February 17
Numbers 14–15
Scripture Text: Numbers 14:1–15:41
Series: Read the Bible in a Year
Now Aaron gets a taste of his own medicine. As he grumbled against Moses, the people now grumble against him — and Moses too. They are so unhappy that they want to die. And it is all Moses' and Aaron's fault. I have had some grumpy church members over the years, these people are the worst. They want things their way: to choose their own leader and then go back to Egypt. This is nothing but rebellion against the Lord (Numbers 14:9).
This time, the complaint is more severe and comes from all the people. What caused this uproar? The fearful murmurings of a few spies sufficed to make the whole camp want to go back into slavery rather than face the so-called giants in the promised land.
Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb might should have moved on without them. Let them choose a new leader. We will follow the Lord! Instead, they appeal to the people to trust the Lord. The congregation's response was to stone the leadership. Sounds familiar.
Before they can grab the first stone, the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting. Whatever this manifestation was — fire, cloud, or something else — the people could see the Lord and know this glorious appearance was him.
God threatens to disinherit everyone but Moses and presumably, those who stood with him. The Lord would make an even greater nation from Moses. He would be just in doing so. As Moses was a descendent of Abraham, God would still maintain his covenant with the old patriarch.
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Author
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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