In the below passage the Israelites are grumbling yet again and God is sick and tired of it. He had enough and punishes them severely to the point that almost all of them would not see the promised land.
Numbers 14:20-35
New International Version (NIV)
20 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. 25 Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.[a]”
26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29 In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”
I wonder sometimes about my own life. When God is asking me to trust him and follow him and I am unwilling, does his grace period last forever?
Currently I believe;
- that if we continue to ignore God, he may allow circumstances into our lives to get our attention. When we choose poorly, whether it is to watch something we shouldn't, speak unkindly to someone, drink too much, have an affair and just to blatantly sin, there are consequences to these choices just as there were to the continued grumbling of the Israelites. King David and his offspring paid severely for his poor choices. King Solomon paid for his poor choices. Peter's decision to deny Christ, I am sure had its consequences. Ananias and Sapphira paid a steep price for lying and yes that was in the New testament. Check out the link to their story;
Ananias and Sapphira lied
These stories support my current thinking, that yes while we are shown God's grace, it doesn't mean that we should foolishly abuse it.
God wants us to obey him. He offers us his help, but when we choose to continually disobey him, we should not expect an easy ride, should we??
I would be interested in knowing your thoughts on the above, please feel free to comment.
Clifton Jansky ~ I choose Jesus
Moriah Peters - "I Choose Jesus"
26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29 In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”
I wonder sometimes about my own life. When God is asking me to trust him and follow him and I am unwilling, does his grace period last forever?
Currently I believe;
- that if we continue to ignore God, he may allow circumstances into our lives to get our attention. When we choose poorly, whether it is to watch something we shouldn't, speak unkindly to someone, drink too much, have an affair and just to blatantly sin, there are consequences to these choices just as there were to the continued grumbling of the Israelites. King David and his offspring paid severely for his poor choices. King Solomon paid for his poor choices. Peter's decision to deny Christ, I am sure had its consequences. Ananias and Sapphira paid a steep price for lying and yes that was in the New testament. Check out the link to their story;
Ananias and Sapphira lied
These stories support my current thinking, that yes while we are shown God's grace, it doesn't mean that we should foolishly abuse it.
God wants us to obey him. He offers us his help, but when we choose to continually disobey him, we should not expect an easy ride, should we??
I would be interested in knowing your thoughts on the above, please feel free to comment.
Clifton Jansky ~ I choose Jesus
Moriah Peters - "I Choose Jesus"
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