The Other Side of Glory

David W Palmer

(Numbers 14:10 NLT) But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.

More than 80% of the called, gifted, appointed prophets—who had received a true word and vision from God—reported it in fear and unbelief. Their faithless, fearful spirit took hold of God’s people, and they refused to follow the true prophetic ministries of Caleb and Joshua. Instead they turned against Moses and Aaron (their leaders/pastors) and spoke of stoning them and the true prophets.

We can learn a lot from this incident:

First, we see the godly, humble ministry of true leaders:

(Numbers 14:5, 17–21 NKJV) Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel…. “And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, {18} ‘The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’ {19} Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” {20} Then the LORD said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; {21} but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”

Initially, God expressed his upset at the people’s rejection of him and their 10th round of complaining against him. He therefore said he wanted to annihilate them all. But thankfully, Moses interceded on their behalf. After which, God said he pardoned them according to Moses’s word. But the consequences of their fearful unbelief and rejection of God’s love and provision still existed; they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until that whole generation died off. In truth, they were getting exactly what they had said:

(Numbers 14:1–3 NKJV) So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. {2} And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! {3} Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”

The rebellious generation said they would be better off dying than entering God’s promised land. They got exactly what they said.

Moses pleaded with God to pardon them; he got exactly what he said.

Caleb and Joshua said:

(Numbers 13:30 NKJV) Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

(Numbers 14:6–9 NKJV) But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; {7} and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. {8} If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ {9} Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.”

Joshua and Caleb spoke for God; they said it was a good land and that they would be able to take it … now! It didn’t happen for them right there and then, but God was pleased with their faith; they got exactly what they said … even though the unbelief and fear of their generation delayed God’s promise to them for 40 years:

(Numbers 14:30 NKJV) “Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.”

Then, forty years later …

(Numbers 26:65 NKJV) For the LORD had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

All the characters in this scenario received exactly what they said … and it was a matter of life and death. Plus, their inheritance, blessing, and whether or not they lived in the future God planned for them all came to pass exactly as they had said. Yes, the words of their mouths overflowing from what they treasured in their hearts decided their destiny; God did for them what they said.

Today, I cannot think of a more pressing conclusion and way to apply this than to focus on what we say. Let’s take great note of what happened in the exodus; let’s note that God was trying to lead them with his voice, promises, and great displays of power. But their repeated complaints against God and their faithless refusal to believe and obey him led to them falling well short of what he had for them. And, in truth, if not for their leader—the very one they wanted to stone to death—they would have died on the day of their rebellion against God.

I encourage you to fill your heart’s treasure with God, his word and promises till the overflow through your mouth is faith, love, confidence, boldness, and living vision leading to godly action. Always remember that God is all knowing, all powerful, everywhere present, and he hears all. So, as a life and death priority and destiny decider, ensure that he hears the overflow of your heart in words of faith and love:

(Numbers 14:28 NKJV) “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you.’”

God appeared to Moses in glory speaking of ending the children of Israel. But after Moses’s intercession, on the other side of glory, God spoke a glorious promise—one that will be fulfilled in our day. And like us, He will have exactly what he has said:

(Numbers 14:21, 24 NKJV) “But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD ... {24} But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.