Numbers 32:14
And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel. And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.
Moses spoke the words as a warning to the tribes of Gad and Reuben when they asked to settle east of the Jordan, for he feared the request came from unbelief and a desire to avoid sharing their brothers' battles while their brethren went to war. By such refusal they were discouraging Israel just as their fathers did when sent from Kadesh-barnea to see the land and turned back hearts at the valley of Eshcol. To be risen up in the fathers' stead as an increase of sinful men means rising as another sinful generation in the fathers' place and adding to the fierce anger of the Lord already kindled toward Israel.
That anger had already sworn that none from twenty years old and upward who came out of Egypt except Caleb and Joshua would see the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and had made Israel wander forty years until that evil generation was consumed. The warning was that if they turned away, the Lord would leave Israel in the wilderness again and they would destroy all the people. The promises of God are upon condition of obedience.
Seeking ease and personal prosperity while leaving others to carry shared burdens brings guilt upon the community and invites God's displeasure. All who claim an interest in God's cause must share its work, responsibilities and hardships rather than leaving them to others, or their selfishness will be exposed and judged.
The words apply to God's people in this generation as likewise risen up in their fathers' stead as an increase of sinful men, disobedient, unthankful and unholy like ancient Israel, augmenting the fierce anger of the Lord, who is a jealous God yet bears long with sins and transgressions. Because they have not walked in His counsel, believed Him, been doers of His word and kept His commandments, the work of God has been hindered and the sealing time delayed instead of advancing and bearing the messages of truth to all people dwelling on the face of the whole earth. Time is prolonged so that all may hear the last message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice, and many who have not heard the truth will be given a chance to hear and be converted, and the great work of God will go forward.