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The story in numbers 14

 




After the twelve spies returned with their report, the people of Israel were filled with fear and despair. The ten spies who had given a negative report convinced the people that conquering the land of Canaan was impossible. The Israelites wept loudly through the night and even talked about choosing a new leader to take them back to Egypt (Numbers 14:1-4).

Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the whole assembly, trying to calm the people. Joshua and Caleb, who had faith in God's promise, tore their clothes and urged the people, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land and give it to us. Don’t rebel against the Lord or be afraid of the people in the land, for we will devour them like bread. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid!” (Numbers 14:6-9).

But the people would not listen. They talked about stoning Joshua and Caleb, showing their stubbornness and refusal to trust God.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, expressing His anger at the Israelites' unbelief. Because they had rejected His promise and doubted His power, God declared that none of that generation, except Joshua and Caleb, would enter the Promised Land. Instead, they would wander in the wilderness for forty years—one year for each day the spies had explored the land—until that entire generation died off (Numbers 14:10-35).

Moses pleaded with God to forgive the people, appealing to God's mercy and faithfulness. The Lord listened, but the judgment remained. The Israelites mourned deeply, but their fate was set.


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