Numbers Chapter 14

The People Reject Canaan
A. The Rebellion of Israel at Kadesh Barnea

1. (Numbers 14:1) Israel Rebels by Mourning at Their Dilemma Between Faith and Unbelief

So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.

Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried: The people of Israel faced two opposing reports regarding the Promised Land. Caleb and Joshua boldly declared, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30; 14:6). However, the other ten spies contradicted this, saying, in effect, “What God said about the land is true, but the people are too strong for us. We cannot conquer them, despite what God promised.” Their unbelief was a direct denial of God’s faithfulness.

We must remember that each spy represented a tribe of Israel (Numbers 13:2). Thus, their collective lack of faith reflected the unbelief of the entire nation. The nation was tested, and their hearts were revealed. The spies’ mission itself was not commanded by God originally but was suggested by the people (Deuteronomy 1:19–25). Moses consented, and the Lord merely instructed them on how many to send and that they should represent the tribes. There was no military necessity for this reconnaissance, for God had already promised them victory. Moses told them to evaluate the land’s quality and the strength of its inhabitants (Numbers 13:17–20). Yet this very act of analysis, born of doubt, opened the door to fear and faithlessness.

And the people wept that night: Their tears were not tears of repentance, but of rebellion. Their weeping was the outcry of hearts unwilling to trust God unless He made obedience easy. They mourned because God’s promises required faith, endurance, and battle. Many today follow that same pattern — expecting God to remove all obstacles rather than to strengthen them to overcome. Their mourning reflected resentment toward God, as if He had wronged them. It was a denial of His love and providence, and it surrendered to emotion rather than to truth.

Their sorrow was also over the “death” of their old nature. God was trying to bring an end to their carnal dependence, to teach them faith and spiritual maturity, but they mourned the loss of Egypt’s comfort and familiarity. The same happens when believers today cling to the flesh, resisting the sanctifying work of the Spirit that seeks to crucify the old man. Their mourning was the cry of the flesh refusing to die.

Here Israel stood, scarcely a year out of Egypt, at the very threshold of the Promised Land. God had organized, purified, and instructed them. They had been numbered, ordered, consecrated, and blessed; they had seen His presence in the cloud and fire, heard His law, and experienced His deliverance. Every tool for faith and obedience had been given, and now, when the time came to act in faith, they rebelled. Their unbelief transformed God’s gift — the Promised Land — into what they perceived as a curse. They saw the goodness of God as evil because faith had been replaced with fear.

2. (Numbers 14:2–3a) Israel Rebels by Murmuring

And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims?”

And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron: The people’s murmuring, though outwardly directed at their leaders, was in truth an accusation against God. To rebel against God’s appointed leaders was to rebel against the God who appointed them. The same pattern exists today when people reject the spiritual authority that God ordains, pretending to oppose men when in reality they resist divine order. Likely, some among them cloaked their rebellion in a false spirituality, saying, “We trust the Lord, but we do not trust Moses and Aaron.” Yet Joshua and Caleb saw through it, warning, “Only do not rebel against the Lord” (Numbers 14:9). God Himself declared, “How long will this people provoke Me?” (Numbers 14:11).

If only we had died: Their complaint was born from despair and unbelief. They preferred death in Egypt or in the wilderness over trusting God to fulfill His promise. Such is the tragic end of unbelief — it makes slavery seem preferable to freedom and death preferable to faith. For this generation, God would give them exactly what they desired: they would die in the wilderness, and their children — whom they claimed to protect — would enter the land instead.

Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword: Here their rebellion deepened into blasphemy. They accused the Almighty of evil intentions, suggesting that He had delivered them only to destroy them. This was a monstrous charge against the One who had redeemed them with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. To accuse God of wrongdoing is the very heart of rebellion. As James later wrote, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man” (James 1:13).

It is popular among some to counsel people to “be honest” with God and express their anger toward Him. Yet Scripture never condones the justification of such anger. While we may bring every feeling to God, it must be in repentance, not defiance. To be angry at God is to claim that He has done wrong, which is impossible. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). The correct response is confession, not vindication of one’s emotions.

That our wives and children should become victims: Their supposed concern for their families was the mask of unbelief. They claimed to be protecting their loved ones, yet by their disobedience they doomed themselves to die in the wilderness. The children they thought would perish would instead become the generation of victory and faith. The unbelief of the parents became the proving ground for the faith of their children.

3. (Numbers 14:3b–4) They Rebel by Longing for the Memory of Egypt

“Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”

Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt: This statement exposes the complete spiritual regression of the people. After all that God had done for them — delivering them from slavery, parting the Red Sea, defeating Pharaoh’s army, and providing food, water, and guidance in the wilderness — they longed to go back to bondage. This was not better. It was a tragic rejection of God’s purpose. In the first ten chapters of Numbers, God had methodically transformed Israel from a fearful, slave-minded people into an ordered, covenant nation ready for conquest. Through purification, instruction, and divine guidance, He had prepared them for a Promised Land life. Yet here, they chose regression over progression, bondage over blessing, and familiarity over faith.

Make no mistake; what Israel rejected here was a walk of faith. They did not want the Promised Land if it required trusting God to overcome obstacles. They wanted an easy path — a life of comfort and certainty, even under oppression, rather than walking by faith in the unseen. This is the same heart that causes many believers today to turn back when trials arise. God seeks to mature His people through faith, but the flesh craves the safety of the known, even if it means spiritual slavery.

Let us select a leader and return to Egypt: This is outright rebellion. The people’s words demonstrate their rejection of everything God had done and planned for them. They were rejecting God’s plan, God’s appointed leaders, and God’s promises. They essentially said, “We know better than God. We will lead ourselves.” This is the essence of humanism — man-centered rebellion against divine authority.

Notice how man-centered their rebellion was. They said to one another, meaning they took counsel among themselves, believing that a majority opinion could replace God’s word. They declared, “Let us select,” rejecting God’s appointed leadership in Moses and Aaron. They wanted a leader who would reflect their rebellion and unbelief rather than submission to God’s authority. It was democracy against theocracy — the people’s will against the will of God. Throughout history, this has always been the tragic pattern: when people reject God’s Word, they eventually enthrone themselves and choose leaders who mirror their rebellion.

4. (Numbers 14:5–9) The Reaction of the Godly Against the Rebellion of the People

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces: The response of these seasoned leaders shows their spiritual maturity. They knew the seriousness of Israel’s rebellion. Words would not change the people’s hearts at this stage, so they did not argue or reason. Instead, they fell prostrate before the congregation — a gesture of deep intercession and desperation before God. They understood that the people’s sin placed them in immediate danger of divine judgment, and only divine mercy could save them. This posture — falling on their faces — symbolizes complete dependence on God and recognition that human reasoning could no longer reach hardened hearts.

But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh: The two faithful spies, representing the younger generation of faith, reacted differently. Where Moses and Aaron interceded, Joshua and Caleb exhorted. They tore their clothes in grief — the Jewish expression of deep sorrow and outrage — because the people were on the brink of spiritual death. To them, this rebellion was not a mere lapse in morale; it was the death of faith, the destruction of a divine calling.

The land… is an exceedingly good land: Joshua and Caleb reminded the people that God’s promise was true. The land was not a trap; it was a blessing. They had seen it with their own eyes and testified to its abundance. They reaffirmed that if the Lord delighted in them, He would surely bring them into that land flowing with milk and honey. Their argument was simple yet profound: God is faithful, and His goodness is greater than any obstacle.

Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land: They called sin by its right name — rebellion. Fear was not merely weakness; it was defiance against God’s revealed will. They appealed to the people’s will, not their emotions, calling them to choose faith over fear. Their exhortation showed that Israel’s fear was not inevitable but voluntary. By God’s grace, they could have chosen faith and obedience.

For they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us: Joshua and Caleb declared that their enemies were not undefeatable giants but mere bread for them — sustenance for their faith and growth. The phrase “their protection has departed from them” signifies that God’s favor had been withdrawn from the Canaanites, leaving them exposed to judgment. When the Lord is with His people, no foe can stand against them. As Paul later affirmed, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

Do not fear them: The faithful few stood against the fearful many, calling the nation back to faith. The contrast could not be sharper: unbelief sees giants and defeat; faith sees God and victory. Joshua and Caleb’s courage was rooted not in self-confidence but in confidence in God’s unchanging promise.

5. (Numbers 14:10) Two Responses to the Appeal of Joshua and Caleb

And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.

All the congregation said to stone them with stones: The people’s response reveals how far unbelief can take a soul or a nation. They had heard the words of faith, hope, and courage from Joshua and Caleb, yet their hearts were so hardened by fear and rebellion that they sought to silence those voices permanently. The carnal man hates the call to faith because it exposes his sin and unbelief. The message of trust in God becomes intolerable to those who live by sight rather than by faith. Rebellious, fleshly Israel could not bear the rebuke of faith-filled men. Instead of repentance, their response was violence.

This same spiritual principle continues throughout Scripture. Cain slew Abel because Abel’s faith and obedience condemned Cain’s unbelief. Elijah was hunted by Ahab and Jezebel because his words confronted their sin. Stephen was stoned for declaring God’s truth before a stiff-necked generation. Faithful men who speak truth are often hated by those who walk in rebellion, for light always exposes darkness. As Jesus said, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

Nothing can be more vexing to a backslidden believer than another believer who is walking faithfully with God. The contrast exposes their spiritual decay. Thus, Israel could not endure Joshua and Caleb’s faith, and they would rather kill them than be corrected by them.

The glory of the Lord appeared: This was the Lord’s immediate and merciful response. Before the stones could fly, God intervened. The Shekinah glory — the visible manifestation of His presence — appeared in the tabernacle of meeting for all to see. It was a sudden, unmistakable display of divine authority halting their madness. This radiant appearance was both a warning and a defense. God protected His faithful servants and restrained the nation from committing murder.

Yet the presence of the Lord also stood in judgment. His glory was inconsistent with their behavior. Was it consistent with the glory of the Lord to be unbelieving? Was it consistent with the glory of the Lord to mourn because the walk of faith was hard? Was it consistent with the glory of the Lord to long for death, to accuse God of plotting evil, to wish to return to slavery, or to reject His chosen leaders? Was it consistent with His glory to threaten those who urged faith and obedience? Of course not. Every act of rebellion they had committed was a direct insult to His holy presence. The appearance of God’s glory exposed the ugliness of their sin for what it was — an act of treason against divine grace.

B. Moses’ Spectacular Intercession for the Children of Israel

1. (Numbers 14:11–12) God’s Charge Against Israel and His Offer to Moses

Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

The Lord said to Moses: At this moment, God turned His attention away from the nation and addressed His servant directly. He would not even speak to the people, for their hearts were completely closed to His voice. The time for patient instruction was over; judgment was now imminent. This shows a sobering truth — there comes a point when those who continually resist God’s Word lose the privilege of hearing it. Many believers who live in ongoing rebellion wonder why they no longer sense God’s guidance. The reason is simple: they have refused what He already said. God will not reveal more truth to those who reject the truth already given.

How long will these people reject Me: The Lord’s words cut straight to the heart of the matter. Israel’s unbelief was not merely fear or weakness; it was rejection. God had been nothing but faithful. He delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, fed them with manna, gave them water from the rock, and guided them with the pillar of cloud and fire. Yet they continually chose distrust over faith. To doubt God after so many miracles is not ignorance but defiance. Their actions made no sense except as the fruit of hardened hearts.

I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier: This was a tremendous offer — one that revealed both God’s justice and His willingness to start anew. He told Moses that He would give Israel what they desired: to die in the wilderness, as they had murmured in unbelief (Numbers 14:2). But rather than abandon His covenant promises, He would fulfill them through Moses. The Abrahamic blessing of nationhood could continue through this faithful servant.

For Moses, this was a real and weighty offer. God was not playing with words. Moses could have accepted and become the new patriarch, the founder of a greater and mightier nation. He knew the honor and legacy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — men whose names he himself recorded in the book of Genesis. The temptation to accept such a divine proposal would have been immense. Yet this moment tested Moses’ humility and character more deeply than any before.

This was not the first time such an offer was extended. Back in Exodus 32:7–14, when Israel worshiped the golden calf, God made a similar proposition. Then, as now, Moses stood in the gap between divine wrath and human rebellion. What he would do next would again demonstrate the heart of a true shepherd and intercessor — one who pleads for mercy on behalf of an unworthy people.

2. (Numbers 14:13–16) Moses Intercedes for Israel, Appealing to God’s Glory

And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for Thou broughtest up this people in Thy might from among them;) and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that Thou Lord art among this people, that Thou Lord art seen face to face, and that Thy cloud standeth over them, and that Thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if Thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of Thee will speak, saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which He sware unto them, therefore He hath slain them in the wilderness.

And Moses said unto the Lord: Moses immediately rejected the Lord’s offer to destroy Israel and begin again with him. Instead, he stood in the gap for the people, interceding with humility and compassion. His first and foremost concern was not his own legacy, but the honor and glory of God. Moses loved the people despite their rebellion and pleaded that God’s name not be reproached among the nations. This shows the heart of a true shepherd, one who bears patiently with the faults of the flock and seeks God’s glory above all else.

Then the Egyptians shall hear it, for Thou broughtest up this people in Thy might from among them: Moses’ argument centered on God’s reputation. The Egyptians had witnessed the mighty deliverance of Israel — the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and Pharaoh’s destruction. They knew that Jehovah had shown Himself superior to all the gods of Egypt. If now, after such displays of divine power, God destroyed Israel in the wilderness, it would appear to the surrounding nations that His power had failed. Moses knew the world was watching, and he appealed to God’s zeal for His own glory.

Perhaps then the nations could claim that the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land: Moses’ reasoning was profoundly theological. The rebellion of man might then be misconstrued as being stronger than the grace of God. The Egyptians and Canaanites might mock the Almighty, saying He lacked the power or faithfulness to fulfill His promises. Moses’ intercession reveals a deep understanding of God’s character — that His glory is bound to His Word, and His reputation is inseparable from His covenant.

Which He sware to give them: Moses reminded God of His promise. He appealed not to the merit of the people but to the faithfulness of the divine Word. In prayer, this is a powerful pattern — to hold God to His own promises. Moses knew that God delights when His people remind Him of His Word, not because He forgets, but because it demonstrates faith. Here, Moses prayed in alignment with God’s revealed will, not against it.

3. (Numbers 14:17–19) Moses Intercedes for Israel, Appealing to God’s Power and Promise

And now, I beseech Thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as Thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

Let the power of my Lord be great: Moses’ concept of divine power was not limited to acts of judgment or displays of might. He understood that the greatest power God could show was mercy toward a sinful and rebellious people. The truest demonstration of divine omnipotence is when grace triumphs over wrath, and mercy prevails over justice. Moses therefore pleaded, “Let the power of my Lord be great,” asking that God’s might be shown in forgiveness rather than destruction.

Just as Thou hast spoken: Moses built his prayer on the very words of God. He quoted nearly verbatim from God’s self-revelation in Exodus 34:6–8, when the Lord passed before him and declared His nature — “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” By reminding God of His own Word, Moses anchored his intercession in divine truth. His confidence rested not in emotion or persuasion, but in Scripture.

Longsuffering, abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, by no means clearing the guilty: Each of these attributes underscores the balance of God’s nature — both merciful and just. Moses knew that God could forgive, but He could not overlook sin. The iniquity of Israel had to be dealt with, yet Moses prayed that God would act in accordance with His mercy rather than in full measure of His wrath. He desired that the Lord’s patience and compassion be magnified before all nations.

Pardon the iniquity of this people, I beseech Thee, according unto the greatness of Thy mercy: This was the climax of Moses’ prayer. He knew God’s glory, remembered His promises, and trusted His mercy. The intercession of Moses was not based on Israel’s worthiness but entirely upon the character of God. He appealed to the greatness of God’s mercy — mercy that had already been demonstrated from Egypt until that very day.

What made this intercession remarkable was not merely Moses’ reasoning but his heart. He asked nothing for himself. Though God had offered to exalt him as the father of a new nation, Moses refused any personal glory. His love for the people and his reverence for God’s name overshadowed all self-interest. He desired that God’s purposes, not his own, would prevail. In this moment, Moses reflected the heart of Christ — the ultimate Intercessor who would one day pray, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

This, of course, was God’s intent all along: to draw out of Moses the heart of divine compassion. Through these trials, God shaped His servant into a type of Christ — an intercessor willing to stand between judgment and mercy, embodying the principle later revealed in Romans 8:29, that God’s purpose is to conform His people to the image of His Son.

C. The Fate of Israel After the Rebellion at Kadesh Barnea

1. (Numbers 14:20) God’s Promise of Pardon in Response to Moses’ Intercession

And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word.

I have pardoned: These are among the most gracious words in all of Scripture. God, in response to Moses’ intercession, declares His pardon. Though the people had grievously sinned against Him, accusing Him of evil and rejecting His promises, God in mercy chose to forgive. The heart of Moses, full of compassion and zeal for God’s glory, prevailed in prayer. This moment shows the immense power of intercession. God listens when His faithful servants pray. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

According to thy word: This statement demonstrates that Moses’ prayer genuinely mattered. God did not treat Moses’ intercession as a mere formality. Prayer was not an empty ritual or a divine game of pretense. God allowed Moses’ plea to alter the course of judgment. In doing so, He affirmed the reality and weight of prayer in His sovereign plan.

We may not fully understand the mystery of how divine sovereignty and human intercession coexist, but Scripture consistently presents prayer as a real, vital means by which God accomplishes His will. He invites His people to pray, not as spectators, but as participants in His work. The Lord said plainly, “I have pardoned according to thy word.” This means Moses’ words moved the heart of God. The same truth stands today — we should pray as if life and death depend on it, because, in the providence of God, they often do.

2. (Numbers 14:21–25) The Fate of the Rebels and the Fate of the Faithful

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Because all those men which have seen My glory, and My miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted Me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to My voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked Me see it: But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord: God’s mercy does not diminish His holiness. His actions, whether in mercy or in judgment, always display His glory. In pardoning Israel, He magnified His grace; in chastening their unbelief, He magnified His justice. Both mercy and wrath serve to fill the earth with His glory. The rebellion of man can never overthrow the purposes of God; rather, it becomes the stage upon which His holiness shines all the brighter.

They shall not see the land: Though pardoned from immediate destruction, the generation of unbelievers forfeited the blessing of entering the Promised Land. Their unbelief disqualified them from possession, though not from covenant relationship. This distinction is crucial — pardon spares the sinner from destruction, but faith is required to enter into the fullness of God’s promises. Their bodies would fall in the wilderness, but the covenant of grace would endure in their children.

Because all those men… have tempted Me now these ten times: Their rebellion was not a single act of doubt but the culmination of continual testing of God’s patience. From the Red Sea to Sinai, from the wilderness of Sin to Kadesh, they had murmured and accused God repeatedly. Ten times represents the fullness of provocation — rebellion complete. When sin becomes habitual, judgment becomes inevitable.

But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him: Among the entire generation, Caleb stands out as a shining example of faith. God Himself gives testimony to his character. Caleb’s spirit was different — one of courage, faith, and obedience. When the rest of the people saw giants, Caleb saw the promises of God. When others cried in fear, he spoke with confidence. His faith was not based on sight but on the Word of God.

And hath followed Me fully: This phrase marks the essence of Caleb’s life. He did not follow God halfway, nor did he waver when faith was costly. He wholly followed the Lord. This wholehearted devotion distinguished him from the multitude. In Joshua 14:8–9, Caleb later says, “Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.” For this faithfulness, God promised him not only entry into the land but inheritance for his descendants.

Tomorrow turn and get you into the wilderness: The command to turn back was both punishment and mercy. God sent them back into the wilderness, away from the Amalekites and Canaanites who dwelled in the valleys ahead. Israel had proven they were not yet ready for conquest; their hearts were still those of slaves, not conquerors. Therefore, God would lead them through forty more years of discipline, training, and refinement before a new generation would rise — a generation born in the wilderness, taught by manna and faith, and prepared to walk by obedience.

Israel had reached the border of promise, but unbelief turned them back. They would not enter until faith replaced fear, and obedience replaced rebellion. Thus, the wilderness became God’s classroom, where He would teach them to depend fully on Him.

3. (Numbers 14:26–35) The Death Sentence Upon the Rebels

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against Me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against Me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in Mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against Me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know My breach of promise. I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against Me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

All of you who were numbered… from twenty years old and above: The sentence was final and absolute. The entire adult generation that came out of Egypt, except for Joshua and Caleb, would perish in the wilderness. God had brought them to the edge of promise, but their unbelief barred them from entering. It was as though the Lord said, “You refused the land when it was offered to you in faith, therefore you shall not have it at all.” This was not mere discipline; it was divine justice. Those who rejected His word would now reap the fruit of their own desires.

They said, If only we had died in this wilderness! (Numbers 14:2). God’s response was sobering: He would give them exactly what they had wished for. When they preferred death to faith, God gave them the death they demanded. It is a dangerous thing when murmuring hearts speak unbelief into existence, for God sometimes grants men’s sinful requests to their own destruction (Psalm 106:15).

Except for Caleb… and Joshua: In the midst of judgment, mercy shone brightly. These two men of faith stood as living examples of God’s pleasure in those who trust Him wholly. They had “another spirit” — one of courage and confidence in the Lord. The faithful remnant, though small, was honored. Faith in God’s promise secured their inheritance.

Not even Moses and Aaron were ultimately exempted from exclusion. Moses, though faithful in intercession, had agreed to the people’s request to send spies rather than trusting God’s initial command to take the land. Later, his disobedience at Meribah would further bar him from entry. God’s standards are holy and unwavering — even His greatest servants are held accountable.

But your little ones: Israel’s rebellion was cloaked in false concern for their children. They accused God of bringing them out only to destroy their families (Numbers 14:3). In divine irony, God declared that those very children — whom they claimed to be protecting — would live to enter and possess the land. The unbelieving parents would die in the desert, but their children would inherit by faith what their fathers rejected in fear.

The land which you despised: The people likely protested, saying, “We did not despise it; we simply feared the giants.” But God’s word judges their heart. To reject the promise of God because of fear or unbelief is to despise it. The Promised Land was not merely a piece of real estate; it represented a life of faith, dependence, and spiritual abundance. The carnal mind, preferring comfort and control, despises such a life because it cannot thrive in faith.

Forty days… forty years: God’s judgment was measured and symbolic. The spies’ forty days of unbelieving exploration resulted in forty years of wandering — one year for each day. Their punishment fit the nature of their sin. They refused to believe God for forty days; therefore, they would learn faith through forty years of discipline. God’s mercy was still at work even in judgment, for the wilderness would serve as a refining furnace to raise a new generation of faith.

The old man, the slave-minded man, had to die. The unbelieving heart could never conquer the land of promise. The wilderness years were designed to purge the nation of its carnal nature. In every believer’s life, this principle still applies: the flesh must die before spiritual inheritance can be realized. God will not bring the old nature into the blessings of His rest; He will patiently work until the heart learns to walk by faith.

This turning point in Israel’s history is repeatedly emphasized throughout Scripture as a solemn warning and lesson.

• Psalm 95:7–11: “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known My ways: Unto whom I sware in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest.”
  This passage warns believers that unbelief hardens the heart and robs them of God’s rest.

• Psalm 106:24–27: “Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not His word: but murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord. Therefore He lifted up His hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness: to overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.”
  Here, the psalmist confirms that despising God’s Word is equivalent to despising His blessings.

• Nehemiah 9:16–17: “But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to Thy commandments, and refused to obey, neither were mindful of Thy wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage.”
  Nehemiah reminds Israel that pride, forgetfulness, and rebellion were the roots of their downfall.

• Hebrews 3:7–4:16: The writer of Hebrews applies this directly to the church. God has a rest — a spiritual inheritance — for every believer. It is entered by faith alone. Those who persist in unbelief, self-reliance, and disobedience, though saved from judgment, never experience the fullness of God’s peace and blessing. The message is clear: the man of unbelief cannot enter into God’s rest.

4. (Numbers 14:36–38) An Immediate Death Sentence Upon the Ten Unfaithful Spies

And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.

Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land… died by the plague before the Lord: The judgment upon the ten faithless spies was swift and final. While the rest of the unbelieving generation would die slowly over nearly four decades in the wilderness, these men — the direct instruments of rebellion — were struck immediately by divine plague. They had poisoned the hearts of the people with unbelief, so their punishment came quickly and unmistakably. Their deaths served as a visible and solemn warning that God’s patience has limits and that leadership carries grave responsibility. Those who turn others away from faith will bear a heavier judgment (Matthew 18:6).

Died by the plague before the Lord: Their death “before the Lord” signifies that it came directly from His hand. No natural cause, no accident, no human weapon — this was divine retribution. God’s holiness required it. The “old man” of unbelief cannot coexist with faith and promise. The Lord’s remedy for the flesh is not reform but death. As Paul wrote, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6). The ten spies represent the fleshly mind that doubts God’s promises; Joshua and Caleb represent the renewed mind that walks by faith. The old man dies; the new man inherits.

We are not called to turn over a new leaf, but to be made new creations in Christ. The death of the spies symbolized that the life of unbelief must perish before victory and rest can be attained. In every believer’s life, God will bring the flesh to an end so that the spirit may live in triumph.

5. (Numbers 14:39–45) Aftermath: The Failure of the Attempt to Take the Promised Land by Man’s Strength and Wisdom

And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned. And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper. Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you. But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.

The people mourned greatly: The nation was filled with grief at the announcement of their judgment, but it was not godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). It was the sorrow of regret, not of transformation. They mourned the consequences of their sin but not the sin itself. Their tears were not faith-filled repentance but emotional remorse. Many today respond the same way — sorrowful for the cost of disobedience but unwilling to turn from the unbelief that caused it.

They rose early… and went up to the top of the mountain… saying, “Here we are, and we will go up… for we have sinned!”: Their confession seemed sincere, but their repentance was self-willed. It was man-centered religion — an attempt to fix spiritual rebellion with carnal effort. God had already commanded them to turn back toward the wilderness (Numbers 14:25), but they tried to move forward into Canaan, thinking they could undo their sin by works. Moses warned them plainly, “For this will not succeed.” Obedience delayed is disobedience prolonged. They wanted to do God’s will on their own terms, and that will never prosper.

The Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah: True to Moses’ warning, their human effort ended in disaster. The Lord was not with them; the ark of the covenant — the visible symbol of God’s presence — remained in the camp, as did Moses. They advanced without divine guidance or divine power. They attempted by fleshly zeal what could only be accomplished by faith. Without God’s presence, even the mightiest army is helpless.

Their defeat at Hormah was a tragic reversal — the people who had refused to enter the land when God commanded now tried to enter when God forbade. The principle remains true today: when we refuse to act in faith at God’s timing, our later efforts in self-reliance will fail. The flesh cannot recover what faith has forfeited.

When God was with them, they thought His help was not enough; when God withdrew, they thought they could prevail without Him. Such is the folly of unbelief — it trusts when it should fear, and fears when it should trust.

This incident marks the full circle of rebellion at Kadesh Barnea:

• First, unbelief kept them from entering the land.

• Then, presumption drove them to attempt entrance apart from God’s command.

• Finally, their self-will led to defeat, proving that success in God’s work is never by human power but only by His presence.

Israel’s fate was sealed: forty years of wandering awaited them. Yet through that wandering, God would raise up a new generation of faith — born in the wilderness, trained by dependence, and ready to follow Him wholly into the Promised Land.