Moses and the Dying Generation I. What was the agenda for the next nearly forty years? The primary agenda for the next forty years was continued wandering and waiting for the death of a generation.

A. There were many ways that people had experienced death to this point. 1. The Levites who stood with Moses were instructed to kill 3000 leaders of the rebellious leaders of the people after the golden calf incident (Ex. 32:27-28). 2. Others most likely died from the plague that followed the golden calf incident (Ex. 32:35).

3. Two of Aaron’s sons had been killed by holy fire when they offered “strange fire” before the Lord (Lev. 10:1-7). 4. Some of the complainers on the outskirts of the camp angered God and were killed by fire (Num. 11:1-3). 5. Many people died from a plague that was brought on by the complaining and overindulgence of the people regarding the quail (Num. 11:33-34).

6. The ten spies who brought the evil report and stirred up the people against Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb were killed by a plague from God (Num. 14:36-38). 7. Presumably some also died when the Israelites tried to enter Canaan militarily without God’s help (Num. 14:45; Deut. 1:44-45).

B. There were going to be so many others that would eventually fall in the wilderness. 1. Some of these individuals would simply die of old age and natural causes. 2. Some of these would no doubt die as a result of sins that they committed or laws that they violated.

3. Still others would fall because they were rebellious toward God.

II. What are some of the creative ways that people perished in the wilderness? The following are examples of some notable incidents that occurred as one generation waited for another generation to perish.

A. The death of a Sabbath-breaker (Num. 15:32-36) B. The rebellion of Korah and company (Num. 16:1-35) 1. Korah gathered 250 other men to confront Moses about his leadership (Num. 16:1-3). 2. Moses confronted these men with humility (Num. 16:4-5).

3. Those who were with Korah stubbornly refused to come up (Num. 16:12-14) 4. Moses became angry and asked God to side with him (Num. 16:15). 5. Eventually Korah and his company presented themselves with their censers before the Lord (Num. 16:16-19).

6. When they were all assembled the Lord came down in a manifested way (Num. 16:19). 7. God threatened to consume the whole congregation in judgment (Num. 16:20- 21). 8. Moses and Aaron interceded for the people (Num. 16:22).

9. Moses was told to announce to the congregation to separate themselves from the rebels, their families and all that they possessed (Num. 16:23-27). 10. Moses issued the ultimate challenge to the five principle leaders (Num. 16:28- 30). 11. God judged the rebels by opening up the earth and swallowing them up (Num. 16:31-34).

12. God judged the remaining 250 who were offering incense by consuming them with fire (Num. 16:34). 13. God further judged the people who had reacted to and complained about God’s judgment on Korah and his company (Num. 16:46-50). In this case some 14,700 died before the plague was turned back by the intercession of Moses and Aaron.

C. Another rebellion against Moses (Num. 21:4-9) 1. The Israelites complained about the conditions in the wilderness. 2. God sent poisonous snakes among the people and many died. 3. Moses once again interceded for the people.

4. God provided a remedy for the snake- bite—the bronze serpent lifted up on a pole. 5. This remedy for the snake bite speaks of God’s remedy for the snake-bite of sin—Jesus lifted up on a cross (John 3:14-15).

Evidently they kept this bronze serpent and brought it into to Promised Land as a reminder of God’s deliverance. However, this bronze serpent eventually became a source of idolatry and had to be destroyed (II Kgs. 18:3-4).

D. The sin of adultery and idolatry (Num. 25:1-13, NLT) This is one of the last recorded instances of mass death in the wilderness journeys. A total of 24,000 died in this incident.

III. What was life like during those years in the wilderness? Life was very difficult. A. It was very difficult because the plan of God was on hold. Without a vision people become discouraged (Pro. 29:18).

B. It was very difficult because it involved constant moving (Num. 33). According to Numbers 33 the children of Israel moved and camped about 42 times in those years. As soon as they got settled in one place they had to pick up at the whims of the Cloud and move to another camp ground.

C. It was very difficult because everyone was waiting for a generation to die off.