Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Too Little, Too Late

Numbers 14:5-45

We've already established that the Israelites were hard-headed, disobedient, fickle and generally just impossible to please. Unfortunately for them, the world was not created for them and didn't revolve around them. It was created by God, for God and everything in the world, including the Israelites, was made to be pleasing to God. But, they were too busy trying to make God please them.

There were so many things that God did for them as acts of mercy and kindness; things that spared their very lives and even made them better! Still, they found a reason to complain. This defiance at the edge of Canaan, though, was the last straw (of sorts). Honestly, how quickly do we get fed up with people - subordinates, children, etc. - when they don't do what we tell them; especially when what we tell them to do is for their own good?! God was so patient and so faithful. Had I been in his position dealing with these people, it would have been me and Moses on the way to the Promised Land a long time before this point. (I know I'm not the only one.)

Moses was patient, too. He fell victim to the Israelites' shadiness as the appointed leader. They complained to him and about him, threatened and tried to replace him, overthrow him, and even kill him. But every time they messed things up for themselves and God wanted to kill them, he pleaded for their lives. He stepped in and became their intercessors, their only advocate, but they didn't even seem to notice or care most of the time. They just went on living under grace as though they deserved it.

Finally, God said 'enough'! He was sick and tired of their arrogance and disobedience and faithlessness. Because Moses, who had remained faithful, asked him to, he spared their lives once again, but there was no way he was letting them go unpunished for this behavior. So he banned them from their Promised Land forever and condemned them to die in the wilderness. In other words, they got off easy, but they still paid for their transgressions. Of course, when Moses handed them their sentence, they were so sorry. They admitted that they were wrong and said they would do better; they were ready to go into the Land then.

But God said 'too little, too late'! Their deeds were done and his mind was made up. Through their protests and rebellion, they had forfeited their rights to even see the Promised Land. It would now be the privilege of their children to enter Canaan (because God keeps his promises). Caleb and Joshua were the only ones excluded from the ban (besides Moses and Aaron) because they trusted God and stood on his promise to them. Everyone else was bound to die in the wilderness. They tried to go forward anyway (still rebellious), and they paid for it with their lives at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites because God was not with them. They just didn't understand that it was only his power that made them great and allowed them to prosper at all.

Help us, Lord, to praise and glorify you for your work in our lives. Let us not take your love for us for granted or think we can do anything without you. Help us to be obedient right away and all the way, so we can receive the blessings and promises you have for us. Help us avoid the devastation and destruction that comes from disobedience. Let us be the ones to stand on your Word when everyone else is doubting and afraid. Thank you for your promises, Lord. Thank you for your patience with us when we falter. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for your love. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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