This Bible study is about how the Israelites chose the path of delaying God’s blessing because of unbelief, instead of faithfully living in His promises.
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God had repeatedly assured the Israelites that He would give them the land of Canaan, a promise first made to Abraham and reaffirmed throughout their history. Yet, when faced with the opportunity to claim this promised land, the Israelites faltered. Instead of stepping forward in faith, they succumbed to doubt and fear, leading to a series of actions that would delay their inheritance.
Read about how the Israelites began delaying God’s blessing by choosing fear, before reflecting on it below.
Numbers 13-15
Delaying God’s blessing by Exploring unbelief
In earlier Chapters, God had promised the Israelites that He would give them the land of Canaan for their inheritance. In fact, the first mention of this as the promised land was to Abraham in Genesis 12. Even as years continued to pass, God continued to reaffirm this promise to His people. As the Israelites wandered in the desert, God made his promise clear to His people. All of the laws that were given, were given so that they could function as a society in the promised land.
So it seems strange that after assuring the Israelites Canaan would be theirs, God now told Moses to send spies into the land. In fact, Deuteronomy 1:19-25 clarifies this story for us, by telling us that it was the Israelites’ Idea to send the spies. The Israelites were acting from a place of fear und disbelief in God’s ability to give them what He had promised. And Moses, instead of asking God if sending the spies was in His will, agreed to do as the Israelites asked.
How do you talk to God when asking for direction in decisions you make? Do you truly want to know His will (Philippians 4:6-7)?
The spies report that would end up delaying God’s blessing
When the spies came back after 40 days (a number often associated with testing in the Bible), they proceeded to say that everything God had told them about Canaan was true. It was a good and fertile land, just like God had said! Nevertheless, they were convinced that they would never conquer it. In their unbelief, they contradicted God by saying that His promise would not come true. They would find themselves delaying God’s blessing because they imagined the Canaanite cities to be fortified.
The Hebrew word used here (בָּצַר) means “to make inaccessible, enclose, cut off.” This is the same word used in Genesis 11:6 for the Tower of Babel, Leviticus 25:5 and 25:11 for the command to not harvest during the Jubilee year, Job 42:2 for the instruction that nothing could be withheld from God, and Jeremiah 33:3 where God will show great and mighty things with are unknown.
The Israelites chose to focus on fear, believing that it was impossible for God to fulfill His promise. Do you believe that God is capable of fulfilling His promises (2 Peter 1:4)?
Rebellious hearts continue delaying God’s Blessing
Although there were two spies who asserted that they could enter the promised land, the Israelites chose to believe the report of disbelief. They raised their voices and wept aloud, grumbling that Moses had brought them to the wilderness to die. They wept because of their lack of faith. Instead of believing the promises of the God who miraculously brought them out of Egypt, they grew angry that conquering Canaan would not be as easy for them as watching the Red Sea be parted. They would have to do battle against the Canaanites to enter the land. They would rather have died in Egypt than risk their lives living in God’s promise and protection.
Do you resent God when His promise requires perseverance from you (Romans 5:3-5)?
Remembering God’s glory
The Israelites continued in their unfaithfulness by grumbling against God and rejecting the authority of Moses. Throughout it all, Moses continues to pray to God, asking for direction. When God threatened to wipe out all of the Israelites, making Moses into a great nation, Moses chose to remember God’s glory and remind God of His own promise. He knows that God is all powerful, but asks that God direct that power to showing mercy instead of justice. Moses repeats back to God what God had said to Him in Exodus 34 when His glory was revealed.
Do you know the characteristics of God enough to pray that God extends them toward His people (Hebrews 4:16)?
Bodies falling when delaying God’s blessing
Because of their disobedience and unbelief, the Israelites who saw the miracles of God when He freed them from Egypt would no longer be able to see the promised land. Instead, God promised that their bodies would fall in the wilderness because of their unfaithfulness. The Hebrew word used for “unfaithfulness” (זְנוּת) means “fornication, harlotry, whoredom.” It is because, ultimately, they chose the comforts and pleasures they could see and touch instead of waiting for the promises of God to be fulfilled.
Are there idols of comfort and perceived safety that you put before the promises of God (Psalm 115:4-8)?
Doing things in your own strength
Once the Israelites realized that they had made the mistake of not trusting God – resulting in delaying His blessing – they tried to fix it in their own strength. They woke up early the next morning, thinking they could undo the consequences of their faithfulness. In their disregard for God’s holiness, they thought that merely confessing that they had sinned without any true repentance would be enough to regain God’s favor. The insincerity of their confession is seen in Numbers 14:44, where they went up without the presence of God. After all they had seen and been through, they still valued the promises of God more than His presence.
Do you give God the respect He is due? Do you value God’s presence or what he can do for you (Psalm 16:11)?
Remembering offerings after delaying God’s blessing
Although the Israelites chose to prove their unfaithfulness to God throughout the many chances they were given, God chose to continue to prove His faithfulness to the Israelites. Numbers 15 seems out of place in this story. However, it shows the faithfulness of our creator by reinstating His promise to His people. God promised His people that Israel WILL enter the promised land. He also reminds them that they WILL continue to enjoy communion with God through the sacrifices and offerings that they WILL give once they entered the promised land.
How has God reaffirmed His promises to you when you’ve been unfaithful (Lamentations 3:22-23)?
Sins of intentions
Just as in Leviticus 4, God again reminds the Israelites of the process of atoning for unintentional sins. In our human wisdom, we like to think of unintentional sins as simple mistakes. But God reminds us that sin is sin. And when we come to realize our sin, atonement needs to be made. God also reminds the people that anyone who sins defiantly needs to be completely cut off from the Israelites. The type of sin that is an open and unashamed rebellion against God will destroy the entire nation, as we have just seen in the previous chapters. It often takes just a few men to lead masses astray.
Is there sin in your life that you need to repent of (Psalm 139:23-24)?
Importance of the Sabbath
Once again, the importance of the Sabbath is made clear to everyone when a man was found gathering wood on the Holy day. This was an example of someone who chose to sin defiantly. There would not have been a single person who did not know God’s law about the Sabbath. It had been stated over and over, and the Israelites had agreed to follow God’s laws at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:8). So perhaps this man thought he was above God’s law, that it did not apply to Him. Or maybe He thought that it would not matter if he broke the law “just this once.” Whatever the reason, he had defiantly broken God’s law and as a result, he was put to death.
Although we may not physically lose our lives when we defiantly go against God, there is a spiritual death we experience. Are you living in God’s presence and light, or in spiritual darkness (Ephesians 5:8-17)?
Tassels of faith
As a visual reminder of the Israelites’ identity, God gave them tassels to wear on their garments. As they went about their days, they would see these tassels and be reminded of God’s commands, keeping them fresh and written on their hearts.
Do you have a constant reminder of God’s word visible in your life (Hebrews 8:10)?
Reflect on whether you are living in, or delaying God’s blessing
The Israelites started their journey in the Wilderness doing everything the Lord commanded. However, when the days became long and monotonous, and when the excitement of their freedom faded, they began to grumble and complain. They traded faith for fear and as a result, they found themselves delaying God’s blessing.
Are you living in faith or fear today? Are you looking forward to the promises of God, or delaying His blessing through unbelief and disobedience?
This Bible study was all about how the Israelites chose fear and delaying God’s blessing instead of living in obedience and faith.
