Put on the full Armor of God

Numbers 14:5-12 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.

And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

What we see here is Israel’s lack of faith in God to deliver them. The warning is for us and for our children.

God had destroyed Egypt and parted a sea to lead his people through the desert. Now, after telling them throughout their journey that he would deliver these pagans in to their hand and after generations of promising this land to them, they are confronted with the size and strength of the people who inhabit it and they look at the situation with eyes of flesh.

36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— 37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord.

The people were responsible for their actions, but the spies who reported falsely to Israel were the leaders God had appointed over them and their lack of faith led to a general lack of National faith. God destroyed them to show his Righteous judgment against unfaithful men and grumblers who have a greater amount of responsibility and calling. Let our leaders note this in their hearts.

25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”

They feared men, instead of believing in God’s strength and resting in his promises. This is not the end of the lesson. The death of the spies was noted and it led to the proper fear, but the damage had been done and they were ordered into the wilderness. Let us understand this things and give them their proper weight.

39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? 42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. 43 For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.

Israel decides that maybe God was right, they are Israel after all; the anointed, and they go to fight the inhabitants of the land. These tribes, who God was going to deliver into their hands utterly defeat them. It is the same tribes and the only difference is the God factor. The same tribes that would have been delivered to them defeated them because Yahweh was not with them. Yahweh turned away and did not fight for Israel and when Yahweh does not fight for you nothing can give you victory.

Even if there is an appearance of victory as we see in Judges chapter 2.

Judges 2:1-5 Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” As soon as the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the Lord.

This was our condition even has the ink was drying on the Constitution. We have to understand the if we are properly going to repent as a nation and so we can explain it to our children.

If God is Against us, whom can we turn to? The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.