SCRIPTURE: Numbers 14:36-45
36 So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it-- 37 these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD. 38 Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived. 39 When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. 40 Early the next morning they went up toward the high hill country. "We have sinned," they said. "We will go up to the place the LORD promised." 41 But Moses said, "Why are you disobeying the LORD's command? This will not succeed! 42 Do not go up, because the LORD is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43 for the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the LORD, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword." 44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD's covenant moved from the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.
OBSERVATION:
All the men who went out and spied the land were killed by a plague because they gave a bad report and said they couldn’t take it. The exception was Joshua and Caleb. The Isrealites mourned for these men and the next morning they got up and started heading towards the promised land, say since they have sinned they will now go up to the promised land. But Moses warned that they are not to do that because the Lord is now no longer with them because they had turned away from them and they will be defeated. But once again they did not listen and sure enough when they got into the promised land, they were met by the Amalekites and Canaanites and they deafeated the Israelites.
APPLICATION:
I look at this scripture and countless others in the Bible and I ask myself, why don’t they get it. Man these people remind me of my own children who disobey until they get into trouble then they are miraculously willing to do what they are told after the discipline is dealt out and it is to late thinking it will change my mind. Well if my kids aren’t going to change my mind in this manner, what makes me think God will change his. God has shown me through the Israelites that I too have been stubborn and refused to obey God and because of this, I have suffered. The Israelites were not exactly the most bright of people at times but who am I. I am also God’s chosen people but I just like the Israelites do mess up. The only difference is to realize my mistake and humble myself before God when I make the mistake to receive his forgiveness. The Israelites here did not do that. They didn’t try to repent until it was to late. They could have come to God and repented and humbled themselves and said they were sorry for believing 10 ungodly reports instead of the report of 2 Godly men, but they didn’t. I need to watch myself more carefully so I don’t become like these Israelites and believe the ungodly instead of the Godly.
PRAYER:
Father I pray that you give me the strength, wisdom and the willingness to put my pride aside and follow you and your commands for me. I don’t want to be like the Israelites here. I want to be like Joshua and Caleb who saw you will working in your promises. Father, I just want to thank you for being with me and my family in this difficult time and I pray and know that you have great things in store for us. In the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.