ISRAEL COMPLAINS AGAIN

"All night long the people cried out in distress. They complained against Moses and Aaron, and said, 'It would have been better to die in Egypt or even here in the wilderness! Why is the Lord taking us into that land? We will be killed in battle, and our wives and children will be captured. Wouldn't it be better to go back to Egypt?'SRme 1.675

"So they said one to another, 'Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt!'SRme 1.676

"Then Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground in front of all the people" (Num. 14:1-5).SRme 1.677

The Israelites complained against Moses and they accused God Himself of deceiving them. The Israelites said God had promised them a land they could not conquer. The Israelites became rebellious. They forgot how their powerful God had led them out of Egypt and worked many miracles for them. They decided to choose a leader to take them back to Egypt where they had suffered so much as slaves. The people actually chose a captain. They turned against Moses, their patient, suffering leader. The Israelites also complained bitterly against God.SRme 1.678

Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces before the Lord in the presence of all the people. They pleaded for God to have mercy upon the rebellious people. Moses' and Aaron's grief was so great they could not speak a word but remained in complete silence with their faces pressed to the ground.SRme 1.679

Caleb and Joshua tore their clothing to show how upset and sad they felt. They called out, "'The land we explored is an excellent land. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will take us there and give us that rich and fertile land.SRme 1.680

"Do not rebel against the Lord and don't be afraid of the people who live there. We will conquer them easily. The Lord is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them; so don't be afraid'" (Num. 14:7-9, TEV).SRme 1.681

When Caleb and Joshua said, "The Lord has defeated the gods who protected them," they were saying, "The Canaanites have filled up the measure of their wickedness. God's divine protection is taken from them. They feel perfectly safe and are not prepared for battle. Because of the covenant of God, the land is ours."SRme 1.682

But instead of being encouraged by these words to trust God, the people became more determined to rebel. The Israelites shouted angrily that Caleb and Joshua should be killed by being stoned. The mob would have stoned Caleb and Joshua if the Lord had not stepped in to save these two faithful men.SRme 1.683

Suddenly the terrible glory of God's presence filled the sanctuary. All the Israelites saw God's glory.SRme 1.684