39 When Moses told … the Israelites [that they would not enter the Promised Land], the people mourned greatly. 40 They rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised ...” 41 But Moses said, “Why do you continue to transgress the command of the Lord? 42 Do not go up. 41 That will not succeed, 42 for the Lord is not with you … 44 [Nevertheless] they presumed to go … even though the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, had not left the camp. 45 … and [they were] defeated …
Numbers 14
When and where was it decided that the Israelites would not go into the Promised Land?
Right here.
Chapter 14.
Rather than trusting in the power of God, the people of Israel chose to believe the ten fearful spies. Rather than living on faith, they decided to operate on fear.
And the judgment came down this way: “20 The Lord said, ‘I do forgive … 21 nevertheless … 22 none of the people who have seen … the signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet … have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their ancestors; none … 31 except Caleb … and Joshua … 32 [and] your little ones … I will bring in.”
I want you to think for a moment about what was happening …
God is the author and giver of life. He’s the one who brought Israel out of Egypt and he’s the one who protects us in the midst of our trials. So let me ask …
· What happens when we rebel against the author of life? Death.
· What happens when we rebel against our guide? We get lost.
· What happens when we rebel against our protector? Trials … and defeat.
· What happens when we rebel against the deliver? No delivery. No Promised Land. We have to go it alone. And the result is defeat.
But it’s here when a funny thing happens. It’s here that people blame God for being harsh and cruel. Trials, defeat, wandering, and death are natural consequences. It’s what Israel brought on themselves. It’s something we keep bringing on ourselves.
The author of life want us to live, but we choose rebellion and death … and then we blame for the pain. The Good Shepherd wants to guide us, but we want to go our own ways … and then we blame God for the ills of a lost and wandering society. We like our free will, but when someone else’s free will (and cruelty and pain) hurt us … then we blame God again.
Who really is to blame?
Ask God for forgiveness for your part in this world-wide rebellion, and choose to be like Joshua and Caleb, trusting that God – through Jesus Christ – is strong enough to deliver you.
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who doesn’t want
to rebel against the one
who created chocolate
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