CHOICES

Numbers 14:1-10
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

The People Rebel

1 Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. 3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. 6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”

10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.

Sometimes, the choices we make, have disastrous results. First, the Israelites murmured about their provisions. Then they murmured about their leaders. Ultimately, they murmured about God and decided they could no longer trust the LORD. As a result of no longer trusting the LORD, the generation of the exodus was consigned to thirty-years of wandering in the wilderness. That generation died, wandering in the desert and their children were then permitted to possess the promised land.

Resisting God … His Word … His precepts … His Spirit … results in stunted growth, a lack of progress (Hebrews 4:2). God asks His people to trust in His presence and walk in faith (Joshua 1:9). He has no desire for us to wander in the wilderness.