2.23.25: Weeks 9, Numbers 14, Training to Trust God Our Rescuer
Key Verse for 2025, “Watch your life and doctrine closely.” 1 Timothy 4:16
Intro: In week nine, we focus on the Israelites’ 39-year journey in the wilderness, emphasizing the importance of trusting and obeying God. Today, we will focus on chapter 14. As we read through the Old Testament narrative, it’s important to remember that God is the Hero of the story. He is training His people to trust and obey Him. While staying close to God is crucial, dismissing His guidance can lead to self-reliance—and this never ends well! Although Egypt is familiar, God is guiding the Israelites toward a new, fruitful home blessed by Him. However, this promised land is inhabited by wicked people who even practice child sacrifices. God’s purpose for bringing His people there is to provide a blessing for obedience and judgment for disobedience. Ultimately, this new home symbolizes rest with God, where the ultimate reward of a relationship with Him eclipses the temporary blessings of the land. God is training His people to trust Him.
Context for Chapter 14: Twelve scouts from each tribe are sent into the land. Moses instructs them on their route and asks them to bring back some of the land’s fruit to show the people, “This is good land.” After 40 days, the 12 return. Ten say the land is good, but the people are too strong; we should not go. Only Caleb and Joshua say the land is good; yes, the people are strong, but we can defeat them, so we should go. They are the only 2 in favor, and the other 10 are opposed. The people hear the report, and they are poised to respond.
This is the high-stress moment that they have been training for…
Discussion Chapter 14
Read verses 1-12 out loud together. Remember Rodney’s thoughts on training as you read. Notice the people’s reactions and God’s response.
Q1: Review verses 1-4. What is the people’s response to the report? Chew on this for a moment. In what ways were the people not trusting in their training? Think about ways you respond when difficult reports come your way. Are you quick to want to go back to your old way of thinking? Do you look for the hand of God in the report, or do you look to yourself and what you think is best? How is “looking to self, and what you think is the best,” counter to training for godliness?
Q2: What motivates people to follow the ten scouts instead of Caleb and Joshua?
Note: It was fear! Consider how fear can lead us to forget our training and our ability to trust in ourselves rather than in God. Don’t make the mistake of thinking these people were any different from us—people are people—and we can and do fall into the same traps of negative thinking. Recall what Paul wrote to the Corinthians.
Q3: In verses 5-9, what do we see from Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb?
NOTE: Consider Rodney’s sermon as you think through this question. What does it reveal about Moses and Aaron’s training to trust the Lord rather than themselves? What does it imply about the habits they developed that helped them focus on the Lord despite facing difficult challenges in circumstances like the one they are currently experiencing?
Q4: Verses 10-18 and 28-29 continue the story. Take a moment and look at each character in these verses. How do each respond? What do we learn about leadership as we see Moses intercede for the people? What do we learn about God’s Holiness? What does it teach us about training to trust God?
MAIN TAKEAWAY/APPLICATION:
Train to trust God so that God may be glorified. Train because he is worthy. Trust our trainer—our rescuer. Trust in the Lord Jesus. Don’t let fear drive you to rely on yourself rather than God.
Reflective Questions for Application:
RQ1: Read the following Verse: Phil 3:12 I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 1 Cor 10:11-12 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. 1 Cor 10:31 Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
RQ2: How can we heed Paul’s warning, “Whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall”? What do we learn from these rebellious people in our reading from Numbers? Why is it beneficial for us to overcome our fears and trust in God?
RQ3: Does the desire for self-protection rather than God’s glory motivate you? Be honest. Why do you think this is so?
RQ4: How can you train to face your fears? How can being open and honest in your small group by acknowledging your fears help you?
RQ5: In high-stress situations, how are your old habits revealed?
RQ6: What would it look like for you to cultivate habits that prioritize acting in faith over fear?
RQ7: How does understanding that fear is a common emotion, yet doesn’t need to control you, benefit you?
RQ8: Have you brought your fears to Jesus and acknowledged them before other believers? If not, why?
RQ9: What are you doing to build good habits?
Application: After reflecting on this passage and the sermon, is there anything that needs to change in your life? How can we help?