In our passage today, God continues to provide for Israel, despite their rebellious nature.

• A reminder – God instructs the people to make tassels to remind them to follow God’s commands.  He provides this reminder as one more way to encourage the people to follow Him.  What has God placed in your life to remind you to follow Him?
• God’s patience – The people rebel against God’s choice of leadership, yet God doesn’t wipe them out.  He causes Aaron’s staff to sprout to end Israel’s grumbling about who should lead them.  God patiently provided them with proof of his choice of leaders.  How has God been patient with you?
• Portion – The Levites would not receive an inheritance of land like the other tribes.  Instead God would provide for them by giving them a part of Israel’s offerings to God.  God is their portion and inheritance (18:20).  The psalmists would later take this language to proclaim their satisfaction and fulfillment in God alone (Psalm 16:5, 73:26).  Is God your chosen portion?

Our passage today is the turning point of the book.  On the verge of entering the land, the people rebel.

• Grumbling and Unbelief – The spies return with tales of giants, and the people begin to grumble again.  They refuse to believe God can bring them into the land.  Note that grumbling flows out of unbelief: they didn’t believe so they grumbled.  When you grumble, you are failing to trust God.  Ponder how this truth intersects your life.
• God’s Judgment – God decrees that none of the people over 20 years old will enter the land.   Instead they will wander around in the wilderness for 40 years.  Tragically they missed the blessing God had intended for them.  Rebellion against God is serious!  Sin has consequences.
• God’s faithfulness – Despite their rebellion, God doesn’t utterly reject them.  He will bring their children into the land.  He will keep his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  As if to make this clear, God starts chapter 15 with the words, “When you come into the land….”  God’s purpose will stand.  You can trust God to be faithful to his promises even in spite of our sins.
• Good examples – In the midst of the rebellion, three men show us a better way.  When the mountain in your path seems gigantic, will you trust God like Caleb and Joshua?  When all around you are walking in sin, will you courageously stand like Caleb and Joshua?  When you see people straying and judgment nearing, will you intercede with God like Moses?  Don’t follow the crowd.  Swim against the current and live for God!

In our passage today, the people leave Mt Sinai for the Promised Land.  Observe:

• God’s direction – When the cloud went up, the people would leave.  When the cloud remained, the people stayed.  The people moved according to God’s direction.  How have you seen God guide your life?  Are you seeking to move your life according to God’s direction?  Are you seeking to live by the Book?  Are you sensitive to the Spirit’s leading?
• Grumbling – The people begin to complain.  They grumbled in Exodus on their way to Mt Sinai; now they are grumbling again as they leave.  This murmuring against God is a continuous theme throughout the rest of Numbers.  Is it a theme in your life?  Are you a grumbler?
• Consequences – God responds to their grumbling with punishment.  Many die!  God apparently hates grumbling.  Does your attitude towards grumbling match God’s view?  Do you need to confess your sins to the Lord?  When things get tough or don’t go your way, what might you do instead of grumbling?