Careful

Results

Do you believe that when you speak to God He really listens? Do you believe that He really answers? When asking these questions we are usually focused on the positive aspects of prayer. The focus is on how we can expect God to reveal Himself to us through His word and Spirit. Or we may be focused on how God resolved a difficult situation. Or God was gracious to make clear the path forward when making a difficult situation. This is all great! Our Father who is in heaven loves for us to come to Him with all of these things and even more.

But what about when you say something foolish or sinful to God? Do you assume that God disregards those prayers? If we believe that God hears and heeds our prayers, why not those? Actually, I believe that He does respond to those prayers too. Most of the time He shows us grace in helping us to see the error and come to Him quickly with repentance and reliance. But sometimes when those who are hardened by sin and bitterness cry out to God with foolish words, He gives them exactly what they have requested.

Silly Congregation

Have you ever asked for something or desired something and when you received it you realized it was not satisfying? This is exactly what happened with the Isrealites in the wilderness. Frankly, it is important that we acknowledge from the start the silliness of questioning the plan of God, but to some degree we all do. In Numbers 14:2, the people grumble against Moses and Aaron and since they are God’s representatives the grumbling is against God. They lament that they would have been better off to have died in Egypt. They have believed the bad report of the ten cowardly spies and are afraid to take possession of the promised land. They go on to say that they would be better off to die in the desert.

What is so amazing about this is that in an amazing and terrifying way God gives them exactly what they ask for in this foolish moment. The people are so brazen that they are ready to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb but God stops them. Then God tells Moses that He will destroy and disinherit the people and start over with Moses. At this Moses argues for the reprieve of the people for the sake of God’s own glory among the nations. (More on that in a moment) God has shown this people His power and given this people His commandments and provided for their every need. The Lord has shown them kindness, grace, and mercy unmeasurable, but they have proved to be faithless.

The Israelites have three problems that have kept them from believing God and resting in His promises and presents. First, their sight seems hindered. They have been overtaken by spiritual nearsightedness. They just can’t see far enough. They are seeking instantaneous gratification which is leading them to overreact to the temporary hardships. Secondly, they are cowards full of fear. Their faithlessness is most evident in their fear of the people of the land. They are literally giving more credit to these strange people than to the God who brought out of Egypt and through the sea! Third, their desires are too weak. Instead of a passionate desire to follow God and receive His best gift, they are content with the slavery of Eypgt or barron waste of the desert. And so that's what God gives them!

Faithful

In this, God shows that He is faithful even if they are not. Moses had pleaded for the people on the basis of God’s reputation. God, however, knows how to accomplish all His purposes. First, the Lord is faithful to judge. These people have proven themselves to be unbelievers and so God will judge them. They have said that they would be better off to die in the wilderness and so that’s exactly what God does! God says that not one of those who were over the age of 20 during the Exodus will be allowed to enter the promised land. The congregation must wander in the desert 40 years till all the unbelieving generation is dead, except for the faithful Joshua and Caleb. In this way, God both judges their sin and gives them their demented desire.

Secondly, God is faithful to save the nation. Through this 40 year wilderness season God saves a people who will enter into the land promised. The nations must marvel at what the Apostle Paul would later call the kindness and severity of God. He both punishes Israel and saves Israel with the same action.

Finally, God is faithful to win the glory. Remember Moses' argument for not destroying the people was God’s glory, fame, and reputation. But God was able to demonstrate His grace and judgement and still receive all the glory. And this is the story of the gospel. For this God is the one who is both just and justifier of the one who has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

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