John Calvin Commentary Numbers 14:13

"And Moses said unto Jehovah, Then the Egyptians will hear it; for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;" — Numbers 14:13 (ASV)

Then the Egyptians shall hear it. Moses here, according to his custom, stands “in the breach” of the wall, as it is said in Psalm 106:23, to sustain and avert the anger of God, which otherwise would burst forth, since through his intercession the fire was speedily extinguished, and the people were not consumed.

In order to support his request, he only objects that God’s holy name would be the sport of the wicked if the people should perish altogether. I have endeavored to convey the true meaning of the words which translators render in various ways.

First, he says, “The Egyptians shall hear, since it is a widely known fact, and testified by miracles, that this people was rescued from among them by your might. The same report will also spread among the nations of Canaan, who have already heard that you are the protector of this people and that you have undertaken the charge of governing them. If, therefore, they should perish completely, all the nations which have heard of your fame will cast the blame on you. They will think that your power has broken down in the midst of its course, so that you could not carry through to the end the work you had undertaken.”

The substance amounts to this: because God had shown by clear and evident signs that He was the deliverer of this people, He would be exposed to the reproach of the wicked unless He should keep safe those whom He had once redeemed.

For nothing else would occur to the minds of the heathen nations except that God was unable to maintain His blessing, however much He might desire to do so.

And assuredly, this is no ordinary effect of God’s goodness, so to connect the glory of His name with our salvation that whatever is adverse to us brings reproach upon Him, because the mouth of the wicked will be open to blaspheme.

And this will in fact turn to our advantage if, on our part, without pretense and in zealous sincerity, we beseech God to uphold His own glory in saving us. For many boldly plead the name of God on their own behalf, although they are unaffected by any real care or love for it.

Moreover, because the more illustrious God’s exercise of His power has been, the more insolently the ungodly are disposed to blaspheme if it has appeared to fail; we must always entreat Him that He should not desert the work of His hands which He has begun in us.

To this effect are the words, They have heard that you are seen face to face; for if the people’s safety were not maintained, the failure would have been attributed to none but God, who had put forth the power of His hand to preserve them.

Finally, since their astonishing exodus had been a testimony of God’s favor, if He had allowed the people to perish in the desert, all would have considered it a sign of His weakness. This is because it was improbable that He would fail to accomplish what He desired, unless He were unable to do so.