DO NOT BE AFRAID

Passage: Numbers 14:1-9

Key verse: 9

NIV

The People Rebel

14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.(A) 2 All the Israelites grumbled(B) against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!(C) Or in this wilderness!(D) 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?(E) Our wives and children(F) will be taken as plunder.(G) Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?(H)” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.(I)”

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown(J) in front of the whole Israelite assembly(K) gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun(L) and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes(M) 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.(N) 8 If the Lord is pleased with us,(O) he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,(P) and will give it to us.(Q) 9 Only do not rebel(R) against the Lord. And do not be afraid(S) of the people of the land,(T) because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with(U) us.(V) Do not be afraid of them.”(W)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The People Rebel

14 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people (A)wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel (B)grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or (C)would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? (D)Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, (E)“Let us choose a leader and (F)go back to Egypt.”

5 Then (G)Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 (H)And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, (I)“The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If (J)the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, (K)a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only (L)do not rebel against the Lord. And (M)do not fear the people of the land, for (N)they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Let's go back to Egypt! (1-4)

When the people heard the reports of the spies, they forgot the power and promises of God and fell into fear. Fear is unbelief. This was not the first time, but this time was critical, for it was the time of decision. Instead of looking at God, they looked at the powerful enemy and at themselves. They said, 'We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes...Let's go back to Egypt.' Those who have been delivered from bondage by the power of God must live by faith from first to last. To go back to the old life is death.

2. Only do not rebel (5-9)

Caleb and Joshua also had seen the powerful enemies, but they believed that the Lord would give them the good land if they pleased him. They begged the people not to be afraid and not to rebel. Fear and rebellion displease God. The Israelites could conquer the land because the Canaanites had no protection, and the Lord was with his people Israel (9). If we trust and obey God, he will give victory and success.

Prayer: Lord, drive out the fear which is the seed of rebellion; help me to live by faith.

One Word: 'We will swallow them up!'