Numbers 14:13 - Moses said to Yahweh, “Then the Egyptians will hear it; for you brought up this people in your might from among them.

Generated Verse: Numbers 14:13

What does "Numbers 14:13" mean?


This verse, Numbers 14:13, is part of Moses' intercession with God after the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land due to the fear instilled by the spies' report. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"Moses said to Yahweh": This indicates Moses is speaking directly to God, pleading on behalf of the Israelites.

"Then the Egyptians will hear it": Moses is pointing out the inevitable consequence of God's actions. If God destroys the Israelites in the wilderness, the Egyptians (from whom God had dramatically rescued them) will certainly find out.

"For you brought up this people in your might from among them": This is the core of Moses' argument. He reminds God that God publicly and powerfully delivered the Israelites from Egypt. The Egyptians witnessed God's miracles and power firsthand. This historical event is crucial to God's reputation.

In essence, Moses is arguing:

God's Reputation is at Stake: If God destroys the Israelites after dramatically freeing them, the Egyptians (and by extension, other nations) will perceive this as a failure. They will conclude that God was either unable to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land or was capricious and abandoned them.
Contradictory Message: Destroying the Israelites would contradict the message of God's power and promise demonstrated during the Exodus.
Impact on God's Name: Moses is concerned about how God's name and reputation will be perceived among the nations. He is essentially saying, "What will the Egyptians think of you, God, if you do this?"

Moses is appealing to God's honor, reputation, and the potential for misunderstanding if God were to destroy the Israelites. He is using the Exodus event as the basis for his plea, highlighting the significance of God's earlier actions. It's a powerful argument based on the implications for God's character and the witness to the surrounding nations.