Title: Night of Tears/Numbers 14:1-10
The ability to laugh and shed tears is a unique characteristic of human beings. Tears can be said to be something that human beings are born with and have followed for the rest of their lives. Today we find in the text one of the saddest nights in Israel's history. Let's take a look at why humans must weep through the text.
1. Because of despair.
As recorded in the Old Testament in Numbers 13:32-33, the impression that the spies who returned from spying received despair in Canaan, and that despair had a negative impact on the people, and the desperate report made the Israelites cry. made it a night of
1) Despair remains an externally unresolved problem.
As we see in Numbers 13:31-33, the spies reported that the conquest of Canaan seemed impossible, leading to a pessimistic picture of the Promised Land. So the people of Israel cried a lot that night. They became caught up in the fear that they were nothing more than grasshoppers in front of a giant. So, is there any way to solve this unsolvable problem?
First, keep in mind that you magnify the problem by overestimating your opponent too much. Problems are compounded if you jump to the conclusion that any problem cannot be solved.
Second, we too, like the people of Israel, sometimes commit sins that complicate matters with our faithless attitude. When we face difficult problems, there are times when we do not openly interpret and look at them with the eyes of faith. Then you should know that the problem is not solved and it becomes more complicated.
2) Despair leads to irresponsible sin.
Loss of courage or lack of courage blinds you to solving problems. The Israelites no longer had a heart for Moses and Aaron and their God. The people of Israel fell into the sin of being terrified and blinded by forgetting their leaders and even God's help, guidance, and grace. So despair is the mother of irresponsible sin.
Despair counts many irresponsible sins, and makes you stand up against your other associates. Despair sometimes forgets that we are God's holy people and commits the sin of betraying God (Deuteronomy 14:2).
Despair often leads to irresponsible sin against God (Numbers 14:3). The Israelites sinned before God by blaming and blaming God for the difficulties they faced while living in the wilderness. For example, when the road from Egypt to the Red Sea was blocked, when there was no water, when you were thirsty, when you wanted meat, you blamed God, and you blamed and complained about the leader Moses.
We too often commit the sin of blaming God without realizing it in our lives.
3) Know that despair will never help you solve problems.
Numbers 14:4 says “… Let us appoint a governor and return to Egypt.” and new proposals, but they did not provide a solution to problems, complaints, or despair. Because they all want to be ministers, and going back to Egypt is the way to death.
These are the words that show that when humans are in despair, they cannot solve it by their own strength.
2. Because of disillusionment (Numbers 14:5).
A rebellion broke out because of complaints and despair, and Moses and Aaron bowed their heads in front of the Israelites and wept and cried out to God. Their tears were tears of disillusionment. Moses and Aaron did everything they could to the people, and they showed their leadership through faith because they truly loved the people.
First, disillusionment is often caused by rude behavior (Numbers 14:1).
The behavior of a coward who complains is not an attribute of a man chosen by God. Sometimes our actions go against the name we have. The people of Israel are God's people, God's children, God's chosen people, and they have become "God's enemies." There are times when the Israelites do not understand why they are following Moses and Aaron when they blame God. Sometimes it is not understood whether the purpose is to escape slavery in Egypt, to obtain milk and honey from the Promised Land, or because of a desire to conquer the land God has given us.
Second, an unexpected attitude disillusiones the soul (Numbers 14:2a).
The Israelites were full of hope when they escaped from Egypt, and they also loved, respected, and obeyed Moses. However, when various problems lay before them, they confided unthinkable complaints.
3. It is because of the difficulties that have come (Numbers 14:610).
Joshua and Caleb, who went with ten other spies to spy out the land of Canaan, after hearing their negative report, saw the agitation of the people, and, as a sign of disappointment, tore their garments and shouted in the whole congregation of the Israelites, “The land we have scoured is exceedingly beautiful. it's land If the Lord is pleased, he will give us the land.”
Joshua and Caleb were trustworthy and honest in their words. But the Israelites turned their ears away from them and did not believe their testimonies and reports. However, Joshua and Caleb saw this God-promised land of Canaan, and they firmly believed that Israel would take it. Due to the people's unbelief, the two men were forced to weep, and Israel experienced difficulties in entering the land of Canaan because of their unbelief, only looking at the Promised Land from a close distance.
First, God promised Israel the land of Canaan, and Joshua and Caleb were men who worked hard to lead the people to act according to God's promise. But the people rejected God's promise (Numbers 14:8).
Second, it is difficult to persuade those who are spiritually stubborn, and Joshua and Caleb tried to persuade the people with tears not to disobey God’s will to enter the beautiful and glorious promised land, but they failed (Numbers 14:910). .
The rebellion forced them to walk only in their own way and not to choose God's way. Rebellion always ends in sorrow and tragedy. And rebellion brings wounds to others (Numbers 14:10).
4. Because it brings salvation (liberation) (Numbers 14:1921).
When Moses prayed, he clearly saw the salvation of Israel. Then tears of joy flowed down his face.
First, liberation from sin brings tears of joy (Numbers 14:1112).
Second, intercession for God's people brings salvation, and that salvation is the result of joy, and that joy is accompanied by tears (Numbers 14:19).
Third, liberation for the glory of God brings tears of joy to every soul (Numbers 14:2021). The salvation of Israel is God's strong will that cannot be resisted, and it is an expression of God's great love that cannot be explained. Israel's deliverance brought glory to God and at the same time brought tears of joy to Moses.
Our Lord is spending nights of tears for us. In front of the cross that was carried for our sins, the Lord shed tears of blood and sweat in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane that night. Let the tears of the Lord not be in vain.