How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 25
In the 24th part of this series, we left off with Moses sending spies into the Promised Land to bring back a report to the Israelites about the condition of the land of Canaan.
4. A bad report
The men set out for 40 days, observing all aspects of the land of Canaan. They brought back grapes, pomegranates, and figs to show the Israelites that the Promised Land was fertile. However, in their report, ten of the spies said this:
“We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. But the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified (walled) and very large; moreover, we saw there the descendants of Anak [people of great stature and courage]. [The people descended from] Amalek who live in the land of the Negev (South country); the Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the [Dead] Sea and along the side of the Jordan.” Nu. 13:25 – 29. AMP
These spies are trying to generate fear in the Israelites. But one spy, Caleb, had a much greater faith in his God:
Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!” Nu. 13:30 CSB
The ten other spies refute this:
But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are too strong for us.”So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we went, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Nu. 13:31 – 33. AMP
So, the ten spies keep lying, saying that Nephilim were in the land. But this ancient race was wiped out in the great flood. They were exaggerating so that the people would not enter the Promised Land.
The Israelites are distraught, complaining and saying that it would have been better if they died in Egypt or in the wilderness. They even called for a leader other than Moses to take them back to Egypt. (See Nu. 14:1 – 4.)
Moses and Aaron prostrate themselves before the people, humiliating themselves to entreat them to change their minds. This moves Caleb and the only other spy that denies what the ten are saying, named Joshua, to counter their lies:
“The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 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. 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!” Nu. 14:7 – 9. NLT
How do the people react? They want to stone Caleb and Joshua to death. This does not set well with Jehovah, who says to Moses:
“How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!” Nu. 14:11, 12. NLT
I’d say God was a bit hot, and He doesn’t brook disobedience. You must hand it to Moses though. He usually intercedes for the people, but does so in a way that honors Jehovah:
“What will the Egyptians think when they hear about it?” he asked the Lord. “They know full well the power you displayed in rescuing your people from Egypt. Now if you destroy them, the Egyptians will send a report to the inhabitants of this land, who have already heard that you live among your people. They know, Lord, that you have appeared to your people face to face and that your pillar of cloud hovers over them. They know that you go before them in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Now if you slaughter all these people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of your fame will say, The Lord was not able to bring them into the land he swore to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness.’” Nu. 14:13 – 16. NLT
So, Moses appealed to God’s glory. Now, he presses for mercy:
“Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion’…In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.” Nu. 14:17 – 19. NLT
5. Denying the Promised Land to the first generation
God relents from smiting the people. However, the Israelites have pushed Him too far. He ultimately lays a death sentence upon them:
“I will pardon them as you have requested. But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the Lord’s glory,not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice. They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it. But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land. Now turn around, and don’t go on toward the land where the Amalekites and Canaanites live. Tomorrow you must set out for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.” Nu. 14:20 – 25. NLT
None of the adults who rebelled against Jehovah would be allowed to enter the Promised Land. And He is commanding them to change their direction of travel, to go in the opposite way to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, whereupon they will die of old age, but their children would be allowed into Canaan:
“Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
‘You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised.” Nu. 14:28 – 31. NLT
Then, God strikes the ten spies with a plague that kills them.
Unfazed, the Israelites push ahead towards Canaan, despite Moses’ warning not to do so. Subsequently, Jehovah lifts His protection, and the Canaanites attacked them and chased them away.
Still, others rebelled. Two hundred Levites wanted to remove Moses and Aaron from their status of leadership. God opened the ground, and it swallowed up the rebels. Those who supported the Levites were hit with a divine plague, and 14,700 people died. (See Nu. Ch. 16)
Jehovah then re-establishes the office of High Priest in front of the people. (See Nu. Ch. 17)
Then the Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month [in the fortieth year after leaving Egypt]. And the people lived in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there. Nu. 20:1 AMP
We see then that the 40-year wandering in the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea, is ending, at the very place they started that trek.
Just like in the beginning of the wandering, the Israelites (first generation), complain about there being no water – grumbling again about how horrible their situation is, compared to how their life was in Egypt.
Moses and Aaron immediately go to the Tabernacle and fall prostrate in prayer. God replies to them:
“You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” Nu. 20:8 NLT
How well did they obey His commands?
So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him; and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand [in anger] and with his rod he struck the rock twice [instead of speaking to the rock as the Lord had commanded]. And the water poured out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank [fresh water]. Nu. 20:9 – 11. AMP
Jehovah expects exactitude in obedience to His instructions. Moses and Aaron reap the consequences of their transgression:
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” Nu. 20:12 NLT
This will not bode well for either of them…
Stay tuned for what happens next.
Goodnight and God bless.
Building Better Americans 141
How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New 24
Numbers
Introduction:
In the Hebrew, the book of Numbers is titled Bemidbar, meaning ‘in the wilderness’. The English title ‘Numbers’ is derived from the Greek Septuagint Arithmoi, which means the same.
It deals primarily with the Israelites’ journey away from Mount Sinai to the banks of the Jordan River. Moses was Spirit-filled to write the book in 1405 BC. It also offers a comparative contrast between the first and second generations of Israelites during that trek.
Taking a census:
One month after the anointing of the tabernacle, God tells Moses to take a census of 11 of the 12 tribes of Israel, to count all males over 20 years old, to prepare them for the conquest of Canaan [the tribe of Levi was not counted in the census because their duties were delegated to the tabernacle. (See Num. 1:47 – 53.)] And the census indicated that there were 603,550 men able to do battle. (See Num. 1:1 – 46.)
Next, each of the 11 tribes took up strategic camp formations around the tabernacle to protect it. (See Num. Ch.2)
Each member of the tribe of Levi was delegated their specific duties as assistants to Aaron and his sons. Each was to perform his duties from 30 – 50 years of age. (See Num. Ch. 3 & 4.)
God shifts His focus in His instructions to Moses, by emphasizing that because He is now living amid the Israelites, no one ‘unclean’ could stay in the camp. They must stay outside of it until they have been made clean again. Jehovah also speaks about marital purity and what ritual must be performed to illuminate any transgression in that area. (See Num. Ch. 5)
We are then privy, through Moses, to see how Aaron (the High Priest), was to speak a blessing over the Israelites:
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:
The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor],
And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];
The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval],
And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’
So Aaron and his sons shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” Nu. 6:22 – 27. AMP
This would be a great time to consider the nature of ‘blessings.’ We’ve seen God’s first blessing on Adam and Eve immediately after He created them.[1] Also in the Abrahamic covenant.[2] We have also seen Jacob steal his brother Esau’s blessing.[3]
English dictionaries define a ‘blessing’ as a ‘special favor from God – promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity, or to favor with talent’.
Since Adam and Eve were blessed, all their descendants were blessed as well, with the entire world, to nurture us. It was Abraham’s obedience to God’s commandments, through his faith in Jehovah, that procured his blessing, whereas he, became a blessing to all peoples.[4]
This same blessing was facilitated and perpetuated through Christ:
Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs [crucified] on a tree (cross)”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles, so that we would all receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit through faith. Ga. 3:13, 14. AMP
Blessings also come upon us when we stand up for Jesus:
If you are insulted and reviled for [bearing] the name of Christ, you are blessed [happy, with life-joy and comfort in God’s salvation regardless of your circumstances], because the Spirit of glory and of God is resting on you [and indwelling you—He whom they curse, you glorify]. 1 Pt. 4:14 AMP
We can even be a source of blessing to God, through our praise and worship:
Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. Ps. 100:4 AMP
Returning to Numbers, and pointing out its great importance, God once again discusses the celebration of Passover. (See Nu. 9:1 – 14.)
Leaving Mount Sinai:
Remember after the tabernacle’s construction was finished, and it was consecrated, and how God’s Shekinah glory filled it? Well, this glory, this ‘cloud’ takes on a transformation for the new journey towards Canaan:
On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses. Nu. 9:15 – 23. NLT
In the second year after Israel’s departure from Egypt—on the twentieth day of the second month—the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Covenant. So the Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sinai and traveled on from place to place until the cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran.
…the people set out for the first time, following the instructions the Lord had given through Moses… Nu. 10:11 – 13. NLT
So they set out from the mountain of the Lord (Sinai) three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went in front of them during the three days’ journey to seek out a resting place for them. The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp. Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered; and let those who hate You flee before You.” And when the ark rested, Moses said, “Return, O Lord, to the myriad (many) thousands of Israel.” Nu. 10:33 – 36. AMP
Rebellion:
After the golden calf incident, up until and through the first three days of the Israelites’ journey away from Mount Sinai, the people did everything that God told them to do, through Moses, to keep a holy relationship with their holy Creator.
Now, just as they did after their liberation from the Egyptians, the Israelites begin to grumble over their conditions during this new journey to the Promised Land – again, losing faith in God’s ability to provide:
Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp. Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the Lord, the fire stopped. Nu. 11:1, 2. NLT
Remember that when the Israelites began their exodus to Mount Sinai, many ‘foreigners’ who were oppressed in Egypt, left along with them. Some of these same people complained as well, even after this ‘fire’ expressed from Jehovah’s anger manifested at the people’s moaning against His benevolence:
Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!” Nu. 11:4 – 6. NLT
Recall that God has been providing manna (a bread from heaven), to all the people since they first set out towards Mt. Sinai[5], and is still doing so nightly, including providing quail as well.
Moses hears all this whining. Jehovah becomes extremely angry. Moses too. He too complains to God, but it is about how he feels that he is being treated harshly. He rails on about his inability to carry the burden of the people, and how his load is too heavy. (See Nu. 11 – 15.)
God responds:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle[a] to stand there with you. I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.” Nu. 11:16, 17. NLT
However, God sends a message to the people through Moses, which clearly expresses His ire:
“And say to the people, ‘Purify yourselves, for tomorrow you will have meat to eat. You were whining, and the Lord heard you when you cried, “Oh, for some meat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will have to eat it. And it won’t be for just a day or two, or for five or ten or even twenty. You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it. For you have rejected the Lord, who is here among you, and you have whined to him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’” Nu. 11:18 – 20. NLT
The people gorged themselves, and during their gluttony, Jehovah sent a severe plague and many of these gluttons died.
Afterwards, they made their second camp after leaving Mt. Sinai in a place called Hazeroth (unidentified on a modern map).
Aaron and Miriam (Moses and Aaron’s sister) grew angry at Moses because he married a ‘Cushite’ woman.
Cush was one of Noah’s grandsons. The land of the same name is associated with Ethiopia. Taking issue with Moses, his brother and sister complain:
They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them. (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)
So immediately the Lord called to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, “Go out to the Tabernacle, all three of you!” So the three of them went to the Tabernacle. Then the Lord descended in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. “Aaron and Miriam!” he called, and they stepped forward. And the Lord said to them, “Now listen to what I say:
“If there were prophets among you, I, the Lord, would reveal myself in visions. I would speak to them in dreams. But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is.
So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?” Nu. 12:2 – 8. NLT
To say that Jehovah was angry with Aaron and Miriam is a vast understatement. Moses is clearly favored by Him. In response, God moved His cloud from the tabernacle. When He did so, Miriam was covered with leprosy. Aaron cries out to Moses, who cries out to God and begs Him to heal her. Jehovah relents by telling them to put her outside of the camp for seven days until she becomes ceremonially clean.
Spying out the Promised Land:
The people make a new camp in the wilderness of Paran. God gives Moses a new command:
The Lord now said to Moses, “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.” So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. Nu. 13:1 – 3. NLT
Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: “Go north through the Negev into the hill country. See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps? Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see.” Nu. 13:17 NLT
What did they find? Next time. I will tease you be saying that the outcome will be a climactic one for the first generation of the Israelite exodus…
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Gn. 1:28
[2] Gn. 22:15 – 18.
[3] Gn. 27:18 – 41.
[4] Gn. 12:1 – 3.
[5] Ex. 16:31 – 36.