“Then you answered me, ‘We have sinned against Adonai. Now we will go up and fight, in accordance with everything Adonai our God ordered us.’ And every man among you put on his arms, considering it an easy matter to go up into the hill-country. But Adonai said to me, ‘Tell them, “Don’t go up, and don’t fight, because I am not there with you; if you do, your enemies will defeat you.'”-Deuteronomy 1:41-42
Moses is continuing to recount the rebellion of the first generation of Israelites for the benefit of the second generation of Israelites.
He goes on to explain that after the first generation rebelled and refused to take the Promised Land, afterwards they realized the seriousness of what they had done.
When the terror of being permanently barred from ever entering the Promised Land dawned on them…
…they attempted to do an about face…
…and said…
“….NOW we will go up and fight just as HASHEM commanded us”
But it was too late.
God had to warn them…
“Don’t go up, and don’t fight,
because I am not there with you;
if you do, your enemies will defeat you.”
The people wouldn’t listen and as expected were soundly trounced.
There is such an important lesson to be learned here.
When God gives you an opportunity to do something great…
…FOR CRYING OUT LOUD DON’T HESITATE!!!
Don’t say to yourself…
“I’m gonna have just one more porno binge and this will be the last time…”
…or…
“I’m gonna make just this one last purchase on my credit card and then I’ll stop going into debt”.
or
“Let me go bury my father first and then I’ll follow God”.
or
“Let me just get this much money saved up and then I’ll go on that missionary trip.”
STOP MAKING EXCUSES!
Because it’s not going to be so easy if not impossible to regain merit in HASHEM’s eyes.
When the Israelites refused to take the Promised Land when commanded, it was rebellion.
And when the Israelites tried to take the same land only a couple of days later, it was rebellion.
Why?
Because the timing belongs to the Lord.
Embed the following pattern into your heart and mind because your very life depends on it.
Here’s the pattern:
FIRST, the Lord instructs Israel to take the Land of Canaan.
SECOND, Israel loses faith and hesitates.
THIRD, the people decide to engage in a ridiculous brain-storming session to determine whether they should trust God or not.
FOURTH, after their ridiculous brain-storming session, they decide that the timing is just not right to invade the land.
FIFTH, God calls their decision rebellion pure and simple and pronounces judgement on them.
SIXTH, terrified at the prospect of never being able to enter the Promised Land, the people decide to change their minds.
SEVENTH, God says no, your window of opportunity has closed and there ain’t nothing that’s gonna change that.
And by the way, you’ll find this very same pattern in the New Testament.
It’s not always possible to regain an opportunity you let slip out of your fingers due to your reluctance or lack of faith.
The principle “If God closes a door, he’ll open a window” doesn’t always hold true…
…especially if you were the one who decided to the close the door when the invitation came.
You can only sit on the sidelines for so long.
And for the unbeliever…
the offer to receive the gift of salvation…
…will only remain valid for so long…
…before that offer expires FOREVER.
I don’t know how many older believers I’ve spoken with over the years who are filled with so much regret and bitterness over the many lost opportunities they let slip out of their hands because they made a decision to ignore or not trust HASHEM on certain matters.
Don’t get me wrong.
I’m not saying God won’t take you back if you sincerely repent.
Nor am I saying your life is ruined forever because you lacked faith on certain matters in the past.
The story of the Prodigal Son still holds true.
However, what I am saying is there is much pain and needless suffering that could have been avoided…
…and so much more fruit for the Kingdom of God produced…
…if you had just wholeheartedly surrendered and trusted the Lord in certain matters.
The painful truth Moses is trying to communicate to this new generation of Israelites is that their parents could have been living in the Promised Land after only a couple of months of leaving Egypt.
Yet, it was not to be because of their lack of faith and rebellion.
And the other painful truth is that no amount of repentance was going to change anything.
Even Moses himself would not be able to enter into the Promised Land.
Before closing, I ask you this.
What do you feel God is calling you to do…
…but you are wavering…
….because of the risks involved?
Now remember what Moses told…
…this second generation of Israelites…
…and then decide wisely.
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER TWO
Hello Richoka, this is a very good job. Fantastic! More grease to your elbows.
Shalom
Thanks Abraham! Appreciate the positive thumbs up! Be blessed and Shalom!