Numbers 14:17
So now I pray, may the power of my Lord be magnified, just as You have declared:
So now, I pray, may the power of the Lord be magnified
So now
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the narrative, indicating a transition from recounting past events to making a direct appeal to God. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "וְעַתָּה" (ve'atah), which signifies an immediate call to action or attention. It reflects Moses' urgency and the critical nature of the situation. Historically, this moment follows the Israelites' rebellion and God's declaration of judgment, making Moses' intercession crucial.

I pray
The Hebrew word "אָנָּא" (anna) is an earnest plea, often used in supplication. It conveys a deep sense of humility and dependence on God. Moses, as a leader and prophet, models the importance of prayer and intercession, demonstrating that even in dire circumstances, turning to God is the first and most vital response.

may the power
The term "כֹּחַ" (koach) in Hebrew refers to strength, might, or power. In this context, it emphasizes God's omnipotence and ability to act decisively. Moses is appealing to God's inherent power, acknowledging that only through divine intervention can the situation be redeemed. This highlights a fundamental belief in God's sovereignty and capability to alter the course of events.

of the Lord
The name used here is "יְהוָה" (YHWH), the personal and covenantal name of God. It signifies not just any deity, but the God of Israel, who has a unique relationship with His people. This invocation of God's name is a reminder of His faithfulness and the promises He has made to the patriarchs. It underscores the covenantal context in which Moses makes his plea.

be magnified
The Hebrew word "יִגְדַּל" (yigdal) means to be great or to be made great. Moses is asking for God's power to be demonstrated in such a way that His glory and majesty are evident to all. This request is not just for deliverance but for God's name to be exalted among the nations. It reflects a desire for God's reputation to be upheld and His character to be revealed through His actions.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who intercedes on behalf of the people after they express doubt and fear about entering the Promised Land.

2. The Israelites
The people of God, who are journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land but are struggling with faith and obedience.

3. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

4. The Lord (Yahweh)
The God of Israel, who is characterized by His power, mercy, and faithfulness.

5. The Wilderness of Paran
The location where the Israelites are camped when they express their fear and rebellion against entering Canaan.
Teaching Points
The Power of Intercession
Moses' prayer demonstrates the importance and power of interceding for others. Believers are called to pray for one another, especially in times of doubt and fear.

God's Unchanging Character
Moses appeals to God's consistent nature. Understanding God's attributes helps believers trust Him in difficult circumstances.

Faith in God's Promises
The Israelites' fear contrasts with the faith required to enter the Promised Land. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's promises despite challenges.

Magnifying God's Power
Moses seeks to glorify God through his prayer. Believers should aim to magnify God's power and presence in their lives through their actions and prayers.

The Consequences of Unbelief
The Israelites' account serves as a warning about the consequences of unbelief. Believers are reminded to cultivate faith and obedience.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Moses' intercession for the Israelites in Numbers 14:17 inspire you to pray for others in your life?

2. In what ways can you magnify the power of the Lord in your daily actions and decisions?

3. Reflect on a time when you struggled with unbelief. How can the account of the Israelites encourage you to trust in God's promises?

4. How does understanding God's character, as described in Exodus 34:6-7, help you in your relationship with Him?

5. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your faith remains strong, as warned in Hebrews 3:7-19?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 34:6-7
This passage describes God's character as merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, which Moses appeals to in his prayer.

Psalm 86:15
This verse echoes the attributes of God that Moses highlights, emphasizing His compassion and mercy.

Hebrews 3:7-19
This New Testament passage reflects on the Israelites' unbelief and disobedience in the wilderness, urging believers to remain faithful.
Moses Standing in the Breach, or the Power of Intercessory PrayerW. Binnie Numbers 14:1-20
The Could not Enter in Because of UnbeliefW. Binnie Numbers 14:1-45
Skilful IntercessionE.S. Prout Numbers 14:11-19
God's Pardoning Grace in the Past an Encouragement to Seek for the Same in the PresentDavid Lloyd.Numbers 14:13-19
Great MercySpurgeon, Charles HaddonNumbers 14:13-19
Long-Suffering of GodJ. Pilkington.Numbers 14:13-19
Moses' ExpostulationJ. Parker, D. D.Numbers 14:13-19
Moses' View of the PositionD. Young Numbers 14:13-19
The Intercession of Moses for the Doomed NationW. Jones.Numbers 14:13-19
The Mercy of GodAbp. Tillotson.Numbers 14:13-19
The Power of IntercessionT. Chalmers.Numbers 14:13-19
People
Aaron, Amalekites, Caleb, Canaanites, Egyptians, Israelites, Jephunneh, Joshua, Moses, Nun
Places
Egypt, Hormah, Kadesh-barnea, Red Sea
Topics
Beseech, Declared, Displayed, Hast, Please, Power, Prayer, Promised, Saying, Spoken, Strength
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Numbers 14:10-20

     4843   plague

Numbers 14:11-19

     8611   prayer, for others

Numbers 14:13-19

     8640   calling upon God

Numbers 14:13-39

     6257   unbelievers

Numbers 14:17-19

     1443   revelation, OT

Numbers 14:17-20

     6653   forgiveness, divine

Library
Moses the Intercessor
'Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.' --NUM. xiv. 19. See how in this story a divine threat is averted and a divine promise is broken, thus revealing a standing law that these in Scripture are conditional. This striking incident of Moses' intercession suggests to us some thoughts as to I. The ground of the divine forgiveness. The appeal is not based on anything in the people.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Weighed, and Found Wanting
'And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron; and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3. And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4. And they said one
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Order and Argument in Prayer
It is further observable that though a good man hastens to God in his trouble, and runs with all the more speed because of the unkindness of his fellow men, yet sometimes the gracious soul is left without the comfortable presence of God. This is the worst of all griefs; the text is one of Job's deep groans, far deeper than any which came from him on account of the loss of his children and his property: "Oh that I knew where I might find HIM!" The worst of all losses is to lose the smile of my God.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 12: 1866

The Spies
THE UNBELIEF OF THE CHILDREN of Israel, prompted them to send spies into Canaan. God had told them that it was a good land, and he had promised to drive out their enemies, they ought therefore to have marched forward with all confidence to possess the promised heritage. Instead of this, they send twelve princes to spy out the land, and "alas, for human nature," ten of these were faithless, and only two true to the Lord. Read over the narrative, and mark the ill effect of the lying message, and the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Afraid of Giants
'And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain; 18. And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19. And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20. And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Personality of Power.
A Personally Conducted Journey. Everyone enjoys the pleasure of travel; but nearly all shrink back from its tiresomeness and drudgery. The transportation companies are constantly scheming to overcome this disagreeable side for both pleasure and business travel. One of the popular ways of pleasure travel of late is by means of personally conducted tours. A party is formed, often by the railroad company, and is accompanied by a special agent to attend to all the business matters of the trip. A variation
S.D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on Power

Exploring Canaan by Faith
EXPLORING CANAAN BY FAITH I can not understand faith. What is faith, anyway? I try to believe; sometimes I feel that my faith is strong, but at other times I feel that my faith is giving way. Can you help me in this matter? Faith seems such a hazy, intangible, elusive thing; now I think I have it, now it seems certain I have it not. I feel at times that my faith is so strong I could believe anything, then again I feel that every bit of faith I had is gone. Can you give me any instructions that will
Robert Lee Berry—Adventures in the Land of Canaan

Trinity Sunday the Doctrine of the Trinity.
Second Sermon. Text: Romans 11, 33-36. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY.[1] [Footnote 1: This sermon was first printed in 1535, at Wittenberg.] 1. This festival requires us to instruct the people in the dogma of the Holy Trinity, and to strengthen both memory and faith concerning it. This is the reason why we take up the subject once more. Without proper instruction and a sound foundation in this regard, other dogmas cannot be rightly and successfully treated. The other festivals of the year present
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Scriptures
Q-II: WHAT RULE HAS GOD GIVEN TO DIRECT US HOW WE MAY GLORIFY AND ENJOY HIM? A: The Word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. 2 Tim 3:16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,' By Scripture is understood the sacred Book of God. It is given by divine inspiration; that is, the Scripture is not the contrivance of man's brain, but is divine in its origin. The image of Diana was had in veneration
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of the Eleventh
An unfinished commentary on the Bible, found among the author's papers after his death, in his own handwriting; and published in 1691, by Charles Doe, in a folio volume of the works of John Bunyan. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR Being in company with an enlightened society of Protestant dissenters of the Baptist denomination, I observed to a doctor of divinity, who was advancing towards his seventieth year, that my time had been delightfully engaged with John Bunyan's commentary on Genesis. "What,"
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
1. Do no evil, though thou mightest; for God will not suffer the least sin, without bitter repentance, to escape unpunished. Leave not undone any good that thou canst. But do nothing without a calling, nor anything in thy calling, till thou hast first taken counsel at God's word (1 Sam. xxx. 8) of its lawfulness, and pray for his blessings upon thy endeavour; and then do it in the name of God, with cheerfulness of heart, committing the success to him, in whose power it is to bless with his grace
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Earliest Christian Preaching
1. THUS far we have confined ourselves to the words of Jesus. The divine necessity of His death, indicated in the Old Testament and forming the basis of all His teaching regarding it, is the primary truth; the nature of that necessity begins to be revealed as the death is set in relation to the ransoming of many, and to the institution of a new covenant -- that is, a new religion, having as its fundamental blessing the forgiveness of sins. I do not think this view of our Lord's mind as to His own
James Denney—The Death of Christ

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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