Numbers 14

Jehovah

Jehovah -- 'I AM', the covenant God of Israel

But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. Numbers 14:10

As the people try to stone Joshua and Caleb, Jehovah's glory appears at the tabernacle. Latter-day Saints understand Jehovah to be Jesus Christ before His birth, dwelling among His covenant people.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him

• the same title in D&C 110:2-4 — Jehovah appears in glory in the Kirtland Temple and declares, 'I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain.'

Jehovah, provoked by unbelieving Israel

And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? Numbers 14:11

Jehovah speaks of a people who will not believe Him after all His signs. Nephi, retelling this same wilderness history, calls the God who led them 'their Redeemer', and Nephi son of Helaman says those who provoke Him will not hearken to 'the voice of the good shepherd.'

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

• interpreted by 1 Nephi 17:30 — Israel, led by 'the Lord their God, their Redeemer', hardened their hearts (Church footnote 11a).
• alluded to by Helaman 7:18 — 'Ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger' (Church footnote 11a).

Moses the intercessor -- type of Christ the Mediator

And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) Numbers 14:13–19

When the Lord offers to destroy Israel and make a greater nation of Moses, Moses refuses the honor and pleads for the guilty people. His intercession is a type of Christ, who stands between sinners and justice and pleads for them.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in Hebrews 7:25 — Christ 'ever liveth to make intercession for them.'
• alludes to Exodus 32:12 — Moses repeats his Sinai plea: 'Wherefore should the Egyptians speak' (Church footnote 13a).

Jehovah in the pillar of cloud and fire

Jehovah -- 'I AM', the covenant God of Israel

And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Numbers 14:14

Even the nations know that Jehovah goes visibly before Israel in cloud and fire. Paul teaches that the Israelites under that cloud drank from Christ, so the One leading them was the premortal Jesus.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him

• alludes to Exodus 13:21 — Moses refers to the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night first described there.
• interpreted by 1 Nephi 17:30 — Nephi names the One leading Israel by day and giving light by night 'the Lord their God, their Redeemer.'
• interpreted by 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 — The fathers were 'under the cloud' ... 'and that Rock was Christ.'

Jehovah, longsuffering and of great mercy

The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Numbers 14:18

Moses quotes the name and character Jehovah proclaimed of Himself on Sinai: merciful, forgiving, yet just. The balance of mercy and justice is fully met in Christ's Atonement.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him

• quotes Exodus 34:6-7 — The proclamation of the LORD's name and attributes to Moses.
• alluded to by Psalm 86:15 — 'Longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth' (Church footnote 18a).

Earth filled with the Lord's glory

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Numbers 14:21

Jehovah swears by His own life that His glory will one day fill the whole earth. Later prophets repeat this promise of the day when Christ reigns and the earth is full of the knowledge of Him.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• alluded to by Habakkuk 2:14 — The earth filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD.
• alluded to by Isaiah 11:9 — The earth full of the knowledge of the LORD under the reign of the Stem of Jesse.
• alluded to by Psalm 72:19 — 'Let the whole earth be filled with his glory' in the psalm of the King's Son (Church footnote 21a).

Jehovah, whom Israel tempted and murmured against

Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Numbers 14:22–35

Jehovah speaks in the first person about the people who tempted Him and murmured against Him. Paul warns the Saints not to tempt Christ as Israel did in the wilderness, identifying the One they provoked as Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

• interpreted by 1 Corinthians 10:9 — 'Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted' names the One Israel tempted in the wilderness as Christ (Paul's instance there is the serpents of Numbers 21).
• alluded to by 1 Corinthians 10:10 — 'Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured' (Church footnote 37a on v37).
• alluded to by Hebrews 3:17 — 'Whose carcases fell in the wilderness' echoes vv29, 32 (Church footnote 29a).
• alluded to by Jacob 1:7 — Jacob urges his people to come unto Christ lest they fail to enter His rest 'as in the provocation ... in the wilderness' (Church footnote 23a).