Wesley Corpus

Chapter XIV The murmuring of the people against Moses and Aaron, ver. 1 - 4. Their fruitless endeavour to still them, ver. 5 - 10. God's threatening utterly to destroy them, ver. 11 - 12. The intercession of Moses, ver. 13 - 19. The decree that all that generation should die in the wilderness, ver. 20 - 35. The immediate death of the spies, ver. 36 - 39. The ill success of those who would go up notwithstanding, ver. 40 - 45. Against Moses and Aaron - As the instruments and occasions of their present calamity. That we had died in this wilderness - It was not long before they had their desire, and did die in the wilderness. The Lord - From instruments they rise higher, and strike at God the cause and author of their journey: by which we see the prodigious growth and progress of sin when it is not resisted. A prey - To the Canaanites whose land we were made to believe we should possess. A captain - Instead of Moses, one who will be more faithful to our interest than he. Into Egypt - Stupendous madness! Whence should they have protection against the hazards, and provision against all the wants of the wilderness Could they expect either God's cloud to cover and guide them, or Manna from heaven to feed them Who could conduct them over the Red - sea Or, if they went another way, who should defend them against those nations whose borders they were to pass What entertainment could they expect from the Egyptians, whom they had deserted and brought to so much ruin Fell on their faces - As humble and earnest suppliants to God, the only refuge to which Moses resorted in all such straits, and who alone was able to govern this stiff - necked people. Before all the assembly - That they might awake to apprehend their sin and danger, when they saw Moses at his prayers, whom God never failed to defend, even with the destruction of his enemies. Rent their clothes - To testify their hearty grief for the peoples blasphemy against God and sedition against Moses, and that dreadful judgment which they easily foresaw this must bring upon the congregation. Delight in us - If by our rebellion and ingratitude we do not provoke God to leave and forsake us.