10 Times Were the Israelites tempted God
Numbers 14:22 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;
This verse indicts that the Children of Israel tested and tempted God 10 different times. They had problems trusting God even after seeing the plagues in Egypt. Below are the 10 times where they doubted God.
- The Red Sea
- Exodus 14:10-12: And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
- They were scared and accused God of bringing them into the wilderness to kill them.
- This incident set the pattern for recurring disbelief, even though God miraculously parted the Red Sea soon after (Exodus 14:21-22).
- Exodus 14:10-12: And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
- Complaining about Bitter Water
- Exodus 15:22-24 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
- After three days wandering through the Wilderness of Shur without finding drinkable water, the people became frustrated when they reached Marah and discovered its waters were bitter. Instead of recalling how God had delivered them at the Red Sea, they grumbled to Moses, questioning whether God would continue to provide for them.
- Exodus 15:22-24 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
- Grumbling about Food in the Wilderness
- Exodus 16:2-3 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
- God responded to their lack of faith by raining down manna, demonstrating His continual care despite their complaints (Exodus 16:4-5).
- Exodus 16:2-3 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
- Disobedience Regarding the Manna and the Sabbath
- Exodus 16:27-30 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day.
- God told the Israelites to collect manna for six days and rest on the seventh. But some ignored this and went out to gather manna on the Sabbath anyway. Their disobedience tested God’s patience and showed their ongoing doubt.
- Exodus 16:27-30 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day.
- Quarreling about Water at Rephidim
- Exodus 17:1-7 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?
- Later in Deutronomy when the travels and the Law is being reviewed, this incident it recalled.
- Deutronomy 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
- Jesus when answering Satan quotes from Deutronomy.
- Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
- Later in Deutronomy when the travels and the Law is being reviewed, this incident it recalled.
- God instructed Moses to strike the rock at Horeb, causing water to flow and providing the people with evidence of His faithfulness (Exodus 17:6-7).
- Exodus 17:1-7 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?
- The Golden Calf at Mount Sinai
- Exodus 32:1-6 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
- While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law, the people grew restless and asked Aaron to make them gods. They ended up crafting a golden calf, crediting this idol with their escape from Egypt. This open act of idolatry challenged God’s holiness, despite all the incredible signs and wonders they had already seen.
- Exodus 32:1-6 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the Lord. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
- General Complaints and Discontent
- Numbers 11:1-3 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.
- As they traveled from Mount Sinai, the Israelites started grumbling once more for no clear reason. The Bible says that “the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp” (Numbers 11:1). This episode highlights how their complaints were ongoing and intentional acts of disbelief.
- Numbers 11:1-3 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.
- Craving Meat and Rejecting Manna
- Numbers 11:4-6 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
- They insisted they were better off in Egypt, once again ignoring God’s continued provision. By longing more for their former lives there than trusting His plan, they put the Lord to the test.
- Numbers 11:4-6 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
- Disbelief Following the Spies’ Report
- Numbers 14:1-4 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 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! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
- When Moses sent spies to scout out Canaan, most came back with a discouraging report. The Israelites were gripped by fear, unwilling to trust that God would give them the land. They even considered picking a new leader and heading back to Egypt. This deep lack of faith stood in stark contrast to the powerful acts of deliverance God had already shown them.
- Numbers 14:1-4 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 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! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
- Rebellion of Korah and the Aftermath
- Numbers 16:1-3 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
- Numbers 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord.
- Korah, Dathan, and Abiram stood against Moses’ authority, and God responded with a dramatic judgment, causing the earth to swallow them. But the very next day, the people grumbled again, accusing Moses of causing their deaths (Numbers 16:41). This moment shows yet another refusal to accept God’s chosen leader and trust in His decisions.
Significance of the Ten Tests
These ten events show a pattern of doubt, ingratitude, and defiance, even in the face of remarkable displays of divine power. Time after time, the Israelites had clear proof of God’s faithfulness—through miracles, provisions, and warnings—yet they continued to struggle with disbelief.
These stories offer lasting lessons about the risks of becoming complacent or ignoring guidance. For readers today, they highlight the value of trusting the One who always provides and supports, even when situations seem overwhelming.
Implications for Faith and Obedience
These repeated challenges remind believers of the real consequences of not trusting God’s promises. Each moment comes with a call to return to faithful obedience, urging us not to “test the LORD” (see Deuteronomy 6:16). Paul, reflecting on these wilderness events, said, “Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Choosing faith in tough times keeps us rooted in God’s gracious character, giving us a firm spiritual foundation and helping us avoid the traps of rebellion.
Conclusion
The account of Israel testing God ten times is a powerful reminder that disbelief and defiance can cloud our vision, no matter how many miracles we’ve seen. Real faith grows when it’s grounded in humble trust, recalling past rescues and leaning on God’s promises. Looking at these events shows us that His character deserves our complete confidence, and that any challenge to His faithfulness should lead us to respond with trust and obedience, knowing His love and strength have never failed.
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