Numbers 14:14 Study Bible: and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you LORD are in the midst of this people; for you LORD are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them, and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.

◄ Numbers 14:14 ►

And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Study Bible

And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land.
This phrase refers to the concern that the surrounding nations would hear of Israel's failure to enter the Promised Land due to their lack of faith. The "inhabitants of this land" likely refers to the Canaanites and other peoples living in the region. The Israelites' journey and their relationship with God were closely watched by neighboring nations, which is evident in later biblical accounts where the fear of Israel's God spreads among the nations (Joshua 2:9-11).

They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people,
The presence of God among the Israelites was a well-known fact, as demonstrated by the miraculous events during the Exodus. This divine presence set Israel apart from other nations and was a source of both fear and respect. The concept of God dwelling among His people is a recurring theme in the Bible, ultimately fulfilled in the New Testament with the incarnation of Jesus Christ (John 1:14).

that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face,
This phrase emphasizes the unique relationship between God and Israel, where God revealed Himself in a direct and personal way. While Moses is specifically noted for speaking with God "face to face" (Exodus 33:11), this expression here underscores the intimate and direct communication between God and His chosen people. It foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God in Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15).

that Your cloud stands over them,
The cloud represents God's guidance and protection over Israel. This cloud, known as the Shekinah glory, was a visible manifestation of God's presence. It provided shade and direction during their wilderness journey. The cloud's presence is a type of Christ, who provides spiritual guidance and protection to believers (John 8:12).

and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
The pillars of cloud and fire were miraculous signs of God's leadership and care for Israel. The cloud by day and fire by night ensured that the Israelites could travel safely and confidently, knowing God was with them. This divine guidance is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to lead and guide believers (John 16:13). The pillars also symbolize God's unchanging presence, providing light and direction in both the literal and spiritual darkness.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, interceding on behalf of the people to God.

2. The Israelites
The people of God, who are in the wilderness after being delivered from Egypt.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The God of Israel, who is present with His people in a visible and powerful way.

4. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which the Israelites are journeying towards.

5. The Pillar of Cloud and Fire
Manifestations of God's presence and guidance for the Israelites.

Teaching Points

God's Presence is Constant
Just as God was visibly present with the Israelites, He is with us today through the Holy Spirit. We can trust in His constant presence in our lives.

God Guides and Protects
The pillars of cloud and fire symbolize God's guidance and protection. We should seek His direction in our daily decisions and trust in His protection.

Intercession is Powerful
Moses' intercession for the Israelites shows the power of prayer. We are called to intercede for others, trusting that God hears and responds.

God's Reputation Matters
Moses appeals to God's reputation among the nations. Our lives should reflect God's character, so others may see His glory through us.

Faith Over Fear
Despite the challenges, the Israelites were reminded of God's presence. We are encouraged to choose faith over fear, knowing God is with us.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the presence of God in the form of the pillar of cloud and fire encourage you in your current life situation?

2. In what ways can you actively seek God's guidance in your daily decisions, similar to how the Israelites followed the pillars?

3. How can you incorporate intercessory prayer into your spiritual practice, following Moses' example?

4. What steps can you take to ensure that your life reflects God's character and reputation to those around you?

5. How can you apply the principle of choosing faith over fear in a specific area of your life today? Consider connecting this to Hebrews 11, which discusses faith in action.

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 13:21-22
Describes the initial appearance of the pillar of cloud and fire, emphasizing God's guidance and presence.

Deuteronomy 31:8
Reinforces the promise of God's presence and guidance, encouraging the Israelites not to fear.

Psalm 105:39
Celebrates God's provision and guidance through the wilderness, including the cloud and fire.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
Paul references the cloud as a symbol of baptism and spiritual guidance for the Israelites.

Hebrews 12:29
Describes God as a consuming fire, connecting to the pillar of fire as a symbol of His holiness and presence.

Sermons

Moses Standing in the Breach, or the Power of Intercessory Prayer	W. Binnie	Numbers 14:1-20
The Could not Enter in Because of Unbelief	W. Binnie	Numbers 14:1-45
Skilful Intercession	E.S. Prout	Numbers 14:11-19
God's Pardoning Grace in the Past an Encouragement to Seek for the Same in the Present	David Lloyd.	Numbers 14:13-19
Great Mercy	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Numbers 14:13-19
Long-Suffering of God	J. Pilkington.	Numbers 14:13-19
Moses' Expostulation	J. Parker, D. D.	Numbers 14:13-19
Moses' View of the Position	D. Young	Numbers 14:13-19
The Intercession of Moses for the Doomed Nation	W. Jones.	Numbers 14:13-19
The Mercy of God	Abp. Tillotson.	Numbers 14:13-19
The Power of Intercession	T. Chalmers.	Numbers 14:13-19

People

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

Places

Egypt, Hormah, Kadesh-barnea, Red Sea

Topics

Already, Cloud, Day-time, Eye, Face, Fire, Goest, Inasmuch, Inhabitant, Inhabitants, Lettest, Letting, Midst, News, O, Pillar, Present, Resting, Standeth, Standing, Stands, Stays, Thyself

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Numbers 14:14

     1454   theophany
     4805   clouds
     7251   pillar of cloud and fire

Numbers 14:10-20

4843 plague

Numbers 14:11-19

8611 prayer, for others

Numbers 14:13-16

5857 fame
8605 prayer, and God's will

Numbers 14:13-19

8640 calling upon God

Numbers 14:13-39

6257 unbelievers

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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