Numbers 14:25 Study Bible: Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley: tomorrow turn, and go into the wilderness by the way to the Sea of Suf."

◄ Numbers 14:25 ►

Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea."

Study Bible

Now since
This phrase indicates a transition or a consequence of prior events. In the context of Numbers 14, the Israelites had just rebelled against God's command to enter the Promised Land due to fear and lack of faith. The use of "now since" suggests a direct response from God to the Israelites' actions, emphasizing the immediacy and seriousness of the situation. It serves as a reminder that God's instructions are often contingent upon human actions and attitudes.

the Amalekites and Canaanites
The Amalekites and Canaanites were formidable enemies of Israel. The Amalekites, descendants of Esau, were known for their hostility towards Israel, first attacking them at Rephidim (Exodus 17:8-16). The Canaanites, inhabitants of the Promised Land, represented the pagan cultures that Israel was to displace. Their mention here underscores the real and present danger that Israel faced due to their disobedience. Historically, these groups were well-established in the region, and their presence in the valleys highlights the strategic and military challenges Israel would encounter.

are living in the valleys
Valleys in biblical times were often fertile and strategically significant, providing resources and protection. The fact that the Amalekites and Canaanites were "living in the valleys" suggests they were entrenched and well-positioned, making them formidable adversaries. This detail emphasizes the Israelites' precarious situation and the consequences of their lack of faith. Spiritually, it serves as a metaphor for the low points or challenges in life where opposition seems strongest.

turn back tomorrow
This command from God is both a directive and a consequence. "Turn back" signifies a retreat, a reversal of the journey towards the Promised Land due to the Israelites' rebellion. The immediacy of "tomorrow" indicates that God's patience had limits, and the time for decision and action was at hand. It serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of disobedience and the importance of timely repentance and faith.

and set out toward the wilderness
The wilderness represents a place of testing, purification, and preparation. For the Israelites, it was a return to the place where they had wandered for years, symbolizing a delay in reaching their destiny due to their lack of faith. Theologically, the wilderness is often seen as a place where God refines His people, teaching them dependence and trust in Him. This phrase invites reflection on the spiritual wilderness experiences in our own lives and the lessons God seeks to impart through them.

along the route to the Red Sea
The Red Sea is a significant landmark in Israel's history, marking their miraculous deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 14). Mentioning the "route to the Red Sea" serves as a poignant reminder of God's past faithfulness and power. It highlights the irony of the Israelites' situation: they were being sent back towards the place of their deliverance because of their current unbelief. This phrase encourages believers to remember God's past deliverances and to trust Him in present challenges, knowing that He is faithful to His promises.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Amalekites
A nomadic tribe known for their hostility towards Israel. They were descendants of Esau and often opposed the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land.

2. Canaanites
Inhabitants of the land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham. They were known for their idolatrous practices and were often in conflict with the Israelites.

3. The Wilderness
Refers to the desert area where the Israelites wandered for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith in God's promises.

4. The Red Sea
A significant body of water that the Israelites crossed miraculously during their exodus from Egypt, symbolizing God's deliverance and power.

5. The Command to Turn Back
This event marks a pivotal moment where God instructs the Israelites to retreat due to their lack of faith, leading to their prolonged wandering in the wilderness.

Teaching Points

Obedience to God's Commands
The Israelites' failure to trust and obey God resulted in a significant setback. Believers today are reminded of the importance of obedience to God's guidance.

Consequences of Unbelief
The command to turn back highlights the serious consequences of unbelief. Christians are encouraged to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem daunting.

God's Sovereignty and Plan
Despite the Israelites' disobedience, God's plan for His people remained intact. This teaches us that God's purposes will ultimately prevail, even when we falter.

The Importance of Faith
The Israelites' lack of faith serves as a cautionary tale. Believers are called to cultivate a strong faith that trusts in God's provision and timing.

Learning from Past Mistakes
The account encourages reflection on past failures to avoid repeating them. Christians are urged to learn from the Israelites' mistakes and seek God's wisdom in their journey.

Bible Study Questions

1. How do the actions of the Amalekites and Canaanites in this passage reflect their historical relationship with Israel, and what can we learn about dealing with opposition in our own lives?

2. In what ways does the command to turn back into the wilderness serve as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience, and how can we apply this lesson to our spiritual walk?

3. How does the Israelites' experience in the wilderness parallel the Christian journey of faith, and what scriptures can you find that support this comparison?

4. Reflect on a time when you faced a "wilderness" experience in your life. How did your faith in God's promises help you navigate that period?

5. Considering Hebrews 3:16-19, how can we guard against unbelief in our own lives, and what practical steps can we take to strengthen our faith?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 17:8-16
This passage describes an earlier encounter with the Amalekites, where God promises to blot out their memory due to their attack on Israel.

Deuteronomy 1:40
This verse reiterates the command for the Israelites to turn back into the wilderness, emphasizing the consequence of their disobedience.

Hebrews 3:16-19
This New Testament passage reflects on the Israelites' unbelief and disobedience, using it as a warning for believers to remain faithful.

Sermons

The Rule of the Road	H. J. Wilmot-Buxton, M. A.	Numbers 14:25
The Could not Enter in Because of Unbelief	W. Binnie	Numbers 14:1-45

People

Aaron, Amalekites, Caleb, Canaanites, Egyptians, Israelites, Jephunneh, Joshua, Moses, Nun

Places

Egypt, Hormah, Kadesh-barnea, Red Sea

Topics

Along, Amalekite, Amalekites, Amal'ekites, Canaanite, Canaanites, Desert, Dwell, Dwelling, Dwelt, Journey, Pass, Red, Round, Route, Tomorrow, To-morrow, Turn, Turning, Vale, Valley, Valleys, Waste, Wilderness, Yourselves

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Numbers 14:25

5431 oaths, divine

Numbers 14:20-38

7258 promised land, early history

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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