Old Testament 1 Lesson 2

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Only two men returned with a positive report, Joshua and Caleb: And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it — numbers 13:30 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not — numbers 14:6-9 Caleb and Joshua had strong faith in God. They compared the giants with the size of their God. Heaven is His throne, and the earth is His footstool (Matthew 5:34-35). In doing this, the giants looked like grasshoppers. On the other hand, the ten “doubters” compared themselves with the size of the giants and said, “We were in our own sight as grasshoppers”. They looked at things from a human standpoint, without considering what God could do. THE PEOPLE INFLUENCED BY THE MAJORITY Instead of listening to Caleb and Joshua, the people were influenced by the ten spies who brought back the evil report and again, they began to complain. They even suggested appointing a captain that would lead them back to Egypt. There was nothing Caleb and Joshua could have said that would have changed their minds. In fact, they were ready to stone them to death, but at that time the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in the sight of all Israel (Numbers 14:1-10). And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they — numbers 14:11-12 If Moses was seeking his own interests, he would have stepped back and allowed God to do just what He said He would. However, as Israel’s divinely appointed leader, he still loved Israel. He prayed one of the most beautiful intercessory prayers recorded in the Bible. He reminded God of His reputa- 12
tion as the God of Israel among other nations. If God would now destroy Israel, perhaps other nations would say, “Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land... therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness” (Numbers 14:13-16). He further prayed: And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD be great...The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty... Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now — Numbers 14:17-19 God did once again forgive their sins, but the ten spies who brought back the evil report “died by the plague before the LORD” (Numbers 14:36-37). It was at this time also that God told Moses that because the people had tempted the LORD ten times by their murmuring and complaining, they would not be allowed to enter into the promised land of Canaan. They wanted to turn back, so He would allow them to have their own way: ...As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you... from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years...After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities... — numbers 14: 28-34 When Moses told the children of Israel these things, they wept greatly. Now that the privilege of entering into the promised land had been taken away from them, they seemed more determined than ever to enter the land. They rose early the next morning and gathered themselves together, to continue their journey towards the promised land. However, Moses warned them, “Go not up, for the LORD is not among you.” Moses warned them that they would suffer defeat at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites if they were determined to go against his counsel. He told them, “Because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you” (Numbers 14:40-43). 13
Page 2 and 3: Acknowledgments Living Logos was th
Page 6 and 7: But they presumed to go up unto the
Page 8 and 9: praise and worship to God. However,
Page 10 and 11: THE DEATH OF AARON The children of
Page 12 and 13: VOCABULARY appertained — belonged
Page 14 and 15: 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 How did

Old Testament 1 Lesson 2

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