Caleb and Joshua were unable to convince the Israelites to reject the faithless report of the ten spies. Mob-like action ensued as the people cried out in fear and anger.
They doubed the goodness of God and said: Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
So they said to one another, “Let us choose a captain and go back to Egypt” (Numbers 14:3-4).
There is a real danger in making human needs and desires the most important thing in our lives. When meeting needs becomes the most pressing issue of our lives, we will become like the doubters at the edge of the Promised Land.
James wrote about this: But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
For the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6-8).
A needs-based approach to life will lead to fear, doubt, and double-minded thinking. We resemble the ancient Israelites when we act on the belief that if God doesn’t meet our needs, then we will look for someone or something else to do it.
A God-Centered Response
Double-minded people are an insult to God. They are willing to serve God, as long as they get what they want from Him. When times get hard, they are unstable in their faith and turn to other options.
Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua were grieved over the insult the grumblers aimed at God. They didn’t stop at grief. They used their voices to call for faith in the face of fear.
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the Israelites.
And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the Israelites,
“The land that we went through as spies is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.
Only, do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are no more than bread for us; their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:5-9).
The people had every reason to trust God. They were fed on a daily basis from God’s miraculous provision. They witnessed God’s presence at the Tabernacle in a cloud. Surely, they could recall crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, safe from the Egyptian army.
Unfortunately, the need-driven desires and fear of the mob won out and the whole congregation threatened to stone them (Numbers 14:10).
Moses’ response was to pray and ask God for mercy on the very people who rebelled against the leaders. That is the subject of tomorrow’s article.
Reflections
I can relate to the mentality of the mob. I recall a sleepless night a few months ago. I tried everything I knew to get back to sleep, including prayer.
Somewhere during my sleepless struggles, I felt like the Lord was saying to me, “Would you rather sleep than visit with Me?”
What can you say to that? I don’t remember my response, but my needs-based self-interest in that moment is still memorable to me.
I have since asked God to help me overcome the problem of me. It is a struggle giving up self-centered desires to faith-filled surrender.
I have a friend who recently ended a text message with these words, “Pray for me and I’ll pray for you.”
If you can relate to my story, pray for me, and I’ll pray for you.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 