In the previous chapter, we read that the spies came back with a negative report about the Promised Land, except for Joshua and Caleb, Numbers 13:30. They were lacking any real faith in God, and as a result, the people wept, Numbers 14:1 / Deuteronomy 1:27 / Hebrews 3:17-19. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and notice once again, they thought it would be better to die in Egypt than in the wilderness, Numbers 14:2.
They asked, Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder, and notice they thought they would be better going back to Egypt, Numbers 14:3. In other words, they would rather live as slaves to the Egyptians than be led by God.
They knew that there was no way they could survive in the wilderness; hence, they planned to choose another leader to take them back to Egypt, Numbers 14:4. The problem was that their plan was an outright rebellion against God’s will. Oh, how quickly they forgot the bondage they were in under the Egyptians.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Here was a formal renunciation of the authority of Moses, and flat rebellion against God. And it seems from Nehemiah 9:17 that they had actually appointed another leader, under whose direction they were about to return to Egypt.’
Moses and Aaron fall facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there, Numbers 14:5, and notice that Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes in disgust because they too had spied out the land, Numbers 14:6-7 / Numbers 13:33.
Joshua and Caleb tell the Israelites that if the LORD is pleased with them, He will lead them into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to them, Numbers 14:8. Joshua and Caleb tell the Israelites not to rebel against the LORD and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, because they will devour them, Numbers 14:9.
Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us, Numbers 14:9 / Psalms 91:1 / Psalms 121:5 / Isaiah 51:16 / Isaiah 49:2 / Isaiah 30:2. Joshua and Caleb tell them not to be afraid of them, Numbers 14:9.
Joshua and Caleb saw everything the other spies saw; the difference is that Joshua and Caleb trusted in God, Romans 8:31, and because they trusted in Him, they focused on the positive things they saw within the land.
Notice that after listening to Joshua and Caleb, there was a discussion about stoning them, Numbers 14:10. When anyone, especially leaders, stands up for God and what is right, they will often be persecuted for doing so, Acts 6:8-7:60.
However, here we read that God intervened at the exact moment by appearing at the tabernacle for everyone to see so that He could pronounce judgment upon all those who rebelled against Him and went against His leaders, Numbers 14:10.
God asks Moses how long these people will treat Him with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Him, in spite of all the signs He has performed among them? Numbers 14:11. God says He is going to strike them down with a plague and destroy them, Numbers 14:12.
It’s very clear that God is angry with His people, especially in light of everything He had done for them. God is so angry that He intends to make Moses into a greater nation than Israel was, Numbers 14:12 / Exodus 32:7-14.
God says Israel had seen the signs He sent with their very own eyes, but despite sending these signs, they still refused to totally trust in Him, John 20:26-31. God had spoken to Israel and promised them the land was theirs, but they totally refused to act upon God’s promises and act in faith to take the land.
As a result of this, God was willing to wipe out the nation of Israel and start all over again with Moses in order to fulfil the seed promise He had given to Abraham, Numbers 14:12 / Genesis 12:1-3. Remember, the Messiah, the head crusher, was to come through Abraham, Genesis 3:15.
Moses speaks to God and says, If He destroys Israel, then the Egyptians will hear about it! And He says it was by God’s power that He brought these people up from among them, Numbers 14:13.
Moses continues and says, they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it and they have already heard that God are with these people and that He, have been seen face to face, that His cloud stays over them, and that He goes before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, Numbers 14:14.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This cloud, the symbol of the Divine glory, and proof of the Divine presence, appears to have assumed three different forms for three important purposes.
1. It appeared by day in the form of a pillar of a sufficient height to be seen by all the camp and thus went before them to point out their way in the desert, Exodus 40:38.
2. It appeared by night as a pillar of fire to give them light while travelling by night, which they probably sometimes did, Numbers 9:21, or to illuminate their tents in their encampment, Exodus 13:21-22.
3. It stood at certain times above the whole congregation, overshadowing them from the scorching rays of the sun; and probably at other times condensed the vapours, and precipitated rain or dew for the refreshment of the people. He spread a cloud for their covering; and fire to give light in the night, Psalms 105:39. It was probably from this circumstance that the shadow of the Lord was used to signify the Divine protection, not only by the Jews, but also by other Asiatic nations, Numbers 14:9 / Numbers 14:9 / Exodus 13:21.’
Moses interceded again, much as he had done at Sinai, Exodus 32:11-13. Moses says to God, if He puts all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about Him will say that the LORD wasn’t able to bring these people into the land He promised them on oath, so He slaughtered them in the wilderness, Numbers 14:15-16.
Moses pleads Israel’s case on the foundation of God’s attributes, His slowness to get angry, His abundant love and His forgiving nature, Numbers 14:17-19 / Exodus 34:6-8 / Joel 2:13 / Jonah 4:2.
The love Moses has for his people is clearly seen here, despite their lack of faith and rebellious nature. As the mediator between the Israelites and God, Moses now gives us the example of what Christ would do for all of mankind.
After Moses pleaded with God on behalf of Israel, the Lord tells them He has forgiven them, Numbers 14:20. However, there is still a price to pay for their disobedience and lack of trust in Him, Hebrews 3:19.
God says, as surely as He lives and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, Psalms 72:19 / Isaiah 40:5 / Habakkuk 2:14, not one of those who saw His glory and the signs He performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times, Numbers 14:21-22.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The ten times the Israelites tested God, Numbers 14:22, by complaining were probably these.
1. At the Red Sea, Exodus 14:11-12.
2. At Marah, Exodus 15:23.
3. In the wilderness of Sin, Exodus 16:2.
4. In the wilderness of Sin, Exodus 16:20.
5. In the wilderness of Sin, Exodus 16:27.
6. At Rephidim, Exodus 17:1-2.
7. At Horeb, Exodus 32.
8. At Taberah, Numbers 11:1-3.
9. At Kibroth-Hattaavah, Numbers 11:4-34.
10. At Kadesh, Numbers 14:1-3.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning the number ten.
‘Ten is the number which signifies completeness. It seems to refer to the ten evil spies.’ The Talmud understood this literally. Dummelow thought that ten is a round number indicating ‘full measure’. Rabbi Judah from the second century enumerated ten instances of Israel’s rebellion. Gray listed these as follows. ‘There were two instances at the Red Sea, Exodus 14:11 / Psalm 106:11, two in demanding water, Exodus 15:23 / Exodus 17:2, two for food, Exodus 16:27, two for flesh, Exodus 16:3 / Numbers 11:4, in the matter of the golden calf, and in the sending out of the spies.’
God continues and says, not one of them will ever see the land He promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated Him with contempt will ever see it, Numbers 14:23.
Notice that God mentioned that His servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows Him wholeheartedly, and He says He will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it, Numbers 14:24.
God says, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea, Numbers 14:25.
God now speaks to Moses and Aaron and asks, how long will this wicked community grumble against Him? He has heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites, Numbers 14:26-27.
They are to tell Israel that God will do to them the very thing He heard they say, Numbers 14:28. In this wilderness, their bodies will fall, every one of them twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against Him, Numbers 14:29.
Everyone who was twenty years old and over wouldn’t now be permitted to enter the Promised Land, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, Numbers 14:30.
God says, as for their children that they said would be taken as plunder, He will bring them in to enjoy the land they have rejected, Numbers 14:31. But as for Israel, their bodies will fall in this wilderness, Numbers 14:32.
Notice that because the spies were in the land for forty days, their punishment was going to be forty years, Numbers 14:33-34 / Psalm 95:7-11. This was a whole generation of Israelites who would live in the wilderness and pass away in the wilderness, Numbers 14:35 / Nehemiah 9:16-17 / Psalm 106:24-27.
So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it, Numbers 13:32, these men were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD, Numbers 14:36-37.
Note that it was only those unbelieving spies who died from a plague. Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived, Numbers 14:38 / Numbers 13:30.
After news concerning those who died in the plague reached Israel, they all mourned bitterly, Numbers 14:39. They did believe concerning their fate to live in the wilderness for forty years, hence, why they all mourned.
Early the next morning, it appears that Israel is now ready to obey God and admit their sinfulness, Numbers 14:40. But Moses asks them, why are they disobeying the LORD’s command? This will not succeed! Numbers 14:41.
Moses warns them not to go up, because the LORD is not with them and they will be defeated by their enemies, for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face them there, Numbers 14:42-43.
Moses tells them they will lose because they have turned away from the LORD, and He will not be with them, and they will fall by the sword, Numbers 14:43. It wasn’t so much a lack of believing God’s promises concerning the land; it was more to do with not taking the land straight away as God commanded.
Regardless of the pronouncement of God’s judgment, they couldn’t take the land; the people wanted to go on their own without the blessing of God. However, Israel had to pay the price for their rebellion, so they wouldn’t be able to change God’s mind by trying to take the land on their own merit, Numbers 14:44.
Ashley, in his commentary, says the following.
‘They are like children who had broken a valuable vase and decided to ‘make it better’ by glueing it back together. The result of such action looks nothing like the original.’
Notice they were beaten back by the Amalekites and the Canaanites, Numbers 14:45. This was proof enough that they couldn’t take the land on their own. Their children will remember this event when they sought to take the land forty years later under the command of Joshua. They would finally understand that when they go into the land, they need God’s blessings and God’s help to achieve their goal.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning Hormah, Numbers 14:45.
‘The original name of the place was Zephath, a royal city of the Canaanites on the southern border of the Holy Land. The circumstances that led to the change of its name to Hormah are given in Numbers 21:1-3. The name has the meaning of the ban place, coming from a root that means total destruction. It was given because of the slaughter of a vast number of Israelites there. The word is used proleptically both here and in Joshua 19:4, for it was so named only after Israel conquered the place and renamed it. This indicates that we have here another passage in which certain facts were added to the Pentateuch by Joshua, who was also inspired and who did so under the direct commandment of the Lord.’