The Love & Desire of Egypt

The Love & Desire of Egypt

You may have been expecting a motivational new year’s resolution message today being its January 3rd and all. I even began on New Year’s Eve writing a message about us being Ambassadors of Christ, but God truly changed the message in my morning devotion on January 1st when reading Numbers chapters 12-14. 

So sorry, not sorry as I think we sometimes need to hear the difficult truths of God and the scriptures to walk in true freedom and do business with the Lord to get untangled from the world and all the influences of the evil one that surrounds us. 

Many people tend to get bored reading Leviticus & Numbers, I’m here to say today that once you begin to love the word of God, and read it with faith and anticipation rather than because of duty, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy and all the scriptures for that matter become extremely interesting and insightful. 

The goal today is to connect some lessons from the Old Testament to the New Testament with the end goal of connecting them to our lives as the people of God and followers of Jesus Christ. 

We have all heard of and hopefully read the Exodus from Egypt that Moses led where the Lord delivered the Israelites from slavery. The actual entire story of the Exodus is actually told through Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (Exodus only covers  the deliverance from Egypt and the first year in the wilderness), and the following 39 years are covered in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Something we see when following along is that every time things got difficult the Israelites desired to go back to Egypt or sinned and did something crazy. There is a lot God wanted to teach us through this narrative, and we can be very similar to the Israelites and still desire the world, sin, and comfort (idolatry & our own way) after having experienced the miracles of deliverance and our new life in Christ like how they did after being delivered from Egypt in such a miraculous way. 

So we will look at a pivotal moment where God had seen enough of their rebellion, selfishness, and backsliding and He pronounced judgement on them in Numbers chapters 14. We also see some men amongst them who were not judged and so we have examples of who to be like and of course who not to be like.

I want to pray that we will take to heart these lessons and that this be a reminder to fear God and serve Him fully as though we live in the time of grace, God is the same God and doesn’t change. God has this recorded for us to learn from the Israelites and not follow suit. 

1 Corinthians 10:6 (ESV) says “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.” 

Let’s look in Numbers 13 where this account begins to unfold.

We see in Numbers 13:1-3 God asks Moses to send men to spy out the land of Canaan, and of course Moses does:

Numbers 13:1-3 (ESV)

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” 3 So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel.

It proceeds to list off the particular men that were chosen as spies and which tribe they were the head of in verses 4-16. One thing to note in verse 15 it is distinguished that Hoshea is who Moses calls Joshua Numbers 1:15 “...And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.” Moses gave some direction and a request for them to bring some fruit of the land in verses 17-20. Then in verses 21-25 they fulfill the mission (including bringing back a cluster of grapes and some pomegranates and figs) and they return to tell Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites their findings. 

Where the events take a turn which are particularly interesting is when the spies address the people presenting their findings in verses 26-33.

Numbers 13:26-33 (ESV)

26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”

30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

This begins to show us how significant our perspectives vary when seeing the exact same things with others, even among leaders here with Caleb compared to the others.

This leads us into Numbers chapter 14 where events take a dramatic shift for the worse after the spies reports are given. The congregation cry, weep, and grumble to Moses and Aaron, and once again ask to go back to Egypt, even suggesting they choose a leader to take them back to Egypt. 

Numbers 14:1-4 (ESV)

1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

One question that comes to mind for me each time the Israelites go into this mode, is what's the mindset here? In this particular it’s fear, self-preservation (selfishness), and unbelief in God’s character, nature, and promises. Think about how many times God has done tremendous miracles for these people and how many times He has shown Himself mighty on their behalf.

Their reaction once again has Moses and Aaron on their faces before them and the Lord. Joshua and Caleb also attempt to speak faith to them, yet they wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb, then God showed up and as He should be is angry. 

Numbers 14:5-12 (ESV)

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 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 7 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. 8 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. 9 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.” 10 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.

11 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? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

Moses intercedes to the Lord to be merciful towards them, and God relents slightly, yet He pronounces judgement on the Israelites except for Joshua, Caleb, and the children of the Israelites that are under twenty years old (which still suffer long in the wilderness because of the older generations' sins). The older generation ( twenty years old and upward)  is told they will die off in the wilderness and not enter into the promised land, essentially missing the blessing and will of God.

Numbers 14:13-36 (ESV)

Moses Intercedes for the People

13 But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them, 14 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people. For you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, 16 ‘It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, 18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ 19 Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”

God Promises Judgment

20 Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. 21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. 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.”

26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27 “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. 28 Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, 30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.”

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. 38 Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.

The crazy thing here is up to this point God has been patient and merciful towards them after ten really bad blatant incidents of rebellion, sin, unbelief, and backsliding but if we read further they don’t stop at ten. Let’s quickly look at the ten incidents God mentioned in verse 22 ..” and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice”. 

What were the ten times the Israelites tested the LORD?

(1) Lacking faith before the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:11–12)

(2) Complaining over the bitter water at Marah (Exodus 15:24)

(3) Complaining in the Desert of Sin (Exodus 16:3)

(4) Collecting more manna than they were supposed to (Exodus 16:20)

(5) Attempting to collect manna on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:27–29)

(6) Complaining over the lack of water at Rephidim (Exodus 17:2–3)

(7) Engaging in idolatry in the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:7–10)

(8) Complaining at Taberah (Numbers 11:1–2)

(9) Complaining over the lack of food (Numbers 11:4)

(10) Failing to trust God and enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:1–4)

Reference gotquestions.org

So the judgement for someone who only reads the judgement of the Lord on these people seems harsh, but in its true context we understand it to be justice that has seen a lot of mercy.

In 1 Corinthians 10:1-14, The Apostle Paul relates the Israelites in the Exodus to us in this way:

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ[c] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Then we see this account in the book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 3:16-19

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

So what’s the conclusion and how does it all apply to us?

I think we as followers of the same God as the Israelites should take inventory of the amount of mercy we have been shown, and think about ways we tend to operate like the Israelites who love & desire to go back to Egypt and the old life. And vice versa take inventory of some ways that would indicate we are operating like Joshua, Caleb, Aaron, and Moses who are of “a different spirit” and who serve God fully, and who also do not desire Egypt and the old life.

The Love & Desire of Egypt Indicators:

• We are looking to only preserve ourselves and our family, unwilling half to walk through anything difficult in faith (financial security, creature comforts, really loving people unlike us that aren't all cleaned up)

• Our priorities are self centered and not eternally focused only and unwilling to be inconvenienced for the gospel or our relationship with the Lord, meaning we will come to church and serve the Lord only if it's convenient. I won’t miss my teams football game, hobby, etc., for church, a Bible study, prayer, or to help someone in need.

• We grumble, complain, and think we know better than God every time things aren't going the way we think, always questioning authorities whether spiritual or worldly.

• We want to be entertained and be served, rather than actually serving. 

• We don’t really believe God is a supernatural loving God, who truly desires the best for us (which means He tries to get us to step out in faith, which is typically difficult situations)

Joshua, Caleb, Aaron, and Moses Indicators:

• Fully trust in God’s character, and are attempting to partner with Him in everything they do in life (committed & involved). 

• Want everything God wants. (like a Hawgs everything biscuit which has all the fix ins, sausage, eggs, bacon, cheese)

• Not seeking their own will, but seeking God’s will

• Being willing to Intercede and stand in for others.

• Speak faith when difficulty arises.

• Be willing to stand against the status quo and popular sentiment.

• Become accountable for our actions and become disciples that make disciples

Discipleship is the key.

Let's be sure we have more Joshua, Caleb, Aaron, and Moses indicators than love and desire for Egypt indicators here in 2025 and every day for that matter!