. Steven Musso) [Live]
• Give Me Faith | Acoustic | Elevation Worship

Resources for Family Worship (with Children)

• Joshua and Caleb | Stories of the Bible – YouTube – Lesson for Kids
• Trust and Obey Sean Motion Video | KZ Training – Song for Kids
• No Greater Gift | HLA Rome | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• My Hope Is In the Lord | True North VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

The rumor spread by the ten spies quickly drives the whole congregation of Israel into a state of panic. They are shaken so severely that they “wept aloud all night” (v. 1). These same people, who had once been thankful and overwhelmed with gratitude for being delivered from Egypt, now complain against Moses, Aaron, and God because of what has happened. They even go so far as to suggest appointing a leader in place of Moses and Aaron who would lead them back to Egypt (vv. 2–4).

When the situation becomes uncontrollable, Moses and Aaron fall facedown before the whole assembly of Israel (v. 5). They do this because they are filled with great fear over the people’s dreadful words and actions. Seeing this, Joshua and Caleb, who had also gone as spies, stand up and try to persuade the people that if God is with them, they can settle in the land of Canaan (vv. 6–9). But the congregation of Israel picks up stones to kill them (v. 10).

At that moment, the glory of God appears in the tent of meeting before the whole congregation of Israel (v. 10). God tells Moses that He will punish the people’s stubborn unbelief with a plague (vv. 11–12). Then Moses pleads on behalf of the people. He appeals to God by asking how much the Egyptians and Canaanites would mock God if He did so (vv. 13–16), and he begs God to forgive the people once more (vv. 17–19).

God accepts Moses’ plea and withdraws the immediate punishment. Instead, He declares that the first generation who came out of Egypt will not set foot in the land of Canaan but will die in the wilderness (vv. 20–23). Joshua and Caleb will be the only survivors among that first generation who will enter the land of Canaan (vv. 24, 38). In a sense, God accepts Moses’ intercessory prayer and issues a suspended sentence.

God tells Moses that since the Amalekites and Canaanites are in the valley that leads from the wilderness of Paran into the land of Canaan, the people must turn back toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea (v. 25). This becomes the starting point of their forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Because they spent forty days spying out the land and fell into unbelief, the Lord says that each day will be counted as a year, and they will wander in the wilderness for forty years (vv. 26–35).

When Moses tells the people everything he heard from God, they suddenly change their minds and go up toward the land of Canaan (vv. 39–40). Moses tries to stop them (vv. 41–43), but they do not listen (v. 44). As expected, the Amalekites and Canaanites counterattack, and the Israelite army suffers a crushing defeat (v. 45).

Meditation:

The scene in which Moses intercedes before God, who had said He would punish the Israelites with a plague, is deeply moving. Something similar had happened at Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:31–32). When we look at the conversation between God and Moses, it seems as though God is persuaded by the logic and reasons Moses presents. Seen that way, it can appear as if God became emotionally stirred and momentarily lost His reason, while Moses calmly discerned the situation with clear judgment.

But God is not persuaded by the logic Moses presents. Rather, God accepts Moses’ heart as he pleads for the people with that reasoning. God could have refuted Moses’ logic as much as He wanted, but He accepts Moses’ noble heart and offers a compromise.

Intercessory prayer is not about words but about the heart. It is not about logic but about earnest love. If God hears our intercessory prayers, it is not because of the logic or reasons we offer, but because of the desperate love of the one who prays. The words of prayer we lift up to God are the means by which we convey our hearts. We cannot persuade or overpower God with the logic of our words. As the apostle Paul says, the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). Our words are tools that express our hearts, and God is moved by that heart and at times changes His plan.

This does not mean that “God changes back and forth.” When God receives human intercession and “turns,” He always turns from punishment and judgment toward love and salvation. That is because love is God’s nature. Even when He has decided to judge us, His true heart toward us is salvation.

Key Verse:

“The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (v. 18)

Prayer:

Lord, pour out more fully upon us the spirit of intercession. It is the evidence of our faith in You and the sign of our love for our neighbors. Help us embrace more people in our prayers, and help us pray more earnestly and fervently. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: When others are afraid, wrong, or struggling, God calls us to pray for them with love.

• For Preschool-Elementary:

• The Israelites were very afraid. What are some things that make you feel afraid?
• Moses prayed for the people even when they made a bad choice. Who is someone you can pray for this week?
• God is slow to anger and full of love. What does that teach us about God when we make mistakes?
• Youth:

• The ten spies’ fearful words affected the whole community. How can fear, complaining, or negativity spread in a school, group chat, family, or church?
• Moses prayed for the people instead of abandoning them. What is the difference between criticizing someone and interceding for someone?
• Numbers 14 shows both God’s mercy and the consequences of unbelief. Why do you think both are important for mature faith?