After the 12 men appointed to spy out the land return to the camp of Moses, 10 out of the 12 men come back with a negative report about how well-armed, big and strong the Canaanites are.
Their fear-based report ends up spreading around the camp and infects the rest of the people who promptly begin to b#&tch and moan.
Some even begin tearing their clothes and shaking their fists to the sky asking God why He brought them out into the desert to die in the first place.
And just when it seems like things can’t get any worse, it does.
The people decide to commit mutiny and overthrow Moses with a new leader.
Wrong move.
The rebels are immediately judged with poisonous snakebites and come down with all manner of sickness and disease.
Witnessing the people dying all around the camp, Moses (the Lord’s mediator) begs God to forgive the people for their sins because they don’t know what they’re doing.
The Lord agrees but there will be a price to pay.
And that price is that all Israelites who would have been eligible to fight in the army will NEVER enter the Promised Land…
…except Joshua and Caleb who demonstrated great faith and did their best to persuade the people to stand on the promises of the Lord.
Unfortunately, this prohibition against entering the land will also apply to Moses but for other reasons.
Just as the Israelites were standing at the very brink of fulfilling a centuries old promise to inherit the land, they are turned away because of their lack of faithfulness and…
…cast back into the barren desert where they will be forced to dwell in goatskin tents for the rest of their days and have to journey from one spot to another just to find a water source so they can survive.
How sad.
I think the lesson here is clear.
The Lord will present exciting and life-changing opportunities to you BUT YOU CAN’T DILLY DALLY MAN.
You’ve got to seize the moment and act immediately or you too will be turned away.
I’ve really been enjoying your posts and have learned a lot. I especially enjoy the “real” and not legalistic way that you speak lol. I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of posts on forgiveness? I’m struggling with what it truly means to forgive others. The topic eludes me and I have prayed about it a lot, I’d like to learn more and take your perspective on it into account. Thank you for all your hard work and sharing what you know!
Hi Macy,
Thanks for your comment. On the topic of forgiving others who have wronged you. How about taking a look at the story of Joseph? Remember how his brothers sold him into slavery and as a result was carried away into Egypt? And later when they were reunited in Egypt, Joseph forgave them by saying “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”.
It might be easier to forgive others if you can see the big picture and realize that the Lord is sovereign and in control of everything happening in our lives (even though it may not seem like it at times). I would recommend reading posts from Genesis Chapter 42.
Be blessed and SHALOM!
Rich