Explore the Promised Land, Abraham Kim
MOSES PLEADS FOR THE PEOPLE
Passage: Numbers 14:10~19  
Key verse: 19
10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning(A) them. Then the glory of the Lord(B) appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt?(C) How long will they refuse to believe in me,(D) in spite of all the signs(E) I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them down with a plague(F) and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation(G) greater and stronger than they.”(H)
13 Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them.(I) 14 And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard(J) that you, Lord, are with these people(K) and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face,(L) that your cloud stays over them,(M) and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.(N) 15 If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 16 ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath,(O) so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’(P)
17 “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.(Q) Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’(R) 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive(S) the sin of these people,(T) just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”(U)
Cross references
- Numbers 14:10 : S Ex 17:4
- Numbers 14:10 : S Ex 24:16
- Numbers 14:11 : Ex 23:21; Nu 15:31; 16:30; 1Sa 2:17; Eze 31:14; Mal 1:13
- Numbers 14:11 : Dt 1:32; Ps 78:22; 106:24; Jn 3:15
- Numbers 14:11 : S Ex 3:20; S 4:17; S 10:1
- Numbers 14:12 : S Ex 5:3; S 30:12
- Numbers 14:12 : S Ex 32:10
- Numbers 14:12 : Dt 9:14; 29:20; 32:26; Ps 109:13
- Numbers 14:13 : Ex 32:11-14; Ps 106:23
- Numbers 14:14 : Ex 15:14
- Numbers 14:14 : Nu 5:3; 16:3; Jos 2:9
- Numbers 14:14 : Dt 5:4; 34:10
- Numbers 14:14 : S Ex 33:16
- Numbers 14:14 : S Ex 13:21
- Numbers 14:16 : Nu 11:12
- Numbers 14:16 : Ex 32:12; Jos 7:7
- Numbers 14:18 : S Ex 20:6; 34:6; Ps 145:8; Jnh 4:2; Jas 5:11
- Numbers 14:18 : Ex 20:5
- Numbers 14:19 : S Ex 34:9; 1Ki 8:34; Ps 85:2; 103:3
- Numbers 14:19 : Ps 106:45
- Numbers 14:19 : Ps 78:38
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. I will make you a great nation (10-12)
God was angry at the people's unbelief. He had poured out his grace on them, but they rebelled against him and treated him with contempt because of their fear and unbelief. God offered Moses an easy way out of a hard job. He would destroy the rebels with a plague and start over again with Moses' family. He would make a greater nation. Moses could forget about the rebels and raise his own sons.
2. Moses' prayer (13-19)
Moses did not accept God's offer. He had a shepherd's heart for these people, and he loved God. God's honor was at stake. God had brought the people out of Egypt with his mighty hand and led them through the desert with cloud and fire; if he put them all to death, the godless nations of the world would mock God. So Moses asked God to forgive the people one more time--because of his great love.
Prayer: Lord, help me to know your mind and heart, love you more and pray for your people and your redemptive work.
One Word: Love God and pray for his people