Numbers 14:11

God's Judgment of Israel's Rebellion

11 The Lord said to Moses, "How long will these people despise Me? How long will they not trust in Me despite all the signs I have performed among them?[a]

Numbers 14:11 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 14:11

And the Lord said unto Moses
Out of the cloud upon the tabernacle:

how long will this people provoke me?
which suggests that they had often provoked him, and had done it long ago, and still continued to do so; and he had long bore their provocations; but it was not reasonable, nor could it be expected by Moses or any other, that he would bear them much longer,

and how long will it be ere they believe me;
unbelief was a sin they had often and long been guilty of, and which greatly prevailed among them, and was the root of all their murmurings, mutiny, and rebellion; and what was highly provoking to the Lord, since they ought to have believed him, and that he was able to make good, and would make good his promises to them:

for all the signs which I have showed among them;
the wonders and miracles he had wrought in Egypt, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness, and in their sight; on account of which they should have given credit to his word, and which were strong aggravations of their unbelief; and is the true reason why they entered not into the good land, ( Hebrews 3:18 Hebrews 3:19 ) .

Numbers 14:11 In-Context

9 Only don't rebel against the Lord, and don't be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don't be afraid of them!"
10 While the whole community threatened to stone them, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.
11 The Lord said to Moses, "How long will these people despise Me? How long will they not trust in Me despite all the signs I have performed among them?
12 I will strike them with a plague and destroy them. Then I will make you into a greater and mightier nation than they are."
13 But Moses replied to the Lord, "The Egyptians will hear about it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from them.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Nm 14:22; Ex 4:1-12:31; 14:11,21-22
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