“And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt” (Num 13: 25-14: 4).

There are many lessons we can learn from Biblical history, in particular from the Old Testament accounts. The apostle Paul reiterated this truth in the book of Romans: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom 15: 4).

Writing to the Corinthians, the apostle used ancient Israel as “our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted” (I Cor 10: 6). As God’s chosen people, Israel enjoyed great privileges and blessings even whilst they were in the wilderness. Yet they rebelled against Him: “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness” (I Cor 10: 5). God destroyed them because of their wilful disobedience and idolatries. Thus, Paul warned the Corinthians to take heed, “lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Heb 4: 11).

“As if the apostle had said, O ye Corinthians, look upon the dead bodies of the Israelites which are cast upon the shore of the Scriptures for a warning to you; follow not the same course, lest you meet with the same curse; if you tread the same path, expect the same punishment, for God is as righteous now as He was then; He hates, and will punish sin in you, as much as He did in them: These things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they lusted” (William Burkitt).

Brethren, let us also take heed to these warnings from Holy Scriptures. May the Lord instruct us as we consider His dealings with the Israelites after they had surveyed the Promised Land.

o Doubt

“We be not able to go up” (Num 13: 31)

The narrative in the book of Numbers (13: 25 – 14: 45) refers to the time when Moses sent the Israelite spies to survey the Promised Land. Out of the twelve, only Joshua and Caleb confidently urged the people to enter in to possess the Land: “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Num 13: 30). The ten other spies gave an “evil report”: “We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. … The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (vv 31-33).

Choosing to trust the ten spies rather than God, the people fretted: “All the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night” (Num 14: 1).

o Discontent

“Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt” (Num 14: 2a)

Like wildfire, discouragement and discontent spread throughout the camp, and the people murmured against Moses and Aaron: “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!” (Num 14: 2). They even wanted to nominate a leader to bring them back to Egypt (v 4).

In response to their provocations, God intervened and passed judgment according to the desire of their unbelieving hearts – they would perish in the wilderness, as they had wished (Num 14: 31-34; 37).

Conclusion

Brethren, let us not doubt God nor murmur against Him. Murmuring reflects a discontented and rebellious spirit. It is a grave sin that God does not take lightly. By murmuring, we are expressing our dissatisfaction with God’s sovereign will for our lives. When we question or complain, we are actually challenging the Lord’s wisdom, goodness and love. Moreover, this spirit of dissatisfaction reflects an ungrateful heart. May we cultivate a thankful and contented spirit in our daily lives. (… to be continued)

– Pastor