The Israelites left Egypt calmly and securely on Passover night, but soon after they began complaining and longing to return to Egypt.
On the night of the Passover, those who applied the blood had a calm feeling of security. Yet almost immediately in the wilderness, they murmured against Moses and Aaron, wishing they had died in Egypt. Les Feldick teaches that this complaining and distorted memory of Egypt revealed their unbelief, even after seeing many miracles.
Numbers 14:2 — This verse records the Israelites' wish that they had died in Egypt rather than in the wilderness, directly showing their post-exodus feelings.
In Numbers 14, after Israel had left Egypt and traveled through the wilderness, the whole congregation lifted up their voice and cried, and the people wept that night. They murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, 'Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!' They also said one to another, 'Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.'
Les notes that on the night of the Passover the Israelites were calm and secure thanks to the blood on the doorposts (Clip 5). However, almost from the day they left Egypt they were complaining (Clip 1). He stresses that at Kadesh-Barnea in Numbers 14 they wanted to make a captain and return to Egypt—showing a 'short memory' (Clip 3). They had been slaves under cruel taskmasters who worked them from sunup to dark with just enough to survive, yet they looked back on Egypt as 'heaven on earth.' Les attributes this to unbelief, especially after they had witnessed miracle after miracle from the Red Sea to Mount Sinai (Clips 3, 7).
Les tells his audience that the Israelites who placed the blood on the door were not standing around the Passover table in fear and trepidation. Instead, they had that calm feeling of security (Clip 5).
Scripture says the people wept and murmured against Moses and Aaron, wishing they had died in Egypt (Numbers 14:1-2). Les observes that this complaining had been going on almost since the day they left (Clip 1).
Les explains that in Numbers 14 they said, 'Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt.' He calls this a 'short memory,' because their life had been one of slavery under cruel taskmasters. Yet they viewed Egypt as 'heaven on earth.' He ties this to unbelief (Clip 3).
Manna from Heaven & The Sabbath: Law vs. Grace Explained
to let us offer these to anyone who will write for one for a $10 contribution to the ministry. Again, no one's going to make any money on these. It's just a goodwill gesture, as well as a means of getting the Word out. Now, this is more or less an overview, all the way from Genesis 1 and through a good part of Revelation.
Israel's Complaints in the Wilderness
Les recounts Israel's murmurings and their wish that they had died in Egypt, showing their dissatisfaction after leaving.
God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15
Now in those 400 and some years, they go from 70-some souls, 72 I think, to about a time when Moses will lead them out on that night of the Passover, they'll be anywhere from three to seven million people, not counting the mixed multitude that came with them. So always remember that the nation of Israel became a nation of people while they were in slavery in Egypt.
Short Memory and Unbelief at Kadesh-Barnea
Les points out that Israel wanted to return to Egypt despite the cruelty of slavery, calling their distorted memory 'short memory' and proof of unbelief.
Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts
I said chapter 12, I think, but let's go back for just a moment to chapter 10, because the last time we were together, we had more or less gotten to the place where Pharaoh was obstinately refusing to let the children of Israel go, and God would bring in a plague.
Calm and Secure at the Passover
Les asks whether the Israelites were in fear at the Passover meal and concludes they were calm and secure because of the blood.
Why Israel Rejected the Promised Land — Kadesh-Barnea Explained
For some, when they had heard, did provoke, how be it not all, that came out of Egypt by Moses. And remember there were, what, how many that escaped? Joshua and Caleb, and of course Moses and Aaron. But for the most part, that nation that was old enough to respond, totally in unbelief. I mean, it's hard to comprehend. Only a few survived that judgment in their unbelief.
Miracles Yet Unbelief
Les lists the miracles the nation saw after leaving Egypt, contextualizing why their unbelief and desire to return were so striking.
Numbers 14:1: And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
Shows the congregation weeping after leaving Egypt.
Numbers 14:2: And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
Reflects their desire that they had died in Egypt rather than in the wilderness.
Numbers 14:4: And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Records their plan to return to Egypt.
Les says no—at the Passover, after applying the blood, they had a calm feeling of security rather than fear (Clip 5).
According to Les, they were complaining almost since the day they left (Clip 1).
Les explains that they had a 'short memory.' They forgot the cruel taskmasters and slavery and instead remembered Egypt as a place of abundance, which was not their real experience (Clip 3).
Watch the Teaching: Manna from Heaven & The Sabbath: Law vs. Grace Explained