Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people, in keeping with the greatness of Your loving devotion, just as You have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt." Pardon the iniquity of this peopleThe word "pardon" in Hebrew is "סָלַח" (salach), which signifies forgiveness or the act of sparing someone from the consequences of their wrongdoing. This plea for pardon is a profound act of intercession by Moses, who stands in the gap for the Israelites. The term "iniquity" (עָוֹן, avon) refers to moral perversity or sin, indicating a deep-seated rebellion against God. Historically, the Israelites had repeatedly shown a lack of faith and obedience, and Moses' request highlights the need for divine mercy over justice. This phrase underscores the role of a mediator, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate intercession for humanity. I pray
The Hebrew word "אָנָא" (ana) is an earnest plea or supplication. It reflects Moses' humility and desperation as he approaches God on behalf of the people. This phrase emphasizes the importance of prayer as a means of communication with God, where believers can express their deepest concerns and desires. Moses' prayer is a model of intercessory prayer, showing the power and necessity of seeking God's intervention in times of crisis. according to the greatness of Your loving devotion
The term "loving devotion" is translated from the Hebrew word "חֶסֶד" (chesed), which encompasses God's steadfast love, mercy, and faithfulness. It is a covenantal term, reflecting God's unwavering commitment to His people despite their failures. The "greatness" of this loving devotion speaks to its immeasurable and boundless nature. Historically, God's chesed has been evident from the time of the patriarchs, through the Exodus, and into the wilderness journey. This phrase reassures believers of God's enduring love and faithfulness, encouraging them to trust in His promises. just as You have forgiven them from Egypt until now
This phrase recalls the numerous instances of God's forgiveness since the Exodus. The Hebrew word for "forgiven" is "נָשָׂא" (nasa), meaning to lift, carry, or take away. It signifies God's willingness to remove the burden of sin from His people. The historical context here is crucial; despite the Israelites' repeated disobedience, God has consistently shown mercy. This continuity of forgiveness is a testament to God's character and His desire for reconciliation with His people. It serves as a reminder of the importance of repentance and the assurance of God's grace for those who seek it. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, who intercedes on behalf of the people, asking God to forgive their sins. 2. The IsraelitesThe people of God who have repeatedly sinned and rebelled against Him, particularly in their lack of faith to enter the Promised Land. 3. God (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God who is both just and merciful, and who has been guiding the Israelites from Egypt. 4. EgyptThe place of bondage from which God delivered the Israelites, symbolizing their past sins and God's redemptive power. 5. The Promised Land (Canaan)The land promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, representing God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. Teaching Points The Power of IntercessionMoses' prayer demonstrates the importance and power of interceding for others. Believers are called to pray for one another, seeking God's mercy and grace. Understanding God's CharacterGod's loving devotion (Hebrew: "chesed") is central to His nature. Understanding this helps believers trust in His willingness to forgive and restore. The Consequences of UnbeliefThe Israelites' failure to trust God serves as a warning. Believers must cultivate faith and obedience to avoid similar pitfalls. The Necessity of RepentanceTrue repentance involves acknowledging sin and turning back to God. This is essential for receiving His forgiveness and maintaining a right relationship with Him. God's Faithfulness Over TimeJust as God was faithful to forgive the Israelites from Egypt onward, He remains faithful to forgive us today. This encourages perseverance in faith. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Moses' intercession for the Israelites in Numbers 14:19 inspire you to pray for others in your life? 2. In what ways can understanding God's "loving devotion" (chesed) deepen your relationship with Him? 3. Reflect on a time when you struggled with unbelief. How can the account of the Israelites encourage you to trust God more fully? 4. What steps can you take to ensure that repentance is a regular part of your spiritual life? 5. How does the faithfulness of God, as demonstrated from Egypt to the Promised Land, give you confidence in His promises today? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 34:6-7This passage describes God's character as merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, which Moses appeals to in Numbers 14:19. Psalm 103:8-12This Psalm echoes the themes of God's forgiveness and loving devotion, similar to Moses' plea for pardon. 1 John 1:9This New Testament verse speaks to the assurance of forgiveness when we confess our sins, reflecting the same divine mercy Moses sought. Hebrews 3:7-19This passage warns against the unbelief and rebellion of the Israelites, using their example as a caution for believers today. Matthew 18:21-22Jesus teaches about the necessity of forgiveness, which parallels the forgiveness Moses requests from God for the Israelites. People Aaron, Amalekites, Caleb, Canaanites, Egyptians, Israelites, Jephunneh, Joshua, Moses, NunPlaces Egypt, Hormah, Kadesh-barnea, Red SeaTopics Beseech, Borne, Egypt, Forgive, Forgiven, Forgiveness, Greatness, Hast, Iniquity, Kindness, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Measure, Mercy, Pardon, Pardoned, Please, Sin, Steadfast, TillDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 14:19 1060 God, greatness of
6615 atonement, necessity 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 Numbers 14:18-19 6688 mercy, demonstration of God's Numbers 14:18-20 2060 Christ, patience of 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 ScriptureWeighed, 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 Links Numbers 14:19 NIVNumbers 14:19 NLTNumbers 14:19 ESVNumbers 14:19 NASBNumbers 14:19 KJV
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