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Numbers 14:11
Some open theists say that God's question to Moses was an admission by
God that He did not know how long the Israelites would be rebellious.
But this is not necessarily so. The statement is not a statement
of God's ignorance. It was a necessary statement for the benefit
of Moses.
Think about it. Would it have been appropriate for God to say to
Moses, "They will not believe me for 3 months, 17 days, 5 hours, and 14
minutes. After that, they will believe. So, Moses, I would
like you to relax, do nothing, and I'll take care of it." Nope,
instead of God proclaiming what He knows, He works in our time frame and says what Moses expects to hear (God's
expression of dismay at them) which is proper considering their lack of
belief. Sure, God can take care of them by doing a miracle or
something. But, sometimes He takes care of people's doubts by
using other people to pray and intercede, to warn others, etc.
Apparently, this is what God wants done since God uses people to
accomplish His desires all through the Bible. Therefore, could not
God speak speak the truth to Moses, not because God was ignorant, but
because He wants Moses to intercedes on Israel's behalf -- which Moses
does in verses 13-19? Like Jesus who intercedes for us (Heb. 7:25), Moses interceded for them and God
responds: "So the Lord said, “I have pardoned them according to
your word; 21but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with
the glory of the Lord," (Num. 14:20). Conclusion
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