Moses and the Spies I What happened with

Moses and the Spies I. What happened with Moses and the Children of Israel before they left Mount Sinai? A. Moses ascended the mountain for the second giving of the law. 1. This time Moses was to cut the stones for the tablets (Ex. 34: 1 -4).

2. This time God revealed himself to Moses in a more personal way (Ex. 34: 58). 3. This time Moses pleaded with God to travel among them even though they did not deserve it (Ex. 34: 8).

4. This time God made a covenant with Moses to bring them into the land drive out the Canaanites before them with miraculous displays of His power (Ex. 34: 9 -10). 5. This time God warned about making any compromises with the people of the land (Ex. 34: 11 -12).

6. This time God commanded that they stay clear of idolatry and fully destroy all traces of pagan worship (Ex. 34: 1317). 7. This time God reminded them to keep the feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex. 34: 18 -20).

8. This time Moses remained in the presence of the Lord another forty days and forty nights (Ex. 34: 27 -28).

B. Moses came down from the mountain with the tablets of stone (Ex. 34: 29). 1. Moses came down with his face shining with a supernatural glow (Ex. 34: 29 -30; Compare: Mt. 17: 2; See: II Cor. 3: 7, 13). 2. Moses delivered the commands to the people (Ex. 34: 31 -32).

3. Moses put a veil on his face except when he was in the presence of God (Ex. 34: 33 -35).

C. Moses led the workers in building the tabernacle and its furnishings, taking an offering and erecting the tabernacle (Ex. 35: 10 -Ex. 40: 33; See also: Num. 7: 18: 22; 9: 15 -23). D. Moses did an official census of the people (Num. 1: 1 -46).

E. The Levites were excluded from the initial census and appointed over the service of the tabernacle (Num. 1: 47 -50; 2: 33).

F. God gave Moses instructions about how they were to travel and how they were to camp (Num. 1: 51 -2: 31). 1. They traveled and camped under their tribal banner. 2. There was an order for their travel (Num. 10: 14, 17, 33; Jos. 3: 3).

3. There was an order in the camp. a. They camped with God in the midst (Num. 2: 17). b. The camped viewed from heaven formed a cross (See Appendix 1).

G. The Levites and Aarons family were appointed to the various functions relative to the service of the tabernacle (Num. 3: 1 -4: 49). H. God gave additional instructions to the people regarding several things. I. Moses and the people kept the Passover (Num. 9: 1 -14).

II. What events transpired on their journey between Mount Sinai and Kadesh Barnea? A. The Children of Israel embarked on a three day journey following the direction of the Lord through the Ark of the Covenant (Num. 10: 33 -36).

B. The Children of Israel went forward murmuring all the way. 1. They complained about a lack of meat (Num. 11: 1 -15).

2. Moses complained about the burden being too large for him (Num. 11: 11 -15, 24 -30). In this case God instructed Moses to gather seventy men who would be able to lead with him (Num. 11: 16 -17, 24 -30).

3. Miriam and Aaron complained about Moses’ leadership (Num. 12: 1 -16). a. God seemed to judge Miriam more severely. b. Aaron once again demonstrated his weak leadership. c. Moses interceded for them to minimize God’s judgment.

C. God instructed Moses to send spies into the land (Num. 13: 1 -2). 1. These spies were to be notable leaders from their tribe (Num. 12: 3 b). 2. There were twelve spies each representing one of the twelve tribes (See: Num. 13: 4 -15).

III. What was the purpose of sending spies into the land of promise? A. Moses sent the spies in at the approval of the Lord (Num. 13: 3). B. Moses made it clear what their specific purpose would be (Num. 13: 17 -20).

IV. What happened when the spies came back from the land? A. The spies went out as Moses instructed them (Num. 13: 21). B. The spies gathered figs and pomegranates and they cut down a cluster of grapes that was so large that it took two men to carry it (Num. 13: 23 -24).

C. The spies returned to give a report of their factual findings (Num. 13: 25 -26). 1. They reported the good news first (Num. 13: 26 -27). 2. They reported the bad news after that (Num. 13: 28 -29).

D. The spies shared their interpretation of the facts (Num. 13: 30 -33). 1. Caleb gave his interpretation (Num. 13: 30). 2. The vast majority of the spies gave quite another interpretation (Num. 13: 31 -33; Josh. 2: 9 -11).

E. The people chose to listen to the negative interpretation (Num. 14: 1 -4). F. Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in front of the people (Num. 14: 5). They tried to convince them not to be swayed by what they saw with their eyes but to focus on the God who had worked for them in the past.

G. Joshua and Caleb appealed to the congregation (Num. 14: 6 -9). H. The people indicated a desire to stone Joshua and Caleb (Num. 14: 10 a).

V. How did God react to the response of the people? A. God came down in manifest presence (Num. 14: 10 b). B. God indicated that He was ready to judge them immediately (Num. 14: 11 -12).

C. Moses interceded once again for the people (Num. 14: 13 -19). D. God indicated that he would pardon them (Num. 14: 20).

E. God indicated that there would be consequences of their lack of faith and stubbornness (Num. 14: 21 -23, 26 -29). 1. God indicated that all of the people that were 20 years old and up would not enter the land but would die in the wilderness (Num. 14: 32, 35).

The New Testament refers to this incident as the “rebellion” or the “day of trial” (Heb. 3: 7 -19). 2. God indicated that Caleb and Joshua would enter in because of a spirit of faith (Num. 14: 24, 30).

F. God brought a plague on the ten spies that gave the evil report and they died (Num. 14: 36 -38; Compare: Josh. 2: 1).

VI. What was the people’s response to God’s judgment? A. They mourned greatly (Num. 14: 39). B. They acknowledged their sin and now they changed their mind wanted to go in (Num. 14: 40). C. Moses warned them not to proceed or they would be defeated by their enemies (Num. 14: 41 -43).

D. They presumed to go forward anyway and they were defeated (Num. 14: 44 -45; Deut. 1: 41 -45; Ps. 19: 13). The sin of presumption here was the Israelites expecting God’s protection when they were walking in disobedience to God’s clear command.

1. They were defeated because now they were moving in disobedience. 2. They were defeated because they moved forward without their leader, Moses. 3. They were defeated because the Ark of God did not go with them.

VII. What happened in the end? God directed them back into the wilderness (Num. 14: 25). “Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea. ”