Numbers 14:5-10
THE PEOPLE had lost the sense of the Lord’s goodness in giving them the land and when they thought of the difficulties that lay before them they gave way to despair. They refused to go forward. How weak was their state! And yet is it not so with us as Christians at times? If we lose sight of the glory and are not enjoying in our souls the blessed hope then we too become weak; the trials and difficulties of the way become too much for us and we give up.
It is a day when even saints of God are giving up on every hand; but may we not give up, dear young Christian. Let us press on with God.
If we have our eyes on heavenly things we will have also the sense that the Lord is with us, and this gives courage and strength to go on. May we know more of what it is to “rejoice in hope of the glory of God,” and not only so but to “glory in tribulations also.” (Rom. 5:2,3).
Not merely had the people lost the sense of the Lord’s goodness but in the wretched unbelief of their hearts they blamed Him for their troubles and difficulties. They said: “wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land to fall by the sword..?” vv. 2,3.
How sad this was, and yet our poor hearts are no better at times. Have there not been times when under trial our faith has failed, and while we confess that the Lord has saved us out of sin’s bondage, yet we have said these trials are the result of our becoming a Christian and of following Christ.
If Israel had been enjoying the Lord’s goodness and thoughts of that wonderful land He had given them, they would have said instead, “O how good of the Lord to bring us this far along the journey. Here we are only a step from Canaan, soon it will all be ours to enjoy with Him, and surely He who has brought us thus far will bring us the rest of the way.” And we too are nearing the end of the journey. At any moment the Lord may come and we shall be at home with Him in the glory land. Then let us not stop or turn back but go on with Christ.
But Israel stopped there and pretended they were concerned for their wives and children, who they said would be exposed to death. This was really only selfishness. As a matter of fact it was those little ones who were the objects of the Lord’s care; they were the ones He spared and brought into the land while their unbelieving parents and elders died in the wilderness.
Moses and Aaron, shocked at the words of the people, fell on their faces. Joshua and Caleb, rent their clothes and spoke unto the people saying, “The land we passed through is exceeding good. If the Lord delights in us He will bring us into it. Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor be afraid of the people of the land. The Lord is with us, not with them.”
But that which should have cheered the people at that moment only brought out the murderous hostility of their hearts. “All the congregation bade stone them with stones.” Such was Israel, and such is the human heart under trial.
With Moses and Aaron on their faces, the testimony of the two faithful witnesses refused, and the people in outright rebellion, what could avail at such a moment? How good to read next that “the glory of the Lord appeared” before all the children of Israel.
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.
D Drink, while streams of grace are flowing, rich and free
R Reader, God’s abounding mercy
I Is for thee.
N Now you may, by Jesus’ loving call,
K Know the joy of sins forgiven, once for all.
ML-09/30/1973