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PUNISHMENT OF ISRAEL FOR UNBELIEF
FRIDAY, JULY 9
Deuteronomy 1:30-46

Acts 17:26-28

 

“…let him trust in the name

of the LORD...”

 

PUNISHMENT OF ISRAEL FOR UNBELIEF
 
Israel did not believe the Lord who led them by cloud and fire. The pillars of cloud and fire were a visible testimony of the Lord’s presence among them and all their movements were dictated by the pillars’ movement. Moses had to assure them repeatedly that the Lord who brought them out of Egypt would lead them to safety. The Lord heard the rebels’ words and swore that none of that generation should see the good land. It is sad that their eyes could not see the potential in what the Lord had promised and prepared for them.
 
Only Caleb and Joshua were able to see the Promised Land because they delighted in the promise of the Lord and encouraged Israel to go and possess the Land. Numbers 14:6-9 (the earlier account) described what Caleb and Joshua did: “And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.” Their courage spared them from God’s punishment and they were rewarded as they entered Canaan.
 
God has unlimited resources. All that Israel had to do was to look to Him in faith and their journey would have been successful. On top of it, all their needs would have been met. But because of their unbelief, they lost everything. Their punishment was like a jail sentence of forty years, ending with death. While the Lord would bring to pass His promise, He had to show His justice in punishing the sin of rebellion. God is gracious and just. Man cannot live in sin and hope to escape His vengeance.
 
THOUGHT: The Lord is very particular in His dealings.

PRAYER: Father, give me the courage of Joshua and Caleb.

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