Numbers 12 to 14

Today's passage features rich insights into the nature of courage and disbelief. As Scott had written yesterday, the Israelites had received an abundance from the Lord, who sustained the throng of perhaps three million in the desert. It should have been clear to the people that they did not have the power to sustain themselves; indeed, their very survival -- as ours -- depends on the gracious hand of the Lord. Please notice Moses's trusting description of God's faithfulness in offering grace: "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does leave the guilty unpunished... " This phrase will appear frequently through the Old Testament, indicating that God has been faithful to His own character throughout history.

At first, we see Miriam and Aaron's unfounded disapproval of Moses's second wife, a Cushite. Their complaints make life even more difficult for Moses, yet he turns to God to intercede for them. The incident is reminiscent of Hebrews 13:17: "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."

Next, the 12 spies head up to the land that God had promised them. Instead of trusting in God's provision, 10 of the spies make up stories about why the Israelites would be endangered by attacking the people of the land. Their perspective is completely horizontal, as they judge that their own resources are insufficient for the task. Perhaps these spies are seeking their own self-preservation, fearing that the people would hold them accountable (as they clearly did with Moses), should the campaign to take the Promised Land become difficult. Their words and their stirring up of the people to rebellion strike against both Moses (the leadership that God has appointed) and the Lord Himself.

In stark contrast, Caleb and Joshua look beyond the horizontal and remember God's calling. They point to God's protection for the people and the goodness of the land. Still, despite their arguments, the people join into a rebellious groupthink and receive the just rewards for their actions: not one of the adults will experience this new land, but rather will die in the desert. (Interestingly, this passage seems to suggest 20 as an "age of majority," where children become responsible for their own decisions.) Moses's intercession on behalf of the people invokes a call to God's glory, fearing that His Name might not be fully esteemed among the Egyptians.

The passage points me to a favorite Scripture, Psalm 3: "... You are a shield around me, O LORD;/ you bestow glory on me and lift up my head." Caleb and Joshua believed this, and their trust in Him led them into the Promised Land.


Questions:

1. Which perspective do you have today: the vertical or the horizontal? Or perhaps more practically, do you see today's problems or the hope of heaven on your radar? How can you better see the vertical perspective?

2. The lessons of these recent chapters point to the folly of distrusting God, yet we do it (perhaps more subtly than the rebellious Israelites) all the time. Where are you struggling to trust God today? How can you talk it over with Him?

3. No one remembers the 10 spies who whipped the people into a rebellion, but we still name children "Caleb" and "Joshua." It seems that finishing well is of utmost importance to God. Whom can you call as a "ranger buddy" to stand strong to the end like Joshua and Caleb?