Scripture Post #2,153: *TRIBE-LEADERS PUNISHED*

 

Numbers 14:

36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, 

37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 

38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.

Scripture Reference:

Numbers 13:31: “But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”

Verse 32: “And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.”

V. 33: “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

GOD caused a plague to kill the men who were responsible for influencing the Israelite-multitude to murmur against Him and doubt in His ability. These men who died by this plague were rulers and heads of 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel. They were highly influential. And had they believed GOD, the people would’ve been more inclined to do the same. But no. These tribe-leaders feared the inhabitants of the land GOD said was theirs. This caused the people’s trust to shift from GOD, to despair. So death was their punishment. Only 2 tribe-leaders went unpunished by GOD’s Plague: Caleb and Joshua. Because they believed in GOD’s ability, whereas the others doubted.

Originally Published: Sun. 8 • 5 • 18