Dying in the Wilderness with Anyone to Blame But Yourself

Observations From My Study (Num. 14:21-23)

Most of you have probably heard of the story of Israel in the wilderness after God rescued them from Egypt. You may recall that they were always whining to Moses about how they were going to die and didn't have enough food. The big sin in this, however, wasn't whining; it was distrust in God despite his provision, power, and promises.

Eventually, Israel sent spies into the Promised Land, who observed that it was a very good land. The only problem was that it was filled with fierce and brutal people. Afraid, most of the spies made up a false story about how the land was not good and said that there was no way they could overcome the people who lived there. Predictably, Israel wails and moans, once again, that they would rather have been left to die in Egypt. Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who did not participate in the false story, plead with Israel not to fear and remind them that they could take the land because the Lord was with them. Israel didn't listen, however, and tried to stone them. For this final display of distrust, God judged them:

Truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. (Num. 14:21-23)

God then led Israel through the wilderness for forty years until everyone of that generation twenty years and over died. That's not the crazy part.

The crazy part, if you ask me, is that Israel actually continued to blame Moses and God for leading them into the wilderness to die. Yes, God did exactly that. But it was entirely Israel's fault. Had they not grieved God so many times, that generation could have entered the Promised Land. They were close enough to send spies. Instead, though, they chose not to enter.

Oh wait, no, they tried...after God specifically commanded them not to. They paid dearly for that, too, when the people of the land, in fulfillment of their previous fears, came up and defeated them (14:39-45). Had they listened before, God would have been with them, and they would have been able to win. But, after God cursed them to die in the wilderness, they somehow got it in their minds that God was with them and they were suddenly able to take the land.

Stupid and foolish. It's such a picture of human depravity, doing exactly the opposite of what God commands, then blaming God when things don't go our way. How fallen are we?