QT 8 Feb 11, We need to listen the first time

Num 14:32-35, 39-41, 44-45 (NIV) But you — your bodies will fall in this desert. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. 34 For forty years — one year for each of the forty days you explored the land — you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.' 35 I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this desert; here they will die."

. . .

39 When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. 40 Early the next morning they went up toward the high hill country. "We have sinned," they said. "We will go up to the place the Lord promised."

41 But Moses said, "Why are you disobeying the Lord's command? This will not succeed!  . . .

44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord's covenant moved from the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

NOTE: There are a number of interesting observations in this passage.

The children are called shepherds (vs. 33), because they will take care of their aged parents until they die in the desert. I suppose that is the responsibility of the children, although not always recognized by the children.

The forty years of wandering is meant to remind the nation of the forty days of exploration, and the resulting disobedience.

In verses 36-38 (not shown), ten of the twelve die from plague immediately.

The Israelites repent (vs. 39-40), but that does not change the consequences of their sin. Repentance is important. It washes away guilt, but it does not prevent consequences of the previous sin. Too many think that asking forgiveness after some sin will also take away the consequences and that is not true. It is possible for God to be merciful, but it is not a given.

They move out without God's leading and protection and many are killed and destroyed in the attack on Caanan. If God is not in it, the result can be disastrous.