In Numbers 12 Miriam and Aaron are jealous of the fact that God speaks through Moses. God becomes angry because Moses did not deserve their criticism. God states that He speaks directly only to Moses and that they should be afraid to speak against him. God strikes Miriam with leprous lesions. She is shut out of the camp for 7 days until she is clean again.

One of the worst things we can do as a people of faith is to speak against another follower, especially out of jealousy. God gives each of us gifts and each is given particular gifts for a purpose. It is not our place to be jealous of another’s gifts or position. It is worse yet to speak out against one who is following God’s call to ministry. Our witness becomes tarnished when we act so nastily toward one another. It becomes like a disease which can affect the entire body of faith.

In Numbers 13 and 14 God sends men from each tribe to spy out the land of Canaan. The men spend 40 days on their journey. They return with samples of the fruits of the land.

All but Joshua and Caleb speak of how rich the land is but how terrifying the inhabitants are and how the Israelites are no match. The people believe the negative reports.

Only Joshua and Caleb speak out of trust in the Lord instead of fear of what they see. They know that the inhabitants are no match for God. The people continue to be afraid and threaten to stone Joshua and Caleb.

Their lack of faith makes God angry and He considers again destroying the people and beginning anew with Moses. Moses speaks again of how that would look to the Egyptians for the people God has claimed to be destroyed.

Moses reminded God of the covenant He made at Mt Sinai saying the He was slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Moses asks God to forgive them. God agrees to His request but says that none of the people who were brought out of Egypt, saw His miracles and continued to test Him ten times will be allowed to possess the new land.  God kills the men who gave the bad report with a plague. Only Joshua and Caleb survive.

When the people hear what God said they decide to go up against the Amalekites and Canaanites even though God has not blessed their effort. The ark of the covenant and Moses remain in the camp as God commanded. The Amalekites and Canaanites defeat the Israelites who disobeyed God.

The people have trouble listening to and believing in God and His word. They only see things from their perspective and cannot trust that God might have a plan that is greater than their imaginings. They want to determine their own fate regardless of whether God has blessed them. If we claim to be God’s people then we need to listen to what God is trying to tell us. If we go off on our own we run the risk of going against God and His blessing.

Psalm 28 speaks of those who do not regard the works of God that they will get their own reward. The writer trusts in God and receives His blessings.

Psalm 29 speaks of the power of the Lord and asks that God give His strength to His people.