18. `The LORD is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of fathers upon children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.'
Numbers 14 is a chapter that reports the rebellion of the children of Israel against God after receiving the report of the spies that were sent to the Promised Land. They refuse to enter Earth and question the leadership of Moses and God. As a result, God threatens to destroy the people, but Moses intercede for them and God decides to forgive them, but with consequences. Below are four verses related to the topics covered in numbers 14.
Deuteronomy 1:21: "Here is the Lord, thy God, has put before you the earth; go up and take possession of it, as the Lord said to you, God of your parents; do not fear, nor scare you." This verse is an exhortation of Moses to the people to have the courage and take possession of the promised land. This can be related to the refusal of the children of Israel to enter Earth in numbers 14.
Exodus 34:6-7: "And by passing the Lord in the face of his face, he cried, Lord, Lord God, compassionate, clement, and abundant in benignity and truth; who keeps kindness in thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, transgression. and sin; which to the guilty is not innocent, who visits the iniquity of parents about their children and children of their children until the third and fourth generation. " This verse talks about the compassionate and merciful nature of God, but also mentions the visit of parents' iniquity about their children. This can be related to the consequences that God threatens to impose on the people because of their rebellion in numbers 14.
Psalm 106:13-14: "Early on, however, they forgot their wonderful works; they did not await their advice; but in the desert, they were carried away by the greed, and tried God in the wilderness." This verse mentions the people's tendency to forget the wonders God had made for them and to try it in the desert. This can be related to the rebellion of the children of Israel in numbers 14.
Isaiah 43:18-19: "Do not remember past things, nor do you consider the ancient. Behold, I do something new, right now will come out; wilderness. " This verse talks about God doing something new and unexpected, placing a path in the desert and rivers in the wilderness. This can be related to God's forgiveness to the people in numbers 14 and the possibility of a new chance for them.
Hebrews 3:12-13: "See, brothers, that there is never a bad and unfaithful heart, to depart from the living God. Before, exhort each other every day during the time when it is called Today, so that none of you hardens the mistake of sin. " This verse speaks of the importance of exhorting each other not to move away from God and fall into sin. It can be related to the story of Numbers 14, in which the children of Israel rebelled against God and hardened in His sin.
“O medo excessivo nos faz agir sem amor, mas a confiança excessiva não nos deixa considerar o perigo que vamos enfrentar”. São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
