Jealousy can rear its ugly head at any point, and the story of Israel is no different. While the people are complaining, now the leaders are beginning to turn against one another. For whatever reason, Miriam and Aaron, Moses' sister and brother, in Chapter 12 have become jealous of Moses and speak against him to at least one another. In Exodus, both Aaron and Miriam are called prophets, so perhaps they feel they should have more say in what is going on. They reference the fact Moses is even married to a woman who comes from outside the Israelite community as if to say he is not worthy of his position. Heck, even God has spoken through them so why should we listen to Moses all the time?
God is not pleased and handles this himself, perhaps Moses is not aware of the situation. He brings the three together, and if Aaron and Miriam were upset with Moses' power before, they have to be very upset now. Moses is special, God says. He is more than special, God and Moses communicate with each other in ways others never will. To make sure Aaron and Miriam remember their place, Miriam develops a skin condition that will not clear up until she banished out of the camp for seven days. Perhaps recognizing the new reality, Aaron turns to Moses and asks that he intercede on Miriam's behalf, but God has spoken.
So finally Israel has traveled near enough to the Promised Land that they can send spies into the land. In Chapter 13 Israel settles in the region just south of the Negeb of modern day Israel, having journeyed up from Mt. Sinai. Moses commissions a group of spies representing all the tribes to go into the land and report on what they find. Joshua, who will inherit Moses' mantle, is one of these spies.
After 40 days the spies return and, except for Caleb, report that while the land seems to be what God has promised, they do not think Israel can conquer this territory for the residents are too strong. The Anakim are thought to be a mythical people of giants, from whom Goliath will descend.
You need not be a biblical scholar to know that this sort of report will not find favor with God, and you would be right. God is not happy and in Chapter 14, is on the verge of just destroying the people of Israel as God hears their cries about how they have been lead of Egypt to die in this place. However, Moses intercedes for Israel, good thing too.
In a wonderful dialogue, Moses convinces God that it would not serve God's reputation if God destroyed the people that God himself called and chose. God turns from wrath and instead tells the people they will not enter into the Promised Land, for only their children will have that glory. God also brings a plague upon the spies who spoke against going into the land.
The people decide they erred and should have go into the land and now try the invasion, again against the teachings of God and the people are soundly defeated. Israel will now enter into forty years of wondering in the desert.
Psalm 28-29
Psalm 28 is the plea of one who is being persecuted who prays to God and then rejoices when God responds and saves the psalmist. Within the opening verses, we hear that to be removed from God or not present with God is akin to being in the Pit, or death.
The plea to God is to punish those who do wicked and liberate those who are faithful. The outcome of the prayer is found in that God has answered the prayer and the psalmist feels redeemed and in the closing verses offers a final confession of faith.
Psalm 29 is a hymn of praise. God is seen as the supreme ruler of the heavens, one who controls the chaos of waters, whose majesty can devastate the land. The hymn proclaims the power of the Almighty God, the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel.
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