22nd.: Speaking ‘God Talk’ does not Help
Whew.
God listened to Moses, to not destroy the Israelites (see yesterday)
However, only those less than 20, and Joshua and Caleb, were going
to be allowed to go into the Promised Land. (Num. 14:31, 33-34)
Otherwise, those older than twenty were going to die in the wilderness.
(Num 14:23, 29, 30)
God began the judgement against the adults by bringing a plague upon Israel
that killed all the spies who searched out the Promised Land,
except of course for Joshua and Caleb (Num. 14:36-38).
After the plague, and after hearing God’s pronounced punishment (relayed by Moses),
the people rose up, and began talking ‘God talk’,
“We be here, and will go up unto the place, which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned” (Num. 14:39b)).
They presumed to go fight the people of Canaan, but were defeated (Num. 14:39-45).
The people had already heard from the Lord (Num. 14:42).
But were not willing to obey. Making religious talk, (e.g. ‘we have sinned’) did not
show true repentance, nor a true willingness to actually obey God.
They had given God no good reason to change His mind, and grant them their requests.
“But the soul that does presumptuously …, reproaches the Lord,” (Num. 15:32a,c)