51 of 365 - Obsticles or Promise

And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?  I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” Numbers 14:11-12
 
The Israelites chose not to listen to Caleb and Joshua. Instead, they freak out, grumble, and say they wish they were still in Egypt or dead in the wilderness. Really? They demand a new leader. Commentator David Guzik says, “This was pure rebellion. They said that they did not want God's plan, they did not want God's leaders, and they did not want God's land. They believed that they knew better than God.”

God is done with them, but Moses intercedes on their behalf. God answers Moses's prayer and agrees to let them live, but there will be consequences. No one above the age of 20 will enter the promised land, except Caleb and Joshua (the two spies that tried to encourage the people to enter). The people will wander in the wilderness for 40 years, until this adult generation who rejected the invitation to enter has passed away.

God has good things waiting for His people. It is right in front of them. But they choose to look at the obstacles instead of God’s provision and promise, and they miss out. It happens over and over. We will see it again when Jesus finally arrives. Many just can’t believe God. They are limited by what their feeble minds and eyes can see and understand. They choose fear over faith, and as a result, wander, unfulfilled and without purpose.

How often do we reject God’s plan, God’s appointed authority over us in a season, God’s calling…all because it seems hard or might be painful or we feel unequipped? What might we be missing out on because we are rebelling against God’s plans? How often do we delay the fulfillment of a beautiful calling because we are too afraid to enter when God tells us to? Let’s decide TODAY to choose faith in the Promise-keeper over the lies of the enemy!
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Challenge: Spend some time this week quietly with God seeking things He might be wanting you to do. In our busy lives, we often don’t sit still long enough to hear from God. Ask Him for wisdom and for courage to do the things He wants you to do and go to the places He wants you to go.