Sons of Encouragement

by Francine Rivers

  Sobbing, Miriam fell to her knees and prostrated herself before the Lord. Her outstretched sickly white hands became strong and brown again, worn from years of hard work. She put her hands near Moses’ feet, but did not touch him. Aaron bent toward her, but Miriam drew back sharply. “You mustn’t touch me!” She rose clumsily and backed away. The leprosy was gone, but her dark eyes were awash with tears and her cheeks red with humiliation. She drew her veil across her face and bent toward Moses. “Forgive me, Brother. Please forgive me.”

  “Oh, Miriam, my sister . . .”

  Aaron felt her shame like a mantle on his own back. He should have told her to be silent, to stop gossiping about anyone, especially Moses, whom God had chosen to deliver Israel. Instead, he had allowed himself to be swayed by her words and had joined in her rebellion.

  People had come out of their tents and stood staring. Some came closer to see what was going on. “Unclean!” Miriam cried out as she hurried toward the edge of the camp. “I’m unclean!” The people drew back from her as though she carried plague. Some wailed. Children fled for their mother’s tent. “Unclean!” Miriam ran, stumbling in her shame, but did not fall.

  Aaron’s throat tightened. Was he destined to fail the Lord, to fail Moses in everything he did? When he didn’t listen, Abihu and Nadab died. When he did listen, his sister bore the leprosy of his lack of perception. He should be the one living outside the camp! He had known better than to heed her jealousy. Instead, he had given in to her. He had allowed her to fan his own unanswered dreams of leadership. Every time he tried to step out ahead, disaster fell not only on him, but on those he loved.

  “Aaron.”

  The tenderness in his brother’s voice made Aaron’s heart ache even more. “Why did God spare me when it was as much my sin as hers?”

  “Would you have grieved as deeply if the discipline had fallen on you? Your heart is soft, Aaron.”

  “And so is my head.” He looked at his brother. “I wanted her to sway me, Moses. I have struggled with my role as the older brother who must stand aside for his younger. I have not wanted to feel these things, Moses, but I’m just a man. Pride is my enemy.”

  “I know.”

  “I do love you, Moses.”

  “I know.”

  Aaron shut his eyes tightly. “And now, Miriam suffers while I go about my priestly duties.”

  “We will all wait until her time of quarantine is over.”

  Before the pillar of fire warmed the chill desert air, all the nation of Israel would know how he and Miriam had sinned.

  It would soon be time for the evening sacrifice.

  Lord, Lord, have mercy. My sins are heavy upon me.

  When the seven days had passed and Miriam returned to camp, the pillar of cloud rose and led the people away from Hazeroth. The cloud stopped over the wilderness of Paran and the people camped there at Kadesh. Aaron and his sons and the clans of Levites set up the Tent and the Tabernacle, and the tribes set up their camps in their designated areas around the Tent. Everyone knew their place and responsibility, and the people were quickly settled.

  Moses received instructions from the Lord and gave Aaron a list of twelve men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, excluding Levi, whose duties centered around the worship of the Lord. Aaron sent for the tribal representatives and stood before Moses when the Lord’s instructions were given.

  “You are to go into Canaan and explore the land the Lord is giving us.”

  Aaron saw excitement flood Joshua’s face, for he was the man chosen to represent the half tribe of Ephraim, son of Joseph. Some of the others looked frightened by their assignment. They had no provisions, no maps, no experience for spying out the strengths and weaknesses of their enemies. Most were young men like Joshua, but there was one other, older than the rest, and unshaken by the task before him: Caleb.

  Moses walked among them, putting his hand on each man’s shoulder as he passed by, his voice filled with confidence. “Go northward through the Negev into the hill country. See what the land is like and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls or are they unprotected? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there many trees?”

  Moses paused when he reached Joshua. He clasped his hand, looked into the younger man’s face. Releasing Joshua’s hand, he turned to the others. “Enter the land boldly, and bring back samples of the crops you see.”

  Each man was given a water bag. They would not have manna during the time they were away from the camp. They would have to eat whatever the land of Canaan had to offer.

  And the people waited.

  A week passed, then another and another. A new moon came, and still the spies did not return. How far had they gone? Had they met with resistance? Had some been killed? And if they had all been taken captive and executed, what then?

  Aaron encouraged the people to be patient, to trust in the Lord to fulfill His promise. He prayed unceasingly for the twelve spies, Joshua often foremost in his mind.

  He knew the younger man mattered greatly to Moses, for his brother often spoke of him with affection. “I know of no other like him, Aaron. He is dedicated to the Lord. Nothing will sway him.”

  How sad that Moses’ own sons and brother should fall so short. Aaron no longer resented Joshua. He knew his own weaknesses and felt his age. Younger men would have to step into leadership if the people were to be hedged in and guided into their inheritance.

  “They’re coming! I see them! The men are returning!”

  Excited cries filled the camp as family members surrounded the returning spies overladen with samples of what Canaan had to offer. Laughing, Joshua and Caleb had a pole stretched between their shoulders and on it was one cluster of grapes! Blankets were opened, spilling out bright red pomegranates and purple figs.

  Joshua spoke first, directing his words to Moses. “We arrived in the land you sent us to see, and it is indeed a magnificent country.”

  Caleb raised his hands, jubilant. “It is a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit as proof.”

  Milk and honey, Aaron thought. That meant there were herds of cattle and goats, and fruit trees that flowered in the spring. There would be fields of wildflowers and plenty of water.

  But the other spies focused on other things.

  “The people living there are powerful.”

  “Their cities and towns are fortified and very large.”

  “We also saw the descendants of Anak who are living there!”

  A low rumble of fear went through the listeners. The Anaks were giants, warriors who knew no fear and showed no mercy.

  “The Amalekites live in the Negev.”

  Caleb turned. “They are cowards who attack from behind and kill those who are too weak to defend themselves.”

  “What about the Hittites? They are fierce warriors.”

  “The Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country.”

  “The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.”

  “They are too strong for us.”

  Caleb’s eyes blazed. “Is anyone too strong for the Lord? Let’s go at once to take the land! We can certainly conquer it!”

  Aaron looked to Moses, but his brother said nothing. Aaron wanted to cry out that the Lord had promised the land, and therefore, the Lord would see that they conquered it. But he had not been among the spies to see everything. He was an old man, not a warrior. And Moses was God’s chosen leader. So Aaron waited, edgy, for Moses to decide. But his brother turned away and went into his tent.

  Several spies shouted. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”

  Caleb’s face was flushed with anger. “Canaan is the land God promised us! It is ours for the taking!”

  “How can you be so sure? Hasn’t God been killing us one by one since we left Egypt? With thirst and hunger and pla
gues!” Ten of the spies left and the people followed after them.

  Caleb faced Aaron. “Why didn’t Moses speak for us? Why didn’t you?”

  “I . . . I am only his spokesman. Moses always seeks the will of the Lord and then instructs me in what I’m to say.”

  “The Lord has already told us what He wills.” Caleb pointed angrily. “Go and take the land!” He stalked away, shaking his head.

  Aaron looked at Joshua. The younger man’s shoulders were slumped and his eyes were shut. “Rest, Joshua. Perhaps tomorrow the Lord will tell Moses what we are to do.”

  “There will be trouble.” Joshua looked at him. “Caleb is right. The land is ours. God has said so.”

  By the next morning, Aaron was hearing the rumors. The land would swallow up any who went into it. All the people living there were huge! There were even giants among them! The spies had felt like grasshoppers next to them! The people would be squashed like bugs if they dared enter Canaan!

  But the Lord said . . .

  No one was listening to what the Lord had said. No one believed.

  “We wish we’d died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!”

  “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle?”

  “We are not warriors! Our wives and little ones will be carried off as slaves!”

  “Let’s get out of here and return to Egypt!”

  “Egypt is destroyed. There is nothing for us there!”

  “The people fear us. We will be their masters for a change!”

  “Yes! Let’s go back!”

  “Then we need a new leader.”

  Aaron saw the rage in their faces, their clenched fists. He was afraid, but less of them than of what God would do at the sight of this open rebellion. Moses fell facedown before the people, and Aaron dropped down beside him, close enough that if it became necessary, he could use his body to shield Moses. He could hear Caleb and Joshua shouting to the people.

  “The land we explored is a wonderful land!”

  “If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us safely into that land and give it to us!”

  “It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us!”

  “Don’t rebel against the Lord.”

  “Don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us!”

  “Don’t be afraid of them!”

  The people grew more enraged with their words and shouted against them. “Stone them!”

  “Who are you to speak to us, Caleb? You would lead us to death, Joshua!”

  “Kill them!”

  Screams rent the air. Aaron felt the strange prickling down his back once again and looked up. The glorious Presence rose into the air above the Tabernacle. Moses stood, head thrown back, arms raised. The people scattered, running for their tents, as if goatskins could hide them. Joshua and Caleb remained where they were, their beards whipped by the wind.

  Moses stepped forward. “But Lord, what will the Egyptians think when they hear about it? They know full well the power You displayed in rescuing these people from Egypt.”

  Oh, Lord, hear his prayer! Aaron went down on his face again, for the lives of the people were at stake. Lord, Lord, hear my brother.

  “Oh, Lord, no!” Moses cried out in horror. “The inhabitants of this land know, Lord, that You have appeared in full view of Your people in the pillar of cloud that hovers over them. They know that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Now if You slaughter all these people, the nations that have heard of Your fame will say, ‘The Lord was not able to bring them into the land He swore to give them, so He killed them in the wilderness.’ Please, Lord, prove that Your power is as great as You have claimed it to be. For You said, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and rich in unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. Even so He does not leave sin unpunished, but He punishes the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations.’ Please pardon the sins of this people because of Your magnificent, unfailing love, just as You have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”

  Moses fell silent. Aaron raised his head enough to peer up at his brother standing, arms still outstretched, palms up. After a long while, Moses’ arms lowered to his sides and he let out a long, deep sigh. The glorious Presence came down once again and rested within the Tabernacle.

  Aaron stood, slowly. “What did the Lord say?”

  The only two men standing near were Caleb and Joshua, silent, terrified.

  “Have the people gather, Aaron. I can only bear to say it once.”

  The people came quietly, tense and afraid, for all had seen the glorious Presence standing above, and had felt the heat of wrath. They remembered too late how easily God could take the lives of those who rebelled against Him.

  And the Lord’s anger was in Moses’ voice as he spoke God’s Word to the people. “The Lord will do to you the very things you said against Him. You will all die here in this wilderness! Because you complained against Him, none of you who are twenty years old or older and were counted in the census will enter the land the Lord swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb and Joshua.

  “You said your children would be taken captive. And the Lord says He will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised! But as for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness! And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last one of you lies dead in the wilderness! Because the men who explored the land were there for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years! One year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. You will discover what it is like to have the Lord for your enemy! Tomorrow we are to set out for the wilderness.”

  The people wailed.

  The twelve men who had gone into the land to explore it were standing in the front lines of people. Ten of them groaned in pain and fell to their knees. Rolling in agony, they died where all could see them, near the entrance to the great tent that held the Tabernacle of the Lord. Only Caleb and Joshua remained standing.

  Aaron wept in his tent, feeling he had somehow failed again. Would things have been different if he had stood with Joshua and Caleb? Was the Lord saying even he and Moses would never see the land promised? When Miriam and his sons tried to console him, he left them and went out to sit with Moses.

  “So close.” Moses’ voice was filled with sorrow. “They were so close to all they have ever dreamed of having.”

  “Fear is the enemy.”

  “Fear of the Lord would have been their greatest strength. In Him is the victory.”

  Eleazar ran into the tent early the next morning. “Father! Father, come quickly. Some of the men are leaving camp.”

  “Leaving?” Aaron went cold. Did these people never learn?

  “They say they are going into Canaan. They say they’re sorry they sinned, but now they’re ready to take the land God promised them.”

  Aaron hurried out, but Moses was already there, crying out at them to stop. “It’s too late! Why are you now disobeying the Lord’s orders to return to the wilderness? It won’t work. Do not go into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the Lord is not with you!” Joshua and Caleb and others faithful had joined them, trying to block their way.

  “The Lord is with us! We are the sons of Abraham! The Lord said the land is ours!” Heads high, they turned their backs on Moses and headed for Canaan.

  Moses cried out one last time in warning. “The Lord will abandon you because you have abandoned the Lord!” When none turned away from certain disaster, Moses sighed wearily. “Prepare the camp. Go about your duties as the Lord has assigned. We’re leaving today.”

  The Lord was taking them back to the place where they thought they had left Egypt behind: the Red Sea.
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br />   SIX

  The people had not traveled a day when they started grumbling. Aaron saw the scowls and resentful looks. Wherever he walked, cold silence fell around him. The people did not trust him. After all, he was Moses’ brother and had taken part in the decision to turn back the way they had come. Back to the hardship. Back to fear and despair. The Lord had issued the order because of their disobedience, but now the people sought a scapegoat.

  As they continued to rebel against the Lord, Aaron felt the mounting weight of their sins being loaded onto his back. Conquering his fear, Aaron walked among the people and tried to fulfill the thankless responsibilities the Lord had given him to perform for their sake.

  Stragglers returned from Canaan. Most had been killed. Those who had survived were driven back as far as Hormah.

  “Those ten spies were telling the truth! Those people are too strong for us!”

  Aaron knew trouble was ahead, and did not know how to turn these people’s hearts toward God. If only they could see that it was their stubborn refusal to believe what God said that brought continued disaster on them.

  They headed back because of their sin, but God continued to extend His hand to His people through Moses. When Aaron sat with his brother and heard the Word of the Lord, it flowed over him clearly and was so full of purpose and love. Every law given was meant to protect, to uphold, to sustain, to guide, to fix the people’s hope on the Lord.

  Even the offerings were meant to serve a purpose and build a relationship with Him. The burnt offerings made payment for sins and showed devotion to God. The grain offerings gave honor and respect to the Lord who provided for them. The peace offerings were to be given in gratitude for the peace and fellowship the Lord offered. The sin offerings made payment for unintentional sins and restored the sinner to fellowship with God, and the guilt offerings made payment for sins against God and others, providing compensation for those injured.

  Every festival was a reminder of God’s intended place in their lives. Passover reminded the people of God’s deliverance from Egypt. The seven-day Festival of Unleavened Bread reminded them of leaving slavery behind and beginning a new way of life. The Festival of Firstfruits reminded them how God provided for them with Pentecost at the end of the barley harvest and beginning of the wheat harvest to show their joy and thanksgiving over God’s provision. The Festival of Trumpets was to release joy and thanksgiving to God and the beginning of a new year with Him as Lord over all. The Day of Atonement removed sin from the people and the nation and restored fellowship with God while the seven-day Festival of Shelters was intended to remind future generations of the protection and guidance God provided in the wilderness and instruct them to continue to trust in the Lord in the years ahead.