The Beginnings of Rebellion: The journey has begun after the long and careful preparations. Now suddenly the reader is thrown into the rebellions that punctuate this journey. We have seen that the first ten chapters of the book prefigure this turn of events, but the overall positive tone and constant obedience of the people in those chapters are shattered by a sudden dominance of disobedience beginning immediately with chapter 11. From the theme of the right ordering of life as God’s people, we move to that of rebellions in the wilderness. Olson suggests that such a sudden change also takes place between Genesis 2 and 3 and between Exodus 31 and 32 (Numbers, p. 60). After the covenant on Sinai and the instruction in structuring worship (Exod. 31), the golden calf rebellion suddenly breaks …