Most commentaries online take the 4th generation mentioned in Genesis 15:16 as just another way of describing the same span of 400 years (or 430 years) that the nation of Israel spent in Egypt which is covered in Genesis 15:12-14. This cannot be the case.
Genesis 15:16 answers Abraham's question in Genesis 15:8 about how he would know God would cause his seed to inherit the land God had brought him out of Ur to see that Abram was standing on in Hebron. The thought of asking God about when his seed would leave Egypt had nothing to do with Abrams question in Genesis 15:8, since he knew nothing about his seed going to Egypt until God revealed His plan in Genesis 15:12-14.
Numbers 14:13-25 shows that God made the Israelites wander in the wilderness according to Moses word, which specifically acknowledged God's right to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the 3rd and 4th generations. The 1st generation that left Egypt punished as the fathers was 20 years old at the census in Numbers 1:1-54. The 2nd generation was their children who were born in Egypt and seen God's wonders, but who could not enter God's promised land until 40 years of wandering with their fathers had passed. That generation spent a maximum of 40 years of their years in military service wandering in the wilderness.
The 3rd generation would be born over the first 20 years in the wilderness and would spend a maximum of 20 years of their military service wandering in the wilderness. The 4th generation was born in the last 20 years in the wilderness and first served in the army after entering the promised land. The 5th generation spent no time in the wilderness and began entering the army 20 years into Joshua's campaign.
Caleb was promised Hebron when he was 85 years old, which was 5 years after Israel left the wilderness. Caleb was from the tribe of Judah, the first tribe to gain its inheritance, and he obtained Hebron before he turned 100, the age he would be 20 years into Joshua's campaign.
...to the top of a mountain, saying that they will now go in and take the land promised, because they had sinned. They realized that they had sinned against God by believing the evil report and not trusting God to deliver the land to them. But now they were ready to go into the land and possess it. So, this is what their "repentance" looked like. After they had heard from Moses all that God had said would happen to them, they then were willing to go into the promised land instead of dying in the wilderness.
Moses tells them to not go into the land because the LORD will not go with them. He had decreed that all these people would die in the wilderness and He would not go back on that decree. Moses tells them that the Amalekites and Canaanites are waiting with their swords and they will be slain right off the bat because they had turned from the LORD and He will not protect them nor go with them to conquer.
But the people PRESUMED and went up the mountain, but the Amalekites and Canaanites came down the mountain to smote them. The Israelites could not advance into the promised land due to their presence and strength. Thus ends this chapter.
The word "PRESUMED" is a big word meaning that the people thought that the LORD would surely help them because they were His people. But they were going to do what the LORD disallowed (entering to the land) and their presumption brought them defeat at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites.
We, too, need to be careful of presuming on the Lord that He will spare us or help us or bless us when we step ahead into a sinful way just because we believe. We need to seek His will, not our own and be always thankful and grateful for His mercy, grace, and relationship with us even as we are still sinners.
This chapter in Numbers is very instructive to us in many ways. I have gleaned a few lessons from it. I hope some of you will read it for yourselves and discover what the Holy Spirit brings forth to you.
The LORD says to Moses, "I have pardoned according to thy word; 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 harkened to my voice, surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of them that have provoked me see it.:
Moses is a friend of God. They can reason together because God condescends to hear Moses and consider what he says, not to gain any advice or be softened by Moses' intercession but to reward His friend, Moses, for seeking Him with all of His heart, soul, mind, and strength; for Moses continuing to lead the people as God called him to do; for Moses having a deep love and genuine concern for this nation of people that God has chosen. God knew Moses' heart, all of the thoughts he would ever think or speak, yet the LORD desires to hear Moses and answer his prayers for this rebellious people. How favored Moses was, yet with this favor came great responsibility.
The LORD goes on to say that only Caleb and Joshua, and all of the chidren younger than 20 years old will enter the promised land. The rest of the people will die in the wilderness as they will wander 1 year for every day the leaders were spying out the land. In forty years, all of the people of Israel over 20 years old will die in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb. Moses must have realized that he and Aaron will also die in the wilderness. God was giving the people what they had murmured in God's ear about, dying in the wilderness rather than entering the promised land. (vs. 28). To the men who brought the evil report, God put upon them a plague that killed them swiftly.
The people mourned when they heard from Moses all that the LORD had said. But this was mourning without repentance. The next morning ...,cont.
Instead of heeding what Moses and Aaron pleaded for them to do, the people were ready to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb to death.
At this moment the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle before the people, speaking to Moses :How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed them? I will spite them with pestilence. and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they."
The people had, in just a little over a year, murmured and grumbled and complained and turned away from the LORD many, many times, even though they had agreed to the Sinai covenant. These people received mercy upon mercy from the LORD. He was willing to forgive them over and over again. Even so, all of these sinful occasions provoked God to bring severe judgment upon them, and He had every right to do so. Each time, Moses pleaded with the LORD to be merciful and to stay with this people. God listened to Moses and accepted his intercessory work on behalf of the people. This time God was not only wanting to punish the people, but disinherit them too, and He had every right to do so.
Moses, once again, pleaded with the LORD, speaking to the point that to destroy this people altogether would look like weakness on the part of the LORD to the Egyptians and the people of Canaan. Moses was concerned for the honor of the LORD's name among His people and fearsome reverence from the people in the surrounding lands. Of course, the LORD already knew how Moses would beseech Him in this way. God does not need to be flattered or appeased in any way, but Moses' concern was genuine and the LORD accounted for that in His response to Moses and the people.
In verses 17-18 Moses speaks of the LORD showing His power greatly, And Moses then speaks of the longsuffering of the LORD, His great mercy, and His forgiving nature towards the Israelites throughout the past year.
Look how God's longsuffering and everlasting mercy plays a role in the Nation!
Here's a few points that's often overlooked in this portion of scripture.
Israel was already given the law at this time, however the keeping of the law played no role in them entering the promise land.
Lack of faith did.
There were no requirements on their part but to trust in the unconditional promises God gave to Abraham.
It's God's reputation and ability to provide those promises was and still is on display.
As we look ahead into Ch 14 we see Moses making intercession for Israel by God's promises, "Not Israel's faithfulness"
Notice Numbers 14:11-16.
Today the Church has joined this group in their mockery of God's promises!
God could have ended it right there but he made Promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob "who's later named Israel" that he will make a nation out of them and they would inherit a Land that he laid out.
That's important because they have NEVER possessed all the Land. But they will!
Look at the means by which Moses petition God on the behalf of Israel in Numbers 14:17-
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.
The Nation of Israel is given mercy and inheritance as God's first born.
Exodus 4:22.
Isaiah 14:1-2.
Hosea 2:23.
According to Paul he's not done with them and the promises will be fulfilled to them as a Nation and first born.
This chapter is a continuation of what occurred in chapter 13.
It begins with the people mourning and weeping all night long after hearing the report of the 10 leaders who went into the land as spies and returned with a faithless negative report. They were downhearted because they had come to the edge of the land promised and feared what lay ahead of them in this land-giants/fortified cities/strong armies. They disbelieved God's power and willingness to fight for them in the battles. On top of this faithlessness, they began to murmur AGAIN against Moses and Aaron. They grumbled about being brought all this way only to die at the hands of the inhabitants of the land ahead of them. They remarked that it would be better for them to go back to Egypt or for God to have them die in the wilderness instead of going into the land to possess it only to be slaughtered. They spoke to one another about choosing a new leader to take them back to Egypt.
These adult Israelites could not trust God, even after all of the miraculous ways He delivered them already and the miraculous ways He provided for them-manna and quail and water. They could not look at what God had done for them and believe that He would continue to deliver them from their enemies. But it seems that in their case, they themselves were their own worst enemy. Instead of believing in God's power and love like Joshua, Caleb, Moses and Aaron did, they murmured so much that they convinced most of their fellow Israelites to disbelieve and grumble, too. They, as a whole, were convinced that Moses and Aaron were not the best leaders for them anymore, even though God had chosen these two men to be their leaders. Their distrust, unbelief, and badmouthing of God's chosen leaders fomented widespread rebellion throughout the camp (of several million).
Moses and Aaron prostrated themselves before the people and entreated them to repent and seek God's mercy. Caleb and Joshua rent their clothes. ...cont.
Gi-Gi Gbu but Rev. 11:15 Plainly tells us The Kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever...And Jesus tells us the Kingdom is gona be with in you....Thats y he tells us the Kingdom will come as a man who sows seed in his field which is the world us sinners which is gona initiate a Birth of Christ in us...Thats y he always refers to himself as the Son of Man...Thats y he said unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...Gi Gi this is not completely new...It goes all the way back to Egypt....Your LIL ONES who you said wd be a prey...them will i bring in...The manchild is the lil ones the H.G. that has to be born in us via faith.... Numbers 14:31 answer to the babes and sucklings...That can praise God with a perfect praise...Which are our new hearts and new spirits...Unlike us that go a whoring after all kinds of materialistic things...
....When Jesus said that which is BORN... BORN of the Spirit is Spirit is telling us that the Spirit has to be born ( the H.G.) in us..Thus he is just a Spritual infant..Thats y he has to know us that his incorruptible seed will be sown in our hearts....The Child of Promise has to be Born in us which is the H.G. a living being as his words are the seeds of living beings...Which are the contents of that Book in the Fathers right hand that has not been opened just yet that New Covenant...Gi-Gi its b/c of the book that N.C. that the woman is giving birth to the manchild which are the Children of PROMISE..Remember that great PROMISE when God Almighty swore by his very self that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of Heaven..Nothin can stop this great spiritual pregnancy from happening..Thats y 27 times the prophets in the O.T. saw the world in travail and birth pains.
When a woman is pregnant she has the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen...The child is evidence she has known the bridegroom. Jesus .
Generation as described biblically: Please read = Genesis 7:1, Ecclesiastes 1:4, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:3, Matthew 1,
In comparison to your example of Noah- Exodus 20:1-5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 2:14, Judges 2:10, 2Kings 10:30, 2Kings 15:12, Hebrews 3, Luke 1:50, Psalms 102:18, John 17,
Prophetic about Jesus & other generations- Proverbs 30:12,13,14, Isaiah 53:8, Matthew 11,
alex1939...Gerald Gbu But we have to keep in mind that the Kingdom does NOT come till the woman births the manchild...Rev.12:10...Its the Kingdom we are all hoping for...Remember Jesus said the Kingdom of God will come as a man who sows seed in his field...And our hearts is that field where the good seed is sown...Thats y he is saying unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...( A spiritual pregnancy ) via his seed the word...The woman in Rev 12 had to go thru a spritual pregnancy...By hearing his word his seeds as he said the good seed is the words of God...The book that he wrote with his own blood contains the living words of God and is that New Covenant in his blood...Drink ye all of it...Remember when he took the cup and said drink ye all of it this is the New testament in my blood...( the new covenant. )
.....And we have to keep in mind that the manchild fits the spirit of truth that is gonna rule all nations....Goes back to Jeremiah 1 when Jeremiah said he cd not speak he was just a Child...Jesus said the spirit of truth cd not speak of himself....Thats b/c he is gonna be born in Humanity...He is just an infant...A Spiritual infant...She brought forth a manchild a kingdom Child...As Jesus said that which is born of the spirit is spirit...Our new innerman has to be born in us via the seed of Jesus...As his seed/word triggers a spiritual pregnancy Which is Faith the substance of a baby Christ the Kingdom ...That New Born Babe desiring the sincere milk of the word is the H.G. and is that Child of Promise, the H.G. The Kingdom...Unless you receive the Kingdom as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...Remember even back in the O.T. only the babes cd enter the promise land... Numbers 14:31..That woman in Rev. 12 is a beautiful picture of the Church birthing Christ...The son of man...mankinds fruit unto God...Keep in mind Gerald this analogy fits the New Birth via his blood..The New Covenant..An Israel of God.k
alex1939..Hi Gerald..I enjoy reading your post... Numbers 14:31-...God told Israel your LITTLE ONES who you said will be a prey them will i bring into the land.
....This is a beautiful Picture of Salvation under the New Covenant...Where we must be bornagain of an incorruptible seed giving birth to the babes and sucklings in our hearts...Our new innerman, Our new hearts and new Spirits...Unless you receive the Kingdom of God ( the Promise land ) as a lil child you will in no wise enter there in...Our New Hearts and spirits is the H.G. the Children of PROMISE that resulted from his death... Zech 13:7..Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered then i will turn my hand to the little ones...The babes and Sucklings which are spirits the H.G. that are gonna be as the stars of heaven in multitudes...That was the great Promise that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven...Thats y Jesus refers to the H.G as the promise he is the multiplication of Jesus/God...God swore by his very self when he made that Promise...Thus the babes and sucklings are Spirits the H.G...A number no man can number...Is what John saw standing before the throne in white raiment..But these things are hid from the wise and prudent but revealed unto babes....Unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in... Numbers 14:31 The little ones that you said wd be a prey them will i bring in...k lemme go
Thank you Gerald, I do enjoy reading your various posts. But just on the matter of, "How long did it take for the children of Isreal to go from Egypt to the promised land? I would hazard the thought that most if not all will say 40 years .I too once thought so", how do you understand Numbers 14:26-34, particularly verses 33 & 34. Is the mention of forty years only figurative?
Hello Edna. Numbers 13:27-30 ties in with the rest of this chapter. Briefly, Moses had called in the leaders of each of the twelve tribes (plus Joshua) to go and spy out the land (Canaan) before them prior to them proceeding to conquer it.
So they went out & brought out a dual report. One, that it truly was a "land that floweth with milk and honey" (i.e. a phrase used to denote a very fertile & abundant land), so it was a land that would be very useful for them for their cattle & agriculture. Though secondly, it was also a land that had tall and strong men there, with fortified cities which could easily overpower them. Eleven of those leaders brought in this report & advised that they should not proceed because they would be defeated. But only one amongst them, Caleb of Judah, who also saw what the other men saw, but Caleb also saw his God who had promised them this land & would supernaturally overcome these great & powerful people.
You can read the aftermath of this incident in the next chapter, where both Caleb & Joshua rent their clothes in dismay because of the faithlessness of the people, and the LORD commended Caleb, saying, "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" ( Numbers 14:24). I hope this short comment will help you understand what was happening at that time.
There are more than one instance where the Bible records this happened...
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, ( Deuteronomy 34:10)
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. ( Genesis 32:30)
Jacob boldly says, And my life is perserved...
Why else would Jacob say, And my life is preserved?
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, ( Numbers 14:14)
And the Bible commands us to seek His face...
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. . ( Psalms 27:8)
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. ( Psalms 105:4)
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. ( 1 Chronicles 16:11)
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ( 2 Chronicles 7:14)
The Mormons have a book of Scripture that tells us how Moses and others saw God face to face and lived.
Mormon Scripture says the only way man can see God face to face and live is to be out of the body having God's priesthood.
the Israelites were in the wilderness 40 years from leaving Egypt and upon entering the promised land with Joshua as their new leader after Moses died at 120 years. (40 years in Egypt, 40 years in exile, 40 years leading Israelites in the wilderness.)
Numbers 20:7-12, is a portion of the whole story & reason.
Let's look at the bigger picture:
Numbers 20:12, please note it says "Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore._._" , Please read Exodus, Moses' doubts: Exodus 3:11,13, Exodus 4:1,3,10,14, Exodus 4:24-26, Exodus 5:22, Exodus 6:12, Exodus 6:30, Exodus 14:11-15, Exodus 16:2-28, Exodus 17:2-7, Exodus 32:11-19,30,31,32,33, Exodus 33:1-3, Numbers 11:1-15, mercy ( Numbers 11:16-20,) Numbers 11:21-23, * Numbers 13, Numbers 13:30,31,32, * Numbers 14, very significant I believe, when they were supposed to take the promised land please read Numbers chapters 13 & 14, & notice: Numbers 13:30, Numbers 14:24, Numbers 14:22-23,
Is there scripture outside Revelation that confirms an exact 1000 years? The answer is no. Are there false teachers out there? The answer is yes, there are many, 1 John 4:1. Are there scriptures that say the Son of God will reign on earth? The answer is yes. Psalm 2:6-9Psalm 22:27-31Isaiah 2:1-4Isaiah 9:6-7Isaiah 24:21-23Jeremiah 23:5Ezekiel 20:33-44Ezekiel 39:21-29Zechariah 2:10-13Zechariah 8:2-3Zechariah 14:1-9Matthew 19:28Revelation 11:15Revelation 20:4 and more.
Is there any scripture that says people will go to or reign in heaven? The answer is no. Are there scriptures that say the elect will reign with Jesus on earth? The answer is yes. Daniel 7:272 Timothy 2:11-13Revelation 5:10. Are there scriptures that describe how things change after Jesus returns? The answer is yes. Zechariah 8:4Isaiah 11Isaiah 60:15Isaiah 65:18-25. These people will be alive on the second coming of Jesus, they will have the opportunity to live longer if they choose to obey God.
Are there things that have not been revealed to us? The answer is, yes? Jesus will return and set up the kingdom here on earth and He will put all enemies under His feet, 1 Corinthians 15:25. Will death still be during the time Jesus is ruling? The answer is yes. The purpose is to fulfill the rest of the scriptures with Jesus, Israel, the Gentiles, and creation that has not yet been fulfilled.
The only scripture that gives us 1000 years is Revelation, but many scriptures tell us the kingdom will be set up on earth. We have these, Numbers 14:21Psalms 115:16Micah 4:1-3Matthew 5:5Matthew 6:10. Not to debate, with the time it will take I cannot say the 1000 years are false.
The Bible is The Word of God traditionally consisting of The Old Testament, The New Testament, and the Apocrypha. Some say the 14 Books of the Apocrypha was removed from American Bibles in the 1800's.
In many older American Bibles the Apocrypha was placed between The Old Testament and The New Testament because some believe the Apocrypha was written between the period between of The Old Testament and The New Testament. The Greek word for word Apocrypha is apokryphos means hidden.
The 14 Books of the Apocrypha are I Esdras; II Esdras; Tobit; Judith; The rest of Esther; The Wisdom of Solomon; Ecclesiasticus; Baruch, with the Epistle of Jeremiah; The Song of the Three Holy Children; The History of Susanna; Bel and the Dragon; The Prayer of Manasses; I Maccabees; and II Maccabees.
Genesis 15:16 answers Abraham's question in Genesis 15:8 about how he would know God would cause his seed to inherit the land God had brought him out of Ur to see that Abram was standing on in Hebron. The thought of asking God about when his seed would leave Egypt had nothing to do with Abrams question in Genesis 15:8, since he knew nothing about his seed going to Egypt until God revealed His plan in Genesis 15:12-14.
Numbers 14:13-25 shows that God made the Israelites wander in the wilderness according to Moses word, which specifically acknowledged God's right to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the 3rd and 4th generations. The 1st generation that left Egypt punished as the fathers was 20 years old at the census in Numbers 1:1-54. The 2nd generation was their children who were born in Egypt and seen God's wonders, but who could not enter God's promised land until 40 years of wandering with their fathers had passed. That generation spent a maximum of 40 years of their years in military service wandering in the wilderness.
The 3rd generation would be born over the first 20 years in the wilderness and would spend a maximum of 20 years of their military service wandering in the wilderness. The 4th generation was born in the last 20 years in the wilderness and first served in the army after entering the promised land. The 5th generation spent no time in the wilderness and began entering the army 20 years into Joshua's campaign.
Caleb was promised Hebron when he was 85 years old, which was 5 years after Israel left the wilderness. Caleb was from the tribe of Judah, the first tribe to gain its inheritance, and he obtained Hebron before he turned 100, the age he would be 20 years into Joshua's campaign.
PART 4
...to the top of a mountain, saying that they will now go in and take the land promised, because they had sinned. They realized that they had sinned against God by believing the evil report and not trusting God to deliver the land to them. But now they were ready to go into the land and possess it. So, this is what their "repentance" looked like. After they had heard from Moses all that God had said would happen to them, they then were willing to go into the promised land instead of dying in the wilderness.
Moses tells them to not go into the land because the LORD will not go with them. He had decreed that all these people would die in the wilderness and He would not go back on that decree. Moses tells them that the Amalekites and Canaanites are waiting with their swords and they will be slain right off the bat because they had turned from the LORD and He will not protect them nor go with them to conquer.
But the people PRESUMED and went up the mountain, but the Amalekites and Canaanites came down the mountain to smote them. The Israelites could not advance into the promised land due to their presence and strength. Thus ends this chapter.
The word "PRESUMED" is a big word meaning that the people thought that the LORD would surely help them because they were His people. But they were going to do what the LORD disallowed (entering to the land) and their presumption brought them defeat at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites.
We, too, need to be careful of presuming on the Lord that He will spare us or help us or bless us when we step ahead into a sinful way just because we believe. We need to seek His will, not our own and be always thankful and grateful for His mercy, grace, and relationship with us even as we are still sinners.
This chapter in Numbers is very instructive to us in many ways. I have gleaned a few lessons from it. I hope some of you will read it for yourselves and discover what the Holy Spirit brings forth to you.
PT. 3
The LORD says to Moses, "I have pardoned according to thy word; 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 harkened to my voice, surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of them that have provoked me see it.:
Moses is a friend of God. They can reason together because God condescends to hear Moses and consider what he says, not to gain any advice or be softened by Moses' intercession but to reward His friend, Moses, for seeking Him with all of His heart, soul, mind, and strength; for Moses continuing to lead the people as God called him to do; for Moses having a deep love and genuine concern for this nation of people that God has chosen. God knew Moses' heart, all of the thoughts he would ever think or speak, yet the LORD desires to hear Moses and answer his prayers for this rebellious people. How favored Moses was, yet with this favor came great responsibility.
The LORD goes on to say that only Caleb and Joshua, and all of the chidren younger than 20 years old will enter the promised land. The rest of the people will die in the wilderness as they will wander 1 year for every day the leaders were spying out the land. In forty years, all of the people of Israel over 20 years old will die in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb. Moses must have realized that he and Aaron will also die in the wilderness. God was giving the people what they had murmured in God's ear about, dying in the wilderness rather than entering the promised land. (vs. 28). To the men who brought the evil report, God put upon them a plague that killed them swiftly.
The people mourned when they heard from Moses all that the LORD had said. But this was mourning without repentance. The next morning ...,cont.
...CONT.
Instead of heeding what Moses and Aaron pleaded for them to do, the people were ready to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb to death.
At this moment the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle before the people, speaking to Moses :How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed them? I will spite them with pestilence. and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they."
The people had, in just a little over a year, murmured and grumbled and complained and turned away from the LORD many, many times, even though they had agreed to the Sinai covenant. These people received mercy upon mercy from the LORD. He was willing to forgive them over and over again. Even so, all of these sinful occasions provoked God to bring severe judgment upon them, and He had every right to do so. Each time, Moses pleaded with the LORD to be merciful and to stay with this people. God listened to Moses and accepted his intercessory work on behalf of the people. This time God was not only wanting to punish the people, but disinherit them too, and He had every right to do so.
Moses, once again, pleaded with the LORD, speaking to the point that to destroy this people altogether would look like weakness on the part of the LORD to the Egyptians and the people of Canaan. Moses was concerned for the honor of the LORD's name among His people and fearsome reverence from the people in the surrounding lands. Of course, the LORD already knew how Moses would beseech Him in this way. God does not need to be flattered or appeased in any way, but Moses' concern was genuine and the LORD accounted for that in His response to Moses and the people.
In verses 17-18 Moses speaks of the LORD showing His power greatly, And Moses then speaks of the longsuffering of the LORD, His great mercy, and His forgiving nature towards the Israelites throughout the past year.
cont.
Look how God's longsuffering and everlasting mercy plays a role in the Nation!
Here's a few points that's often overlooked in this portion of scripture.
Israel was already given the law at this time, however the keeping of the law played no role in them entering the promise land.
Lack of faith did.
There were no requirements on their part but to trust in the unconditional promises God gave to Abraham.
It's God's reputation and ability to provide those promises was and still is on display.
As we look ahead into Ch 14 we see Moses making intercession for Israel by God's promises, "Not Israel's faithfulness"
Notice Numbers 14:11-16.
Today the Church has joined this group in their mockery of God's promises!
God could have ended it right there but he made Promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob "who's later named Israel" that he will make a nation out of them and they would inherit a Land that he laid out.
That's important because they have NEVER possessed all the Land. But they will!
Look at the means by which Moses petition God on the behalf of Israel in Numbers 14:17-
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.
The Nation of Israel is given mercy and inheritance as God's first born.
Exodus 4:22.
Isaiah 14:1-2.
Hosea 2:23.
According to Paul he's not done with them and the promises will be fulfilled to them as a Nation and first born.
Romans 10:19-21 through
Romans 11:1-4.
Conclusion.
Romans 11:30-32.
God bless.
This chapter is a continuation of what occurred in chapter 13.
It begins with the people mourning and weeping all night long after hearing the report of the 10 leaders who went into the land as spies and returned with a faithless negative report. They were downhearted because they had come to the edge of the land promised and feared what lay ahead of them in this land-giants/fortified cities/strong armies. They disbelieved God's power and willingness to fight for them in the battles. On top of this faithlessness, they began to murmur AGAIN against Moses and Aaron. They grumbled about being brought all this way only to die at the hands of the inhabitants of the land ahead of them. They remarked that it would be better for them to go back to Egypt or for God to have them die in the wilderness instead of going into the land to possess it only to be slaughtered. They spoke to one another about choosing a new leader to take them back to Egypt.
These adult Israelites could not trust God, even after all of the miraculous ways He delivered them already and the miraculous ways He provided for them-manna and quail and water. They could not look at what God had done for them and believe that He would continue to deliver them from their enemies. But it seems that in their case, they themselves were their own worst enemy. Instead of believing in God's power and love like Joshua, Caleb, Moses and Aaron did, they murmured so much that they convinced most of their fellow Israelites to disbelieve and grumble, too. They, as a whole, were convinced that Moses and Aaron were not the best leaders for them anymore, even though God had chosen these two men to be their leaders. Their distrust, unbelief, and badmouthing of God's chosen leaders fomented widespread rebellion throughout the camp (of several million).
Moses and Aaron prostrated themselves before the people and entreated them to repent and seek God's mercy. Caleb and Joshua rent their clothes. ...cont.
....When Jesus said that which is BORN... BORN of the Spirit is Spirit is telling us that the Spirit has to be born ( the H.G.) in us..Thus he is just a Spritual infant..Thats y he has to know us that his incorruptible seed will be sown in our hearts....The Child of Promise has to be Born in us which is the H.G. a living being as his words are the seeds of living beings...Which are the contents of that Book in the Fathers right hand that has not been opened just yet that New Covenant...Gi-Gi its b/c of the book that N.C. that the woman is giving birth to the manchild which are the Children of PROMISE..Remember that great PROMISE when God Almighty swore by his very self that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of Heaven..Nothin can stop this great spiritual pregnancy from happening..Thats y 27 times the prophets in the O.T. saw the world in travail and birth pains.
When a woman is pregnant she has the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen...The child is evidence she has known the bridegroom. Jesus .
In comparison to your example of Noah- Exodus 20:1-5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 2:14, Judges 2:10, 2Kings 10:30, 2Kings 15:12, Hebrews 3, Luke 1:50, Psalms 102:18, John 17,
Prophetic about Jesus & other generations- Proverbs 30:12,13,14, Isaiah 53:8, Matthew 11,
Psalms 12:6-7, Psalms 14,
Hopefully these are helpful
.....And we have to keep in mind that the manchild fits the spirit of truth that is gonna rule all nations....Goes back to Jeremiah 1 when Jeremiah said he cd not speak he was just a Child...Jesus said the spirit of truth cd not speak of himself....Thats b/c he is gonna be born in Humanity...He is just an infant...A Spiritual infant...She brought forth a manchild a kingdom Child...As Jesus said that which is born of the spirit is spirit...Our new innerman has to be born in us via the seed of Jesus...As his seed/word triggers a spiritual pregnancy Which is Faith the substance of a baby Christ the Kingdom ...That New Born Babe desiring the sincere milk of the word is the H.G. and is that Child of Promise, the H.G. The Kingdom...Unless you receive the Kingdom as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...Remember even back in the O.T. only the babes cd enter the promise land... Numbers 14:31..That woman in Rev. 12 is a beautiful picture of the Church birthing Christ...The son of man...mankinds fruit unto God...Keep in mind Gerald this analogy fits the New Birth via his blood..The New Covenant..An Israel of God.k
....This is a beautiful Picture of Salvation under the New Covenant...Where we must be bornagain of an incorruptible seed giving birth to the babes and sucklings in our hearts...Our new innerman, Our new hearts and new Spirits...Unless you receive the Kingdom of God ( the Promise land ) as a lil child you will in no wise enter there in...Our New Hearts and spirits is the H.G. the Children of PROMISE that resulted from his death... Zech 13:7..Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered then i will turn my hand to the little ones...The babes and Sucklings which are spirits the H.G. that are gonna be as the stars of heaven in multitudes...That was the great Promise that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven...Thats y Jesus refers to the H.G as the promise he is the multiplication of Jesus/God...God swore by his very self when he made that Promise...Thus the babes and sucklings are Spirits the H.G...A number no man can number...Is what John saw standing before the throne in white raiment..But these things are hid from the wise and prudent but revealed unto babes....Unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in... Numbers 14:31 The little ones that you said wd be a prey them will i bring in...k lemme go
So they went out & brought out a dual report. One, that it truly was a "land that floweth with milk and honey" (i.e. a phrase used to denote a very fertile & abundant land), so it was a land that would be very useful for them for their cattle & agriculture. Though secondly, it was also a land that had tall and strong men there, with fortified cities which could easily overpower them. Eleven of those leaders brought in this report & advised that they should not proceed because they would be defeated. But only one amongst them, Caleb of Judah, who also saw what the other men saw, but Caleb also saw his God who had promised them this land & would supernaturally overcome these great & powerful people.
You can read the aftermath of this incident in the next chapter, where both Caleb & Joshua rent their clothes in dismay because of the faithlessness of the people, and the LORD commended Caleb, saying, "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" ( Numbers 14:24). I hope this short comment will help you understand what was happening at that time.
pt 3
Regarding speaking to the Lord face to face...
There are more than one instance where the Bible records this happened...
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, ( Deuteronomy 34:10)
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. ( Genesis 32:30)
Jacob boldly says, And my life is perserved...
Why else would Jacob say, And my life is preserved?
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, ( Numbers 14:14)
And the Bible commands us to seek His face...
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. . ( Psalms 27:8)
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. ( Psalms 105:4)
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. ( 1 Chronicles 16:11)
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ( 2 Chronicles 7:14)
The Mormons have a book of Scripture that tells us how Moses and others saw God face to face and lived.
Mormon Scripture says the only way man can see God face to face and live is to be out of the body having God's priesthood.
That explains the contradiction.
Ecclesiastes 7:8, Psalms 86:15, Romans 2:4, 1Corinthians 4:5, Ruth 1:16,22, Ruth 4:11-22, Luke 3:23-38, note Luke 3:32
Psalms 130:3,4, Isaiah 54:8,
LORD help us all be faithful
Hopefully these are helpful
the Israelites were in the wilderness 40 years from leaving Egypt and upon entering the promised land with Joshua as their new leader after Moses died at 120 years. (40 years in Egypt, 40 years in exile, 40 years leading Israelites in the wilderness.)
Hopefully these are helpful
1John 4:1-20,
Genesis 41:8, Genesis 45:27, Exodus 6:9, Exodus 28:3, Exodus 35:12, Numbers 14:24, Deuteronomy 2:30, Deuteronomy 34:9, Joshua 5:1, Proverbs 18:14, Ezekiel 1:20, Romans 8:14-16, Haggi 1:14,
Isaiah 11:2,
Leviticus 20:27, Numbers 5:14,30,
Numbers 11:17,25,
Judges 9:23,
Hopefully these are helpful
Yes I believe the little children and some mentally challenged people will go to heaven.
Here's why, There seems to be an age of accountability.
Deuteronomy 1:39. Here Joshua reminds Israel of the decree given by God in Numbers 14:21-33. Here the age of accountability is 20 years old.
James 4:17. I don't see a one year old knowing he's in need of a savior.
Romans 14:12. This is something a child can't do.
King David seems to think at least babies go to heaven in 2 Samuel 12:19-23.
Today this may have more to do with maturity which differs from one kid to another.
Perhaps at an early age one may know good from evil but lack full knowledge and understanding of the gospel, and need of a savior. I hope this helps.
God bless.
Daniel 9:2, searching the prophetic timelines,
Other years mysteries: Isaiah 61:2, Isaiah 63:4, Jeremiah 11:23, Jeremiah 17:8, Jeremiah 23:12, Jeremiah 48:44, Jeremiah 51:46, Ezekiel 46:17, Luke 4:19, Luke 13:8, Revelation 9:15, Daniel 11:6,
Sometimes in prophetic dreams things symbolized days & years,
additional amounts of time described at "times" Daniel 4:23,25,32, Daniel 7:25, Daniel 8:14,17,19,26
Weeks; Daniel 9:24-27, Daniel 12:1,9,
Days: Daniel 12:11,12,13, 2Peter 3:7-13,
Also a Day is like a thousand years unto The LORD: 2Peter 3:8, Psalms 90:4,
* Daniel 2:20-22, James 1:5,
Hopefully these are helpful to your study
Numbers 20:7-12, is a portion of the whole story & reason.
Let's look at the bigger picture:
Numbers 20:12, please note it says "Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore._._" , Please read Exodus, Moses' doubts: Exodus 3:11,13, Exodus 4:1,3,10,14, Exodus 4:24-26, Exodus 5:22, Exodus 6:12, Exodus 6:30, Exodus 14:11-15, Exodus 16:2-28, Exodus 17:2-7, Exodus 32:11-19,30,31,32,33, Exodus 33:1-3, Numbers 11:1-15, mercy ( Numbers 11:16-20,) Numbers 11:21-23, * Numbers 13, Numbers 13:30,31,32, * Numbers 14, very significant I believe, when they were supposed to take the promised land please read Numbers chapters 13 & 14, & notice: Numbers 13:30, Numbers 14:24, Numbers 14:22-23,
Psalms 95:6-11, note Psalms 95:10-11,
Hebrews 3:5-19, Luke 13:24, Mark 10:15,
Hopefully this is helpful
Is there scripture outside Revelation that confirms an exact 1000 years? The answer is no. Are there false teachers out there? The answer is yes, there are many, 1 John 4:1. Are there scriptures that say the Son of God will reign on earth? The answer is yes. Psalm 2:6-9 Psalm 22:27-31 Isaiah 2:1-4 Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah 24:21-23 Jeremiah 23:5 Ezekiel 20:33-44 Ezekiel 39:21-29 Zechariah 2:10-13 Zechariah 8:2-3 Zechariah 14:1-9 Matthew 19:28 Revelation 11:15 Revelation 20:4 and more.
Is there any scripture that says people will go to or reign in heaven? The answer is no. Are there scriptures that say the elect will reign with Jesus on earth? The answer is yes. Daniel 7:27 2 Timothy 2:11-13 Revelation 5:10. Are there scriptures that describe how things change after Jesus returns? The answer is yes. Zechariah 8:4 Isaiah 11 Isaiah 60:15 Isaiah 65:18-25. These people will be alive on the second coming of Jesus, they will have the opportunity to live longer if they choose to obey God.
Are there things that have not been revealed to us? The answer is, yes? Jesus will return and set up the kingdom here on earth and He will put all enemies under His feet, 1 Corinthians 15:25. Will death still be during the time Jesus is ruling? The answer is yes. The purpose is to fulfill the rest of the scriptures with Jesus, Israel, the Gentiles, and creation that has not yet been fulfilled.
The only scripture that gives us 1000 years is Revelation, but many scriptures tell us the kingdom will be set up on earth. We have these, Numbers 14:21 Psalms 115:16 Micah 4:1-3 Matthew 5:5 Matthew 6:10. Not to debate, with the time it will take I cannot say the 1000 years are false.
God bless,
RLW
Numbers 14:31-33*, read all of Numbers 14, Numbers 20:12, Acts 7:40-43, Hebrews 8:9,
Hopefully this is helpful & adds well to your discussion.
In many older American Bibles the Apocrypha was placed between The Old Testament and The New Testament because some believe the Apocrypha was written between the period between of The Old Testament and The New Testament. The Greek word for word Apocrypha is apokryphos means hidden.
The 14 Books of the Apocrypha are I Esdras; II Esdras; Tobit; Judith; The rest of Esther; The Wisdom of Solomon; Ecclesiasticus; Baruch, with the Epistle of Jeremiah; The Song of the Three Holy Children; The History of Susanna; Bel and the Dragon; The Prayer of Manasses; I Maccabees; and II Maccabees.