“Back to the Wilderness”

​B I B L E  B I T S  &  B I T E S
Devotions for Families

Season 2: Heroes of the Bible
Episode 35: “Back to the Wilderness”
Today’s Bible Bite: Numbers 14

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx6gQdKQDZM (Cartoonworks)
“Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins.” (Numbers 14:34)

After the twelve spies returned and gave their report, the people believed the ten who said that going into the promised land was impossible. In their panic, some cried all night, others decided to choose another leader and go back to Egypt and others wanted to kill Joshua and Caleb, who had encouraged the people to do what God wanted them to do. Until God showed up! He told Moses He was willing to wipe them all out and start again with Moses. Moses pleaded with God to forgive the people and God agreed. But God told Moses that the people would now have to wander in the desert for forty years before they could go into the promised land. Everyone who was twenty years of age and older would die in the wilderness; only Joshua and Caleb would be permitted to go in. It was only the children of the Israelites who would inherit God’s promise.

The people realized they made a mistake and decided to go and try to take the land on their own; they didn’t want to have to wander in the desert for forty years. But God had made up His mind and wasn’t about to change it back just because the people had had a change of heart. They went into the land, but found themselves beaten back by the Amalekites because God was not helping them. They did indeed wander in the desert for forty years and it wasn’t easy, but that was the cost for having disobeyed God and refusing to trust Him.

Think about it...
• The twelve spies agreed that the land was good, but the majority of them discouraged the Israelites. How?
• The people were not happy. What did they do and talk of doing?
• God showed up, He too was not happy. What punishment did He give the Israelites?
• God told the people they would now have to wander in the desert for forty years. How did they make the situation worse?
​
Prayer: Thank you, God, for your patience with the Israelites and your willingness to forgive them. Help us to always be quick to obey you and not doubt you like the Israelites did. Thank you that will forgive us too when we make mistakes and admit them.