Another test series

The recent test cricket series between England and India finished in a 2—2 draw. And the next England versus Australia test series begins on 21 November 2025. A test cricket series involves up to five cricket matches, with each match lasting up to five days. Did you know that Israel went through many more tests on their exodus from Egypt in about 1450 BC? How would they respond to the challenges on their journey? Would they trust and obey God who was leading them? Or would they rebel against God and go their own way?

The Passover test

God gave the Israelites detailed instructions for the first Passover to ensure that their firstborn sons were not killed. The Bible says that “All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron” (Ex. 12: 28, 50NIV). As they obeyed God, they passed this test.

The thirst tests

The Bible says, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt’. So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea” (Ex. 13:17-18). They didn’t take the direct route between Goshen and Canaan because it was heavily guarded by Egyptian fortresses, and the Philistines were a strong military force. God knew that there were too many dangers on the shorter route. Instead, they took a longer route through deserts where water was scarce.

After travelling for three days without water, they come to an oasis. But the water was bitter. Instead of trusting that God would satisfy their thirst, they grumbled to Moses saying, “What are we to drink?” (Ex. 15:24). Instead of trusting that God would satisfy their thirst, they criticized Moses. They failed this test.

Later they camped where there was no water to drink. So, they quarreled with Moses and grumbled against Moses saying, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” (Ex. 17:3). And they questioned, “is the Lord among us or not?” (Ex. 17:7). They ignored the fact that, ”By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people” (Ex. 13:21-22). The pillars were visible symbols of God’s presence with them. So they criticized and ignored God and failed this test again.

After wandering in the wilderness for 38 years, they came to Kadesh where “there was no water for the community”. So, the people opposed Moses again, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” (Num. 20:3-5). Like their parents they criticized God and also failed this test.

So, they failed the thirst test at least three times.

The hunger tests

Food is scarce in deserts. The Bible says, “In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death’” (Ex. 16:2-3). Instead of trusting that God would satisfy their hunger, they grumbled to Moses and Aaron. They failed this test.

Later they complained, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” (Num. 11:18). They had lost their appetite because they only had manna to eat (Num. 11:6). They failed this test again.

After wandering in the wilderness for 38 years, “they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’” (Num. 21:5). They still complained about the manna that was provided by God! Like their parents, they failed this test.

So, they failed the hunger test at least three times.

The war test

As they travelled towards Mount Sinai, the Amalekites attacked those who were weak and weary (Dt. 25:17-18). The people of Israel supported Moses to defeat the enemy by relying on God’s power (Ex. 17:8-16). They passed this test.

The 40-day test

When He received the ten commandments and the Mosaic law from God, Moses stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (Ex. 24:18). This was a big test for the Israelites because they were without their leader for 40 days. What would they do?

The Bible says, “When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’” (Ex. 32:1). So, they collected golden jewelry and molded it into the shape of a calf (Ex 32:1-6; Dt. 9:7-21). Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt” (v.4). And they offered sacrifices to this idol. So, they replaced the God who had led them out of Egypt with a golden idol. Moses said that this was a “great sin” (Ex. 32:30-31). They had sinned against the Lord (Dt. 9:7-21). They failed this test.

The exploration test

At Kadesh Barnea, 12 men explored the land of Canaan. When they returned 10 of them said, “’We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’ And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored” (Num. 13:31). They were unwilling to conqueror Canaan and rebelled against God (Dt. 1:19-33; 9:23-24)). And “all the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, ‘If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?’ And they said to each other, ‘We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt’” (Num. 14:2-4). They failed the test – they rebelled against Moses and didn’t believe that God would help them conqueror Canaan.

After being told that none of them would enter Canaan, they rebelled again and marched into Canaan to attack the inhabitants despite being told that they would be defeated (Num. 14:41-45; Dt. 1:34-46). They failed the test twice!

But the two faithful explorers, Caleb and Joshua said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Num. 13:30). They passed the test – they believed that God would help them conqueror Canaan.

The leadership test

God called Moses to lead the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. But 254 men led by Korah rebelled against the leadership of Moses (Num. 16:1-14). They accused him of leading them out of a land flowing with milk and honey (Egypt – this opposed God’s plan to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey) to die in the desert. And of lording it over them. They failed this test.

The sexual immorality test

God gave the Israelites many laws that prohibited sexual immorality. But when they were in Moab near the end of their journey, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, which led to idolatry (Num. 25:1-5). They failed this test.

Discussion

The Israelites went through at least eight types of tests. They only passed the Passover test and the war test. And most of them also passed the leadership test and only Caleb and Joshua passed the exploration test.

But the people failed the thirst tests, the hunger tests, the 40-day test, the exploration test, and 254 failed the leadership test and many men failed the sexual immorality test. In fact, Moses said that the Israelites had been rebellious against the Lord throughout the journey from Egypt to Canaan (Dt. 9:7, 24).

The Israelites were told, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands” (Dt. 8:2). God tested them to see if they would follow His instructions (Ex. 16:4). But they were disobedient.

Moses told the Israelites, “you did not trust in the Lord your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go” (Dt. 1 :32-33). God guided their journey and the places where they stayed. So, all these circumstances and situations were not accidental, they were all allowed by God. Although God was leading them, they didn’t trust and obey Him. Instead, they rebelled against God and went their own way.

Because the Israelites were God’s people before the day of Pentecost and Christians are God’s people after the day of Pentecost, we can learn lessons from these tests. And as Moses was a mediator for the Israelites, Jesus Christ is a mediator for Christians.

Principles

This shows that:
– God guides His people,
– God tests His people, and
– God’s people are prone to rebel against Him and go their own way.

Applications

These tests are examples and warnings to us (1 Cor. 10:6-11). They show that God’s people are prone to grumbling, idolatry, and sexual immorality. Idolatry is putting anything in place of God. We can go our own way rather that trusting and obeying God.

Our circumstances and situations can be a challenge to trusting in God’s providence. What tests has God bought your way? How have these tests resulted in the development of your spiritual health, character and maturity (Heb. 12:11)?

Written, August 2025