Bible Survey - #16 - Numbers

Too Frightened to Go Home

The people of Israel have been away from The Promised Land for centuries. God led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness, but when the time came for Him to bring them home, they were too frightened of the Canaanites to obey the voice of God.

Throughout their stay in the wilderness we hear many episodes of their rebellion against the Lord and His appointed leaders. The result is the death of an entire generation except for Joshua and Caleb. The children, those who were not counted in the first military census in the book because they were too young, are the ones who actually enter The Promised Land. The rest die in the wilderness.

Throughout this 40 years of testing and disobedience, we see the sin of God's people, and the costly faithfulness of God's commitment to His own covenant purposes. He is the solution to the plague of rebellion that would destroy His people. They need to look to Him and live.

God is able to speak through even a wicked pagan prophet; yes, even through that prophet's donkey. Though their adversaries would love to speak words of destruction upon Israel, God is determined to bless them through His provision of a King that will come out of Jacob.

The God of Israel will bless His flock.

He tests them and will lead them to their home.

If they rebel they show their need for Him.

Let all the earth now look to Him and live!