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Lesson 118 – Moses Veiled His Face: Part I

Focus Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35-And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount

Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that

Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30And when Aaron and

all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to

come nigh him. 31And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation

returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. 32And afterward all the children of Israel came

nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. 33And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. 34But when Moses went

in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out,

and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. 35And the children of Israel

saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face

again, until he went in to speak with him.

Golden Text: Exodus 34:33- And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his

face.

Introduction

In our last lesson, we observed that persistence in prayer produced results. Because the

Israelites had made a graven image and worshipped it, claiming that this image was the god that

brought them out of Egypt, God had told Moses that He would not go up to the Promised Land

with them, lest His holy presence consume them. Moses interceded with the Lord, and not only

did the Lord He promise to be with them, He also made this covenantal statement, “And he said,

Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in

all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of

the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. 11Observe thou that which I command

thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and

the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite” (Exodus 34:10-11). The holy, omnipotent God

allowed Himself to be influenced by prayerful intersession.

In the following two lessons, we well observe that when Moses left God’s presence and

spoke to the people, he covered his face. We will discuss his reason for so doing, and in the

process, explicate the two prevailing views why Moses veiled his face.

Commentary

In Exodus 34:29-30, we read, “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount

Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that

Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30And when Aaron and all

the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to

come nigh him.” According to verse 29b, Moses was not aware that his face shone with God’s

glory, although it was quite clear to the observers. Aaron and Israel were afraid to approach him.

Just imagine, when Moses left to meet with God on the mountain, there was nothing

singular about the skin of his face, but having spent time with God, there was a radical

transformation. I hasten to add that in a spiritual sense, when God’s people spend time in His

presence, there is an inner transformation that often reflects in such a person’s attitude toward

God and others, and even in his or her countenance. We cannot be in God’s presence without

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experiencing a radical change, for the glory of His presence is transforming. God’s holy presence

sheds light on our impurities, convicts the heart, and drives us to declare like Isaiah, “Then said

I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a

people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isa. 6:5).

Peter Enns observes that “Moses’ glow is actually an afterglow from being in God’s

presence. Enns quoted Cassuto as remarking, “something of the Divine glory remained with

him.”1 What are we to make of the veil? What was its purpose in this instance? Enns offers that,

“Its purpose is to cover Moses’ face in the presence of the people after he enters “the LORD’s

presence” (v. 34). The veil is not needed when he speaks with God; but when he speaks to the

people, Moses’ radiant face causes the same frightful reaction. Within the broader context of

Exodus, we may think of Moses’ veil functioning in a similar way to the veil or curtain in the

tabernacle. Just as the people could not enter the Most Holy Place to behold God’s glory, now

they cannot behold the glory of God reflected in Moses. He has, therefore, become the

embodiment of the tabernacle; his role as mediator has reached a level and depth not yet

attained.”2

Upon observing that Aaron and the people backed away from him, Moses had to call

them to come to him, where he spoke with Aaron and the rulers of the people (verse 31). It is not

hard to imagine Moses asking them, “why did you back away from me?” “What’s wrong?” I

suppose Aaron and the rulers had to tell Moses that there was something really strange about his

countenance. Only after Aaron and the rulers of Israel had spoken would the rest of the people

approach Moses (verse 32). When Moses first went up to the mountain and had tarried there for

40 days and nights, the people of Israel were ready to replace him and his God. They observed in

Exodus 32:1b, “for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot

not what is become of him.” It is to be supposed that the children of Israel were not making that

observation any more, for now they knew what had become of him. He was transformed by

God’s presence.

Why did Moses Veil his Face?

There is a long-standing debate as to why Moses veiled his face after leaving the

presence of God and was talking with the people. Scholars offer two views: first that Moses

veiled his face to prevent the people from being destroyed, and second, that he did this to

disguise the fact that the glory of the old ministration of salvation was fading away and he did

not want the people to realize it. We will now deal with the first.

To Prevent the People From Being Destroyed

When Moses came off the mountain, Aaron and the people fear his arrival (Ex. 34:29–30)

because his face shone with God’s glory. Scott J. Hafemann rejects the notion that Moses veiled

his face to prevent the people from realizing that the glory of the old covenant was fading away.

Instead, he argues, “Moses veils his face, not to hide the fact that the glory is fading…., but in

order to protect Israel from being destroyed (34:32–33). Given Israel’s “stiff-necked” condition,

this remained Moses’ practice from then on (34:34–35). Moses’ veiled mediation of God’s glory

permits his presence to remain in Israel’s midst without destroying her. In this regard, Moses’

veiling himself is an act of mercy. At the same time, the very fact that Moses must veil his face is

1 Peter Enns, The NIV Application Commentary- Exodus (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,

2000), Kindle Edition, 587. 2 Enns, The NIC Application Commentary-Exodus, 587.

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an act of judgment because of the hardness of Israel’s heart. This veil not only preserves Israel

from being destroyed; it also keeps her from being transformed.”3

This latter point, that Moses being veiled kept Israel from being transformed is a defensible one,

because as observed earlier, God’s glorious presence is transforming. The Apostle Paul would

make this point when he wrote, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of

the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord”

(2 Cor. 3:18).

This assertion that Moses veiled his face to prevent the people from being destroyed has

merits, for God had told Moses that He would not go up with the people because He would

destroy them for their rebellion. In Exodus 33:5 we read, “For the LORD had said unto Moses,

Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee

in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know

what to do unto thee.” After the Israelites had made the golden calf from their gold, God was so

done with them, that He told Moses to go up to the Promised Land without Him for He was

liable to destroy them. When Aaron and the people saw God’s resplendent glory reflected in

Moses’ face, they thought they were done for, and they were rightly terrified (Ex.34:29-30).

Application

In this lesson we learned that after Moses spent time in God’s presence, and afterward

spoke he veiled his face because his face shone, and the people were afraid to approach unto him

for fear that God would destroy them. We also mentioned that another view is that Moses veiled

his face to disguise the fact that the glory of the old ministration of salvation was fading away.

We will delve into that aspect in our next lesson.

Are you ever tempted to think that because of grace, there is no need to fear God these

days? Does the life you live reflect a reverend fear of God? How we answer these questions will

inform the way we live and worship. May we soon arrive at the conclusion that king Solomon

arrived at so long ago: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his

commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecc. 12:13).

Golden Text: Exodus 34:33- And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his

face.

Questions:

1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the belief that Moses veiled his face to

prevent Israel from being destroyed?

2. Do you believe that the people of Israel had justifiable reason to fear the presence of

God? Please cite biblical text to support your answer.

3 Scott J. Hafemann, The NIV Application Commentary - 2 Corinthians: From Biblical Text - to

Contemporary Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2000), Kindle Location 2776-2791.

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Lesson 119 – Moses Veiled His Face: Part II

Focus Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35-And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount

Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that

Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30And when Aaron and

all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to

come nigh him. 31And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation

returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. 32And afterward all the children of Israel came

nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. 33And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. 34But when Moses went

in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out,

and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. 35And the children of Israel

saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face

again, until he went in to speak with him.

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 - But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was

glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory

of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8How shall not the ministration of the

spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the

ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10For even that which was made glorious had no

glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11For if that which is done away was

glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12Seeing then that we have such hope, we

use great plainness of speech: 13And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the

children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14But their

minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the

old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15But even unto this day, when Moses is read,

the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken

away. 17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we

all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image

from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:7-18).

Golden Text: 2 Corinthians 3:14- But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth

the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in

Christ.

Introduction

In our last lesson, we observed that when Moses came down from the mountain, having

spent 40 days with God for the second time, his face shone, and the people were afraid to

approach him. We discovered that scholars offer two views: first that Moses veiled his face to

prevent the people from being destroyed, and second, that he did this to disguise the fact that the

glory of the old ministration of salvation was fading away, and he did not want the people to

realize it. We previously dealt with the first. Now we deal with the second view.

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Commentary

Why did Moses Veil his Face?

To Disguise the Fact that the Glory of the Old Ministration of Salvation was Fading Away

In man's diminished state, God established a system of atonement through the Mosaic

Law. Indeed, while this Old Testament system of atonement was glorious, such glory was fading,

and temporary as the Apostle Paul saw it (see 2 Cor. 3:7-18). It was fading and temporary,

because it was not meant to last forever. Instead, it was a temporary means of salvation until the

true giver of salvation, Jesus Christ should come. In this respect, the Apostle Paul observed,

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by

faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:24-25). At

this stage in redemptive history however, the Old Testament community of Israel could not see

the purpose of the law, and therefore to reveal its passing nature to them prematurely would be

discouraging, so Moses hid his face.

While the old covenant was glorious, it was not to be compared to the glory that would be

organically a part of God's new economy of salvation; it was a fading glory, and it was partially

concealed by a veil. Just as the veil of the physical temple prevented worshippers from seeing

into the Holy of Holies, so the veil over Moses’ face prevented the Israelites from seeing beyond

the glory of the law, to a brighter glory that would be revealed in Jesus Christ. The Hebrews

writer speaks of the veil this way,

But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which

he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8The Holy Ghost this signifying,

that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle

was yet standing: 9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered

both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as

pertaining to the conscience (Heb. 9:7-9).

We have been taught over the years to believe that Moses veiled his face because the

people could not look upon him because his face shone, and they were afraid that they would die.

A closer reading of the text of Exodus 34:33 to which Paul refers, sheds a different light. Verse

33 in the KJV reads: “And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.”

Please note it does not read: “until Moses had done speaking” but rather “and till Moses had

done speaking.” In other words, that is saying: “When Moses had finished speaking with

them, he put a vail over his face.” The NET Bible renders the same verse: “When Moses

finished speaking with them, he would put a veil on his face.” Similarly, the NIV renders it:

“When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.” The literal sentence

construction in the Hebrew was this: “Finished when Moses to speak with them he would on

his face put a veil.” Clearly, we don’t talk that way in modern English, so we need to rearrange

the words to read: “When Moses finished speaking with them, he would put a veil on his face.”

The question remains as to why Moses veiled his face if not to calm the anxiety of the

people and to shield them from being destroyed. The other view was that it prevented the people

from seeing that the glory of the old system of atonement was fading away. Moses’ face did not

shine forever, and if the radiance of his face was an indication of the glory of the Old Testament

Law, as it was, then as the radiance of his face faded, it would signify to the people that so would

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the glory of the Law. Again, we refer you back to Paul’s exposition on this verse in 2 Cor. 3:7-

18.

The Reformed Study Bible commenting on Exodus 34:33 states: “The purpose of the veil

was not to calm the anxiety of the people, for Moses put on the veil only after the people had

come near and after he had finished declaring the law to the people (vv.31, 32). Rather, as Paul

in 2 Cor. 3:13 makes clear, the veil was to keep the Israelites from seeing that the glory was

fading away. According to Paul, this fading glory shows the temporary and inadequate character

of the old Mosaic covenant and points to the need for a greater covenant Mediator—Jesus Christ

(2 Cor. 3:12-4:6.”

Matthew Henry Commentary offers:

This veil signified the darkness of that dispensation. The ceremonial institutions had in

them much of Christ, much of the grace of the gospel, but a veil was drawn over it, so

that the children of Israel could not distinctly and stedfastly see those good things to come

which the law had the shadow of. It was beauty veiled, gold in the mine, a pearl in the

shell; but, thanks be to God, by the gospel, life and immortality are brought to light, the

veil is taken away from off the Old Testament; yet still it remains upon the hearts of those

who shut their eyes against the light.

Let us take another look at 2 Cor. 3:13. It reads in the KJV: “And not as Moses, which put

a veil over his face, [why the veil?] that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end

of that which is abolished,” (that is the Mosaic Law, the old covenant)! The NIV renders it this

way: “We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from

seeing the end of what was passing away.” Moses’s face shone when He was in God’s presence,

but that glow would eventually fade away until he went back again in God’s presence. Now, if

the people who had come to rely on the old system of salvation had connected that the fading

glory on Moses’s face meant the doing away with that very system, it would have left them

discouraged, so Moses veiled his face to hide that fact, according the Apostle Paul.

Furthermore, at that time in redemptive history, God was not ready to unfold the mystery

of his salvific plan. The Apostle Peter summarized it this way,

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10Of which salvation the

prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should

come unto you: 11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was

in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory

that should follow. 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us

they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached

the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels

desire to look into (1 Peter 1:9-12).

The people of Israel at that time could not see the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that

would eventually be revealed by the gospel (1 Peter 1:11), because there was a veil over their

spiritual hearts and eyes.

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A Veil Still Upon the Hearts

Those who do not accept the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, still have a veil

over their hearts. The Apostle Paul observed that the minds of the Jews were still blinded in

reading the Law. In 2 Cor. 3:14 he writes: “But their minds were blinded: for until this day

remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done

away in Christ.” According to Paul, the Jews still did not understand that the veil was removed

because of Christ, because there was a veil over their minds so that they could not see the end of

the Law that it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Because of Jesus Christ the Veil is Removed

Thanks be unto God, a change has taken place. Christ has removed the veil from our

hearts, enabling us to see God’s refulgent glory in the face of Jesus Christ. As Paul declares “But

we all, with open [unveiled, NIV] face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed

into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). The

Jews were prevented from seeing the fading glory of the old covenant, but we, the new covenant

people of God, are able to look into Jesus’ face via His Word and there see God’s glory reflected.

As we gaze at that glory, it destroys our sinful nature, and transforms us into that Glory by God’s

Spirit.

God’s new covenant people now have access through another veil; that is the veil of

Jesus’s body, into the very presence of God. The Hebrew writer stated in Hebrews 10:19-23:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a

new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his

flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true

heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and

our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without

wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;).

Application

Have you ever felt at any time in your walk with God that you are in the dark as to His

plan for your life? Does the way forward seem dark at times? Does God seem silent and distant?

Have you ever felt that there was a veil over the eyes of your mind so that you cannot see God’s

face? Take courage, God is never far away. His will is not veiled from you. It is revealed in His

Word. In that particular, we are more fortunate than the Old Testament saints, for they died

without seeing the fulfilment of their hope of a Messiah. But we on this side of the cross, have

seen Him, for “…the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the

glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Child of God, please bask in the light of that glory, for although the culmination of our

redemption will be realized only after the rapture of the saints, we are partakers of that glory

presently. As believers, we live in two realities. First, we live in the present world with all its

trials and cares. But at the same time we are bolstered with another reality, that is, we are citizens

of the heavenly kingdom now. We are, in a measure, partakers of His glory in this present life.

We are reminded, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are

changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18).

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Golden Text: 2 Corinthians 3:14- But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth

the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in

Christ.

Questions:

1. According to this lesson, why did Moses veil his face?

2. In your words, how was the veil removed from your heart.

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Lesson 120 – Strike the Rock

Focus Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7 - And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed

from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and

pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. 2Wherefore the people did

chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why

chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? 3And the people thirsted there for water;

and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up

out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? 4And Moses cried unto

the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 5And

the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel;

and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6Behold, I will stand

before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come

water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the

children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Golden Text: Exodus 16:6 - Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and

thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And

Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Introduction

In previous lessons in this series, we observed that in the wilderness of Sin the food crisis

led to a crisis of faith. Although the people murmured against Moses and God, God graciously

provided food for them (quails and manna). We also noticed that God reiterated the importance

of Sabbath observance. God’s redemptive story continues, and the children of Israel will move

from the wilderness of Sin, face other challenges, and will respond in a manner that by now is

predictable.

Commentary

Exodus 17 opens with the observation that the congregation of the children of Israel

travelled from the wilderness of Sin and pitched in Rephidim. Verse 1 tells the reader that in

Rephidim there was no drinking water for the people. Here again, the Israelites faced another

water crisis. Far from developing faith from the previous water and food crises, the people once

more experienced a crisis of faith.

Verse 2 provides their response, “Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said,

Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore

do ye tempt the LORD?” The word chide means to quarrel. Since Moses was their leader, it would

not have been inappropriate for the people to inquire of him as to how this water problem would

be addressed. A respectful and trusting inquiry would have been in order. However, this was not

what they did. Instead, they quarreled and fussed with him over this. Moses correctly saw the

implication of their chiding. He knew immediately that in their chiding with him, they were in

fact tempting, or putting the Lord to the test. It is not our place to put God to a test. Our place is

to trust and obey Him even when we may not quite understand how He works.

The people’s chiding was more than an expression of a general discontent. No, it was

specifically pointing an accusatory finger in Moses’s face, accusing him of a malevolent (that is

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spiteful, wicked) intent. Verse 3b in the NIV reads, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to

make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” When will they stop this offensive babble?

I am afraid that Moses, Arron, and God were to hear more of this kind of talk from the Israelites

for some time to come.

Moses recognized that he was dealing with a people that He could not control by his

personal magnetism or influence, so he did what every spiritual leader should do; he called upon

the Lord. Verse 4 reads, “And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this

people? they be almost ready to stone me.” Moses recognized that his personal safety was in

jeopardy, but instead of turning to politics, he turned to God. One is reminded of Psalm 20:7,

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our

God.”

Verses 5-6 represent another of those watershed (no pun intended) moments in

redemptive history. These verses read, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people,

and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in

thine hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou

shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses

did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” There are several things in these verses that we must

highlight, for to pass over them, would be to miss their importance to the redemptive narrative.

These phrases are, (a) go on before the people, (b) take with thee of the elders of Israel, (c) [take]

thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, and (d) smite the rock. We will briefly consider these

in turn.

Go on Before the People

God instructed Moses to go on before the people, or as the NIV renders it, “Go out in

front of the people.” Why was this injunction necessary? Up to this point, all Moses has received

from the Israelites was complaint, criticism, rebellion, and murmurings. There was no

affirmation for his hard work. At this point, it is easy to imagine that Moses was beginning to

believe that he was not the man for the job. How could he not be discouraged, and perhaps may

have wanted to simply walk away? That God told him to go on in front of the people was a

reaffirmation of his role as leader. God had chosen Moses, and He was not about to abandon him

at this critical moment. In effect, God was telling Moses, as He would later tell another of his

embattled servants, Jeremiah, “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee,

saith the LORD” (Jer. 1:8). God was telling Moses that no matter how discouraged he may feel,

he must keep on leading the people. When leaders are appointed and anointed for a work, they

do not have the luxury to quit. They must stand and lead.

Take with thee of the Elders of Israel

Why was Moses instructed to take the elders of Israel with him? This was the case,

because good leadership is often a shared responsibility. Persons who have a stake in the

outcome of a project must share the burdens and responsibilities of the tasks. The elders of Israel

had a duty to instruct the young people, and as such, they could do a much better job if they were

witnesses to what God was doing among them. Furthermore, having a first-hand knowledge of

an event is always better than learning of the details from second hand sources. Some of these

very elders may have been part of the murmurers, and needed to see for themselves, that this

thing was of God.

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[Take] thy Rod, Wherewith thou Smotest the River

Moses’ rod has been the symbol of God’s power from the start of his ministry. The rod

worked every time it was commissioned, and there would be no reason to change it now. The

children of Israel had witnessed and, or had heard of Moses using the rod that was turned into a

snake to eat up the Egyptian’s rods that had also turned into snakes. There were other occasions

that Moses had used the rod to do miraculous things, the last of which was to open the Red Sea,

and to close it up again. When God therefore told Moses to take his rod, Moses must have

immediately realized that God was about to do something extraordinary. Peter Enns observes

that, “The power that has brought the Israelites out of Egypt is the same power that is sustaining

them in the desert and that will bring them, eventually, safely into the land God promised to

Abraham. It shows that Yahweh is Lord of the desert as he has also shown himself to be Lord of

Egypt. The desert is a hostile place, as was Egypt, but both are at God’s command.”4 The rod in

Moses’ hand was the symbol of God’s power in the past, and would be so now in this latest

challenge.

Smite the Rock

The purpose for which Moses was required to take his rod was to strike the rock, from

which water would issue to quench the thirst of the people. Was this a real event? We argue that

it was. Since the New Testament does not doubt the historicity of the event, we are satisfied that

it happened just as the Bible says it did. We reiterate verse 6, “Behold, I will stand before thee

there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it,

that the people may drink.” Moses was about to do what had never been done before. He was

going to strike the rock, and from that rock water would come. God told Moses that He would

stand before him in Horeb. This would be a reminder to Moses that the source of this power was

not he, but God. Moses and his rod were only instruments in God’s hand.

While the smiting of the rock at Horeb was an historical event, it also pointed to an even

more important event in redemptive history. This rock at Horeb represented Christ. The apostle

Paul makes this clear to the Corinthians. He writes, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye

should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the

sea; 2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3And did all eat the same

spiritual meat; 4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock

that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1Cor. 10:1-4). The striking of the Rock at Horeb

prefigured the striking of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, that is, it was an indication of His

crucifixion on Calvary. This would be the fulfillment of Satan striking the heels of the seed of

the woman according to Genesis 3:15.

Massah, and Meribah

Verse 7 tells us, “And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of

the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is

the LORD among us, or not?” What does this double name for this place mean? According to

Terence Fretheim, “From verse 7 we learn that the double name given the place,

Massah/Meribah marks divine testing as the basic memory associated with this story. These

memories haunt later Israel. The names became a type for testing God.”5 Peter Enns indicates

4Peter Enns, The NIV Application Commentary- Exodus, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,

2000), Kindle Edition, 329. 5Fretheim, Interpretation, 187.

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that “Massah and Meribah” means “testing and quarreling.” This, of course, is not just a

reminder for them but, like the manna, to inform generations to come.”6 So the double names

Massah and Meribah serve as a reminder to the Israelites of that time, and to succeeding

generations of their testing of, and quarreling with God.

God’s Faithfulness

As legitimate as it is to focus on the complaining and murmurings of the Israelites, we

should not forget that the central point of the story is God’s faithfulness and grace. In spite of

what the Israelites said or did, God remained faithful to them. God had affirmed that He had seen

their affliction, had heard their cry because of their taskmasters, was acquainted with their

sorrows, and had vowed to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians (Ex. 3:7-8). Further in

Exodus 3, the Lord had said, “And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt

unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the

Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey” (v. 17). If God were not

faithful to His Word, then He would cease to be God. Therefore, no matter what Israel did, He

would, by His holy character remain faithful.

Application

Have you ever felt spiritually thirsty, and there seemed to be no hope of a refreshing

drink that would satisfy the soul? Have you prayed, but that thirst is still not quenched? Take

heart dear reader, God is faithful to His Word. No matter how hopeless things may seem, God

has not abandoned you. Just as He provided water for a thirsty nation on the march, and just as

He has provided the water that was not from the well to the Samaritan woman (John 4), He will

quench your thirsty soul. So, if you are thirsty, come to the Rock. His name is Jesus. If you come

to Him, and commit your life to Him, and drink from Him, you will never thirst again.

Golden Text: Exodus 16:6 - Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and

thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And

Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Questions:

1. After leaving the wilderness of Sin, where did the Israelites camp next?

2. When the people found that there was no water at Rephidim, what did they do?

3. What was Moses’ response to the people according to verse 2?

4. According to verse 3, what question did the people ask Moses?

5. After crying to the Lord, what did God tell Moses to do?

6. What do the words Massah, and Meribah mean?

6Enns, Exodus, 329.

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Lesson 121 – We are Well Able to Possess the Land

Focus Scripture: Numbers 13:1-2, 17-20, 25-33 - And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. 17And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes. 25And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26And

they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel,

unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the

congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27And they told him, and said, We came

unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the

fruit of it. 28Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled,

and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29The Amalekites dwell in the

land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains:

and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30And Caleb stilled the people

before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to

overcome it. 31But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the

people; for they are stronger than we. 32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they

had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search

it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a

great stature. 33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we

were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Golden Text: Numbers 13:30 -And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go

up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Introduction

In our last lesson, we learned that in their wilderness journey, Israel had reached to

Rephidim where there was no water. Keeping true to form, the people rebelled against Moses

and God. True also to form, Moses cried out to God who provided water from the rock. On this

occasion, God told Moses to strike the rock. We observed that the rock from which the water

came was a type of Christ.

In this lesson, we will learn about the twelve spies that Moses sent to the Promised Land

to gather military intelligence. Before attempting to enter the land, Moses needed to assess the

threats that faced Israel. As a great leader, Moses had to be strategic in his actions. Attempting to

take the territory without making assessments as to troop strength, fortification, supplies,

geography, etc., would be to endanger the whole operation, and possibly put the lives of Israel in

grave danger.

Commentary

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In verses 1-2, the LORD instructed Moses to send men to spy out the land of Canaan. He

was instructed to send a ruling man from every tribe. This land was promised to Abraham and

his descendants, and although it was theirs by God’s irrevocable promise, they would still need

to be very careful how they took possession of it because there were many obstacles. Not every

promise made to God’s people will fall in their laps without struggle. There are always forces at

work attempting to deprive God’s people, therefore we must at times struggle.

Verses 17-20 read, “And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto

them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18And see the land, what it is,

and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19And what

the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell

in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether

there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now

the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.”

Again, how would they know what they were up against if an assessment was not made?

Moses instructed the spies to observe what the land was like; the strength of its inhabitants,

whether the land was good or bad, how the people lived (in tents or strong holds), whether its

cities were fortified, was there wood in the land. The spies were also instructed to bring back

some of its fruit. The spies’ primary objective was to assess the land in order to provide Moses

with intelligence concerning the quality and productivity of the land and the military strength of

its people.

Verses 25-33 report some very promising things about the Land of Canaan. Returning

after forty days, they reported to Moses that it was a land that flowed with milk and honey, and

they brought back samples of the fruit of the land. Dennis Cole summarizes their report thus,

“They came back to the camp that was now at Kadesh in the Paran Wilderness; they reported

their findings; and they showed them the grape cluster, figs, and pomegranates they had brought

from the land. So the first part of their report focused on matters related to the land and its

productivity, followed by matters related to the people and their military capabilities. Their

accounting of the quality of the land was a faithful representation of that which they had seen

and partaken from the regions into which they had been sent. It was indeed an exceptionally

fertile land, worthy of being described as "flowing with milk and honey."7

One would expect that given the promises that God had given to the patriarchs (Abraham,

Isaac, and Jacob) to give them this land, that in spite of the obstacles and challenges associated

with its conquest, that the majority of these spies, having seen the goodness of the land, would

have encouraged the people to make plans to take it. To provide Moses with a fair and realistic

assessment of what they saw, both good and bad would have been prudent, but to instill fear,

dread, and doubt in the people’s hearts showed the peak of cowardice. Verses 31-33 record their

negative attitude; “But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the

people; for they are stronger than we. 32And they brought up an evil report of the land which

they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to

search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are

men of a great stature. 33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the

giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

One reason given in verse 31 that they were not able to possess the land was that the

inhabitants of the land were stronger than the Israelites. The negative spies used the Hebrew

7 Dennis R. Cole, New American Commentary - Volume 3b: Numbers, (Nashville, TN: Broadman &

Holman Publishers), 2000, 2013 WORDsearch, 220.

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word hazaq that our English Bible translates as stronger. This Hebrew word has a range of

meanings; mighty, powerful, strong, hard, severe. Judging by what their eyes could see, these

spies concluded that they were already defeated. They came to this conclusion notwithstanding

what they had seen the Lord do, both in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and along their wilderness

journey. These spies had a defeatist mind set, and having expressed it to the people, they too

were infested with defeatism. Writing about defeatism elsewhere, I have observed, “Defeatist

thinking is evident when a person gives up before they even get started….To be successful, we

must reframe and reform our thinking. We begin this process by replacing negative self-talk with

positive self-talk….The positive self-talk that I advocate is based on God’s Word.”8 They needed

to trust God who was bigger than their circumstances, but they failed.

Another excuse for not possessing the land is found in verse 32 where the spies spread it

among the people that the land eateth, or devours the inhabitants. They used the Hebrew word

akal which is translated as, to eat, to be eaten, be consumed, be devoured. They were also

terrified by the size of the people of the land. The spies clearly underestimated themselves, and

by extension their God, while overestimating the inhabitants. Verse 33b brings this out. It reads,

“and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” The NIV renders

this clause thus, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to

them.” Really? They assumed a grasshopper-like status, but more than that, they also assumed

that the inhabitants of the land saw them the same way. Their assessment was based primarily on

their perception. They did no reality check. They never tested their theory that they were unable,

and that they looked like grasshoppers. To them, it was a foregone conclusion that they were

already defeated.

It is encouraging though that although the majority of them, assumed this defeatist

attitude, one person defied the popular sentiments. Verse 30 reports, “And Caleb stilled the

people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to

overcome it.” It is not that Caleb was unrealistic about the challenges that would face them in

the Promised Land. Rather, his optimistic attitude was a result of the fact that he preferred to

focus on their abilities rather than on their disabilities. It is reasonable to opine that Caleb’s

confidence was not based on the strength of the people, but on the strength of the people’s God.

Having seen the move of God, Caleb had good reason for confidence, because he know that God

was their refuge and strength.

Application

Have you ever faced obstacles in your life that you thought were impossible to

overcome? Has anyone, or even your own thoughts tell you that you were incapable of certain

challenges in your life? Have you ever been able to envision the benefits of doing a certain thing,

but your past experiences or the difficulties of getting started discouraged you from pursuing that

vision? Take courage from Caleb’s attitude. Caleb did not underestimate the challenges, but he

know that his God was bigger than those challenges. Please do not rely on your abilities to get

you to where you want to go. Commit all things to Christ whose words affirms, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). You are well able. Go up and

possess your destiny.

8Barrington C. Hibbert, Controlling the Thought Life: Renewed Minds Change Lives (Bloomington, IN:

WestBow Press, a Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan, 2019), 175-176

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Golden Text: Numbers 13:30 -And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go

up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Questions:

1. How many spies did Moses send to the Promised Land?

2. According to verses 18-24 what were the spies to assess?

3. What reasons did ten of the spies give why Israel could not possess the land?

4. What was Caleb’s response?

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Lesson 122 – The People Rebelled Against God

Focus Scripture: Numbers 14:1-12 - And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried;

and the people wept that night. 2And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and

against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the

land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3And wherefore hath the Lord

brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey?

were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4And they said one to another, Let us make a

captain, and let us return into Egypt. 5Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the

assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb

the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7And they

spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through

to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this

land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9Only rebel not ye against

the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is

departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. 10But all the congregation bade

stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the

congregation before all the children of Israel. 11And the LORD said unto 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 among them? 12I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will

make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

Golden Text: Numbers 14:2 - And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and

against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the

land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!

Introduction

In the last lesson we learned that Moses sent twelve spies to go up to the Promised Land

on a reconnaissance mission. The spies universally agreed that this was a rich land; a land

flowing with milk and honey. They even brought back evidence of the fruitfulness of the land.

Notwithstanding the promise of the land, ten of the twelve spies chose to emphasize the

challenges that faced them there. They regarded the giants and the looks of the inhabitants as

being more formidable than their God. They had evidently forgotten that it was their God who

had broken the chains of Egyptian bondage and had brought them out on eagle’s wings. Only

Caleb spoke at that time of the possibilities there, and did not see the giants as presenting an

insurmountable problem for Israel. In this lesson, Joshua will also speak favorably about their

chances of success. The reader would have learned also in this lesson that the people rebelled

against Moses and Aaron, threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb, and in doing so, in effect,

rebelled against God.

Commentary

The negative report of the ten spies caused the whole congregation to weep that night

(verse 1). The people had come this far, had faced many obstacles, and had come this close to

realizing their dream, only now to hear that they may not be able to possess the land promised to

them because of the inhabitants present there. Whatever faith or optimism they had possessed

before were altogether shattered after hearing those ten spies tell the story.

18

While it is not sinful to be discouraged, one could hope that in their discouragement, they

would turn to their God who had never failed them yet. Instead, they murmured against the

leaders. Verses 2-4 state, “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against

Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of

Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3And wherefore hath the Lord brought us

unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey?

were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4And they said one to another, Let us make a

captain, and let us return into Egypt.” This contents of these two verses epitomize forgetfulness,

ungratefulness, and rebellion at its core.

Look at what they wished for. Verse 2b states, “Would God that we had died in the land

of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!” Is not this the same people who had

cried out to God for relief from slavery? And did not the Lord hear them and come to their

rescue? Yes, it was they who had cried to God. And yes, it was their God who heard and had

delivered them. Earlier, the Exodus account records, “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the

affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their

taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of

the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land

flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the

Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites” (Exodus 3:7-8). Did they not

believe that God would honor His word?

In verse 3, the people expressed their belief that God had a malevolent motif for bringing

them out of Egypt. Their questions betrayed their lack of trust in God. The NIV put the questions

this way: “Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives

and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” Really,

Israel, did you actually think that God wanted to hurt you? Did God visit such vengeance on

Egypt, open the Red Sea, provide manna from heaven for you to eat, provide water from the rock

for you to drink just so that He could see you die by the sword in the desert?

Their rebellion against God was complete as reflected in verse 4, “And they said one to

another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” They were done with Moses and

Aaron, but most significantly, they were done with Yahweh. Their constant murmurings and

rebellion placed them constantly in jeopardy of reaping God’s wrath. Christians today should

learn this important lesson that murmuring and complaining are injurious to their wellbeing. The

Apostle Paul comments, “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were

destroyed of serpents. 10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed

of the destroyer” (1 Cor. 10:9-10). We tempt God when we murmur and complain.

One has to admire the patience and humility of Moses and Aaron. Moses in particular

was uniquely chosen to lead Israel at that critical period of their existence. He had to be

temperamentally fit to deal with their waywardness and impulsivity. Verse 5 reflects not just

their humility and reliance on God, but a deep fear for how God would respond to this

provocation. It reads, “Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the

congregation of the children of Israel.” G. J. Wenham state, “No wonder Moses and Aaron fell

on their faces, not to plead for their lives, but to express their awe at the sacrilegious blasphemy

of the people. To fall on one’s face is the Old Testament [was the] ultimate mark of religious

worship and awe (Gen. 17:3; Lev. 9:24). But in Numbers it usually anticipates some great act of

judgment (cf. 16:4, 22, 45; 20:6). Moses and Aaron, sensing the presence of God, fall to the

19

ground in fear at what he is about to do.”9 Without speaking a word, their physical posture in

God’s presence could be taken as interceding on behalf of Israel.

When Joshua and Caleb saw what was happening, they pleaded with the people to

bethink themselves. Verses 6-9 contain their appeal to the people. First, they “rent their clothes”

(v. 6). They then affirmed that the land they were going to possess, “is an exceeding good land”

(v.7). They then affirmed that if the LORD is pleased with them, He will lead them into that land

flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to them. Joshua and Caleb made it clear to the

people that these blessings will accrue to them only if they refrain from rebelling against God.

Verse 9 reads, “Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for

they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them

not.” Joshua and Caleb did not dispute the challenges that faced them in the land, but they saw

those challenges as being well within their capability to overcome. Joshua and Caleb regarded

the inhabitants as “food for us,” or as the NIV puts is, “because we will devour them”

Winterbotham, et. al state, "They are our food," i.e., we shall easily devour them (cf. Numbers

24:8; Psalm 14:4). Perhaps it has the further significance that their enemies would be an absolute

advantage to them, because they would (however unwillingly) supply them with the necessaries

of life.”10 The Israelites needed to learn that with God, they could conquer all foes.

The situation is at a crisis according to verse 10, “But all the congregation bade stone

them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation

before all the children of Israel.” Joshua and Caleb presumed to talk sense to the children of

Israel, but they were in no mood for this type of talk. They were determined to rebel and go back

to Egypt. They would surely have been executed had not God’s glory appeared in the tabernacle

at this critical moment. God’s glory not only stood between Joshua and Caleb, but it was also a

visible indication that God was with these two leaders.

These rebellious people had so angered God that He thought once more to destroy them.

Verses 11-12 read, “And the LORD said unto 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 among them? 12I

will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation

and mightier than they.” God was “amazed” (if one could use amaze to describe God) at the

people’s rebellion and was about to wipe them out. We will learn that once again Moses

interceded on their behalf that God’s stayed His hand of wrath.

Application

By now the reader of these lessons must be as tired as the writer is over the number of

times the children of Israel rebelled against God. We may even be tempted to consider them dim

witted for failing to learn their lesson. Lest we become over critical of them, we are urged to

examine our own lives to see if we are not all likewise rebellious. We may not verbalize our

rebellion, but a closer examination of our hearts my reveal that we are more similar to ancient

Israel than we care to admit. May we all learn to listen to God’s voice and follow Him where He

leads even if we do not quite understand Him.

9G. J. Wenham, Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary: Vol. 4 (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity

Press, 1981), 166. Kindle edition. 10 R. Winterbotham, Thomas Whitelaw, Henry D. M. Spence, and Joseph S Exell, Pulpit Commentary:

Numbers (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1985), database © 2013 WORDsearch.

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Golden Text: Numbers 14:2 - And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and

against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the

land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!

Questions:

1. What did the congregation of Israel do after hearing the negative report from the ten spies

who had just returned for spying out the Promised Land, according to verse 1?

2. Please recount and explain verses 2-3 of this lesson.

3. According to verse 5, what did Moses and Aaron do?

4. What advice did Joshua and Caleb give to the people according to verses 6-9?

5. According to verse 10a what was the people’s response to the advice given by Joshua and

Caleb?

6. What function did the glory of the LORD that appeared before the children of Israel play

when the people threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb?

7. According to verses 11-12, what did the Lord threaten to do to rebellious Israel?

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Lesson 123- Moses Intercedes Again

Focus Scripture: Numbers 14:13-24 - And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall

hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) 14And 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, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before

them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. 15Now if thou shalt kill all

this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, 16Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them,

therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness. 17And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my

lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, 18The 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. 19Pardon, 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. 20And the LORD said, I have pardoned

according to thy word: 21But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of

the LORD. 22Because 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 hearkened

to my voice; 23Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall

any of them that provoked me see it: 24But 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.

Golden Text: Numbers 14:19 - 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.

Introduction

In our last lesson, we learned that when the Israelites had heard the negative report from

the ten spies who had just returned for spying out the Promised Land, they became afraid, but not

only that, they became rebellious. They wanted to return to Egypt immediately, and when Joshua

and Caleb tried to reason with them, they threatened to stone them. Because of their lack of trust,

faith, and their rebellion, God was just about done with them and was about to destroy them. The

Bible says, “And the LORD said unto 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 among them? 12I will

smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and

mightier than they” (Numbers 14:11-12). Once again, the behavior of the Israelites occasioned

Moses’ intercessory efforts.

Commentary

After God told Moses that He would destroy the people for provoking Him, Moses

launched into a vigorous effort to safeguard God’s name and reputation. He felt that the

summary killing of all the people would reflect negatively on God, and Moses offered an

impassioned plea to God to save Himself from the inevitable negative sentiments that would be

expressed by the observing nations around. The Egyptians would most assuredly feel vindicated

that Yahweh had done wrong. They would no doubt say, “Well that was a fool’s adventure.”

“The people of Israel were with us for 430 years, and in spite of slavery, we never killed them

off.” “Now their God, came down here, disrupted our economy, killed off our first born, took

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them out with a promise to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey, but He was

altogether unable to bring them into a land that He had promised to their fathers.” “How could

anyone trust a God like that?” To defend such a God like that after so great a “failure” on His

part of fulfilling His promise, would have been a very difficult apologetic task.

Moses would not allow the Egyptians to have bragging rite over his God. The man was a

skilled negotiator. He knew just how to push the right buttons. His argument boils down to this,

if you kill them all, (1) “the Egyptians will hear about it.” The unspoken part of this statement, is

that they would gloat! Why would they gloat? Because (2) it was “by your power you brought

these people up from among them” (v. 13, NIV). How would the Egyptians handle this

intelligence? (3) They would “tell the inhabitants of this land [the Promised Land] about it.” (4)

Moses continues, “They have already heard that you, LORD, are with these people and that

you, LORD, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before

them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night” (v.14, NIV). The obvious question

that would arise if God killed them all would have been, “what was all this about?” If God killed

all the Israelites, then the killing of the first born in Egypt, the opening of the Red Sea, mamma

from heaven, pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night would have all been for nothing,

if the object of which was to bring the people to Promised Land. Yahweh was intricately

identified with the Israelites (see verse 14). Their demise would reflect negatively on Him. Here

is the bottom line of what Moses feared, “If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive,

the nations who have heard this report about you will say, The LORD was not able to bring these

people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness” (vv.15-

16, NIV). In other words, the saying would go about that Yahweh was able to bring them out of

Egypt, but He was impotent to bring them into the Promised Land, and in the embarrassment of

His gross failure, He capriciously killed them all.

In verses 17, Moses continues to bargain with the Lord. “And now, I beseech thee, let the

power of my lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying.” Moses desired that the Lord

would demonstrate His strength (power) before the nations. Moses was asking the Lord to be

true to His Word. What Word? Verse 18 answers that question. It reads, “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.” This was a quotation. Moses was using God’s own Word back at Him. Here is what

Moses was telling God, “Lord, you declared that you are slow to anger, abounding in love,

forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet not leaving the guilty unpunished, for you punish the children for

the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Winterbotham, et al. write, “Here the

argument of Moses rises to a higher level; he ventures to put God in mind of what he had himself

declared to Moses in the fullest revelation which he had ever made of his own unchangeable

character, viz., that of all Divine prerogatives, the most Divine was that of forgiving sins and

showing mercy.”11 If God therefore did not show mercy to Israel, He would appear to be going

back on His Word.

Moses’ entreaty was based upon his understanding of God’s attributes of mercy, long-

suffering, faithfulness, lovingkindness, and forgiveness, while recognizing that there is the

balance with God’s justice and righteousness. Dennis Cole observes, “Moses understood that

God’s strength could be magnified through the balanced application of his attributes to their

current situation. On one hand he recalled the words of the Decalogue, which spoke of God’s

judgment of idolatry lasting to the third and fourth generations of the rebellious, while his loyal

11 Winterbotham, et al., Pulpit Commentary: Numbers, Wordsearh database, no page number.

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love would endure to a thousand generations of the faithful (Exod. 20:5-60). Additionally, he

remembered that Yahweh was a gracious God, who through His compassion, abundant love, and

long-suffering could forgive the sinful and rebellious (Exod. 34:6–7).”12 When reading the text

of Scripture, one cannot help but see God’s forbearance and grace at work. With her constant

rebellion, Israel could not possibly stand had it not been for God’s grace.

After reminding God of His character, Moses proceeded to make his request, no doubt

with full assurance that it would be granted. Verse 19 reads, “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.” His request for pardon was not based on the merits of the people,

because there was none there. Rather, Moses appealed to the greatness of God’s mercy. Moses

also pointed to precedence that he observed, “and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt

even until now.” He was saying, “Lord, what I am asking is nothing new for you, nor is it too

hard, for you have done it before.” When God’s people turn to Him, humble themselves, and

pray, God will hear from heaven, will forgive their sins, and heal their land (2 Chr. 7:14). Moses

know this, and so he turned to God in humility and submission.

In verses 20-23 God pardoned the people’s sins, but those sins did not go unpunished. In

verse 20, God indicated that according to Moses’ word He had pardoned them. But in keeping

true to His holy character there would be consequences. Verses 21-23 make clear that although

God would not cut them off suddenly, all but Joshua and Caleb would die in the wilderness; they

would not see the Promised Land. These verses read, “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be

filled with the glory of the LORD. 22Because 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 hearkened to my voice; 23Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their

fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it.” Their dead bodies will fall in the

desert but not all at once. God was determined to accomplish His purpose of purifying Israel

without damaging His own reputation as Moses was afraid would happen. These verses are

instructive for us. We should never take God for granted. To willfully sin and then repent is

never advisable, for there is a limit to God’s forbearance.

There is usually a reward for faithfulness and trust. Because Caleb was faithful to God’s

Word, and trusted in His power to overcome the obstacles in the Promised Land, God said, “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” (v. 24). Caleb had another

spirit in him. Of this spirit Phillip Budd observes, “This is evidently a divine endowment giving

all necessary resources for the leadership of God’s people.”13 For his faithfulness and leadership

approach, Caleb was granted a tract of land in the vicinity of Hebron. The only other faithful of

the twelve spies was Joshua who would eventually receive an inheritance in the hill country of

Ephraim.

Application

A lack of faith and trust in God’s Word is provoking to Him and has grave consequences.

The Hebrews writer states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to

God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb.

11:6). Have life’s troubles ever caused you to lose faith and trust in God? I encourage you to

12 Cole, New American Commentary - Volume 3b: Numbers, 231. 13 Philip J. Budd, Word Biblical Commentary- Volume 5: Numbers (Dallas, Texas: Word Books

Publishers, (1984), 129, database Logos.

24

return to His Word, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such

things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6So that we may

boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:5-6).

Trust His Word. He will never fail.

Golden Text: Numbers 14:19 - 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.

Questions:

1. What argument did Moses advance to the Lord why it was not advisable for Him to kill

the people for their rebellion?

2. Explain verses 17-18.

3. In verse 19, Moses used God’s past track record of mercy and forgiveness as a basis for

his plea for mercy in this case, how would you assess Moses as an intercessor?

4. What was the Lord’s response to Moses’ entreaty?

5. True or false, because God forgave them for this rebellion, they all got to enter the

Promised Land. Support your response by the specific verse(s).

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Lesson 124 – Speak to the Rock

Focus Scripture: Numbers 20:1-13 – Then came the children of Israel, even the whole

congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and

Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2And there was no water for the congregation: and they

gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3And the people chode with

Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 4And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our

cattle should die there? 5And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in

unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is

there any water to drink. 6And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto

the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the

LORD appeared unto them. 7And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 8Take the rod, and gather

thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their

eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so

thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9And Moses took the rod from before the

LORD, as he commanded him. 10And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before

the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out

abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12And the LORD spake unto Moses

and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel,

therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 13This is the

water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in

them.

Golden Text: Numbers 20:8 - Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and

Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water,

and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and

their beasts drink.

Introduction

In the last series of lessons we did a brief survey of Israel’s journey, starting with their

release from Egypt on their way to the Promised Land. We have left the book of Exodus and

have now jumped to the book of Numbers. To complicate matters a bit, we did not start at the

beginning of Numbers, but instead, in a later chapter. I skipped a lot of material, not because it is

not important, but because I want to direct the readers’ attention to the arrival of Israel into the

Promised Land. As this was not meant to be an exhaustive commentary on the history of Old

Testament Israel, I needed to make choices as to what material I covered.

In a previous lesson, the children of Israel were angry with Moses at Horeb because they

lacked water (Exodus 17:1-7). We observed that when Moses cried unto the Lord, God told him

to strike the rock. We pointed out that according to the Apostle Paul, this rock was Christ (1Cor.

10:1-4). When Moses struck the rock as he was commanded, water came out of it, and the people

drank. We will notice in this lesson, that they are now in Kadesh, and once again, they lack

water. Instead of coming to Moses and Aaron and ask them to pray to God for water, they once

again rebelled against them. We will learn that Moses became angry, struck the rock in

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contradiction of God’s direction to speak to the rock. For this failure, Moses did not make it to

the Promised Land.

Just a brief word about the stages of Israel’s wilderness journey. There were three distinct

stages. The first was the journey from the Red Sea to Sinai (Exod. 13–19); the second stage

covers their movement from Sinai to Kadesh (Num. 11–12), and the final one summarizes their

travels from Kadesh to Transjordan (Num. 20–21). G. Wenham observes that “certain motifs

occur in all three travelogues, e.g. battles with enemies (Exod. 14; 17:8–16; Num. 14:45; 21:1–

35), complaints about the lack of food and water and its miraculous provision (Exod. 16–17;

Num. 11; 20:2–13), the need for faith (Exod. 14:31; Num. 14:11; 20:12), the role of Moses,

Aaron and Miriam (Exod. 15:20–21; Num. 12; 20:1).”14 In their wilderness journey, Israel was

constantly faced with existential treats [a threat to their very survival] from her enemies and from

potential famine and drought, from which God had delivered them, but instead of trusting God,

they showed their lack of faith by rebelling against Moses and Aaron. In Moses, Aaron, and

Miriam we observe real people, plagued with human failings, yet God’s lovingkindness and

faithfulness were constants in this narrative toward them and toward the people of Israel.

Commentary

In verse 1 of the text we learn that Miriam dies at Kadesh. Nothing more is said about her

death, but to skip over this bit of detail would be to miss the human story behind that brief

statement. Miriam, Moses’ sister dies, so what? People die every day, don’t they? True enough,

but consider the sadness of realizing that in spite of her expectation of entering and enjoying the

Promised Land, she would be denied. Consider the fact also that because of their rebellion,

faithlessness, and disobedience, of the millions that left Egypt on eagle’s wings, with great

expectation to enjoy the bounties of the Promised Land, only Caleb and Joshua would enter.

When placed in its proper context, you can easily see the sadness of Miriam dying without being

given the privilege of entering, and enjoying the bounties of the long hoped for Promised Land.

Verses 2-5 are nothing if not total faithlessness and rebellion. These verses represent the

self-centeredness of an ungrateful and forgetful people who could not see beyond their

immediate needs. They had forgotten all of God’s previous provisions. Even their miraculous

deliverance from 400 plus years of bondage, and manna from heaven were now thrown back in

God’s face. They interpreted their lack of water as a nefarious plot between God and Moses to

annihilate them in the desert. Look at the data. Verse 2 indicates that, “they gathered themselves

together against Moses and against Aaron.” Verse 3 indicates that “the people chode [quarreled]

with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the

LORD!” They were asserting that death would have been better than this thirst. Really, didn’t God

previously provide water from a rock for them to drink? Could He not do it again? In their

faithlessness and impatience, they could not remember God’s goodness. They went on further to

pose some unanswerable question to Moses and Aaron. Verses 4-5 read, “And why have ye

brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die

there? 5And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil

place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any

water to drink.” What does one say about God’s nature that permitted the people to go on in this

way after He had done so much for them?

14Wenham, Numbers, 166.

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Verse 6 is revealing of the character of Moses and Aaron. Instead for defending

themselves, or trying justify God, they simply bowed to Him is humbly submission to see how

He would answer them. The verse reads, “And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the

assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and

the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.” What a gracious and merciful God. In the midst of

Moses’ and Aaron’s troubles, the Lord showed them His glory. This must have been refreshing

and affirming to them, and well needed, after the people had so badly abused them.

As they were prostrated before the Lord in the door of the tabernacle, the Lord instructed

Moses what to do to get the people the water they needed. This time, Moses was to speak to the

rock. In verses 7-8 the Lord commanded Moses to take the rod, and gather the people together,

and there speak to the rock in the people’s presence. God assured Moses that when he speaks to

the rock “thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation

and their beasts drink” (8b). These were quite clear and simple instructions that would not

require any creativity or imagination on Moses’ part; just gather the people, speak to the rock,

and bring the people water out of it. We will find presently that these simple instructions would

not be followed closely, and at great cost to Moses.

After gathering the people together as the Lord had commanded him, Moses asked this

curious question that was out of character for him. He asked, “must we fetch you water out of this

rock?” Who were the we to which Moses referred? Was it Moses and Aaron? Or Moses and

God? Or Moses, Aaron, and God? Whoever the we of Moses’ question were, at best it was an

ignorant statement, and at worst, an arrogant one. In no way was the provision of the water a we

matter. Rather, it was a God matter. The provision of this water rested solely on God’s

omnipotence, who by His unfathomable power, became their provider [Jehovah Jireh] there.

Verse 11 represents the most tragic action Moses or anyone could have taken. It reads,

“And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out

abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.” Why was this seemingly

innocent action so tragic? After all, by striking the rock, the people got what they needed, and

presumably Moses and Aaron would get some much needed reprieve from the severe criticism

that they had just endured from the people. Well, on its face, striking the rock violated what God

told him to do. God told Moses to speak to the rock (vs. 8), not to strike it. But there was a

greater theological significance to striking the rock the second time. As you will recall, the

Apostle Paul indicated to the Corinthians that the rock that followed the Israelites in their

wilderness journeys was Christ (1Cor. 10:1-4). The striking of the rock the first time, as Moses

was instructed to do in Exodus 17:6 symbolized the striking of Christ, (the Rock) in His

crucifixion, that is, the bruising of His heels (Genesis 3:15). Since Christ’s atoning sacrifice was

to be the once for all sacrifice for sins, never to be repeated, and would bring an end to animal

sacrifices, Moses’ action in the wilderness had to accurately represent that theological reality.

Any violation of that precise atonement arrangement was a grave sin.

God is very gracious. He forgives our transgressions, but any disregard for His

redemption plan in Jesus Christ meets with the severest punishments. Moses, so well beloved of

God, and so honored by Him, found out how jealously God guards the sanctity of this plan.

Verse 12 states, “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to

sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation

into the land which I have given them.” The NIV renders this verse thus, “But the LORD said to

Moses and Aaron, Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the

Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” God saw this violation as

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dishonoring Him, not showing Him as altogether holy, sanctified, and distinct before the people.

In other words, this violation robbed God of His glory. That was sufficient cause to bar Moses

from the Promised Land. The Apostle Paul would later rail against those who would add

circumcision to the gospel of Jesus Christ, thus violating God’s redemptive plan. He wrote, “But

though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have

preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, if any man

preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9).

The Lord accused Moses of not believing Him (vs. 12), that is, not having faith in His Word, and

he must suffer the consequences. Likewise in Galatians the Lord, through Paul’s pen pronounced

a curse upon those who did not believe that faith alone in Christ was sufficient to save them.

Like Moses, they thought that they had to strike the rock again, so to speak, to get God’s

provision of salvation, when all that was needed is faith in the risen Lord.

In verse 13, we learn that the water from the rock that was to have been a source of

refreshment for the children of Israel, was called Meribah instead. It reads, “This is the water of

Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.”

The word Meribah means “quarreling, strife, rebellion, with a focus on the feelings of enmity.”15

Why was Israel fighting with Moses and with God over something that should have been such a

blessing? Why are we fighting with God and others today?

Application

In your walk with the Lord, have you ever been tempted to cut corners on God’s

directives? Were you ever tempted to go your own way notwithstanding what the Bible teaches?

Let us learn quickly that God’s Words will not change respecting our relationship with Him. He

sets the terms of our relationship with Him. We do not get to negotiate with God. We cannot

pray to move Him, no not a centimeter from His sovereign purpose for our lives. Our only viable

and wise option is to respond to Him in faith and obedience. The Bible teaches, “If ye be willing

and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured

with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isa. 1:19-20)

Golden Text: Numbers 20:8 - Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and

Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water,

and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and

their beasts drink.

Questions:

1. Where did Miriam die?

2. What were the people’s response when they discovered that there was no water at

Kadesh?

3. How would you characterize Israel’s reaction to their lack of water?

4. Why was it a problem for Moses to strike the rock twice?

5. What did the Rock in the wilderness mean in theological terms?

6. What does the word Meribah mean?

15Edward W. Goodrick and John R. Kohlenberger, The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Grand

Rapid, MI: Zondervan, 1999), 1446.

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Bibliography

Budd, Philip J. Word Biblical Commentary- Volume 5: Numbers. Dallas, Texas: Word Books

Publishers. 1984. database Logos.

Cole, Dennis R. New American Commentary - Volume 3b: Numbers. Nashville, TN: Broadman

& Holman Publishers. 2000. 2013 WORDsearch,

Enns, Peter. The NIV Application Commentary- Exodus. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan

Publishing House, 2000. Kindle Edition.

Goodrick, Edward W. John R. Kohlenberger. The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance.

Grand Rapid, MI: Zondervan, 1999.

Hafemann, Scott J. The NIV Application Commentary - 2 Corinthians: From Biblical Text - to

Contemporary Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2000. Kindle edition.

Hibbert, Barrington C. Controlling the Thought Life: Renewed Minds Change Lives.

Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, a Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan, 2019.

Wenham, G. J. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary: Vol. 4. Downers Grove, IL:

InterVarsity Press, 1981. Kindle edition.

Winterbotham, R., Whitelaw, Thomas, Spence, Henry, D. M., and Exell, Joseph S. Pulpit

Commentary: Numbers. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1985. Database © 2013

WORDsearch.