GO AND NOT GRUMBLE!

GO AND NOT GRUMBLE!

So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it— these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived. —Numbers 14:36-38

            Influencing a people away from our Lord’s desires is a dangerous course to take.  Twelve men were sent to explore the land and when they returned there were ten of them that made the whole community grumble.  They spread a bad report of the land among the people to discourage them to enter the land as our Lord commanded them to do.  Instead they were encouraging them to return to Egypt.  There are consequences for grumbling against the Lord and against those He is working through.  There are consequences for disobedience and rebellion against our Lord.

            The influence of the ten was so great that “the whole assembly talked about stoning them” —Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:10).  Joshua and Caleb pleaded with all the Israelites that “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them” (Numbers 14:7-9).  They would not listen… they wanted to go back to Egypt.

            The consequences for the ten scouts that incited this rebellion were that they “were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord” (Numbers 14:37).  The consequence for the Israelite assembly was they would wonder in the wilderness for 40 years.  Those 20 years old and older that grumbled against the Lord would die in the wilderness (Numbers 14:32-35).  Of that age group only Joshua and Caleb would eventually enter the land.

            So… grumbling against our Lord or against those He has chosen as leaders to move forward His purposes is a very dangerous position to take.  Let us make sure we are lining up with His purposes and not be grumbling against them, against Him or those He is working through to further His purposes!  Dear Father may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLX83HbefrI&list=UUf1NPIFOBwzTLVQiEDnq4Cw&index=27