How must Moses have felt when he sent the spies into the land of Canaan in preparation for taking the land by God’s direction? Probably just like many other leaders who receive a vision of what God wants them to do. Twelve spies were sent in. Ten came back with the report that they didn’t believe they should do what God had instructed Moses to do. Two gave a favorable report. The Israelites sided with the ten. Then they complained about their leader and then about God. They wanted to go back to Egypt. God was not pleased. He killed the ten, and told the Israelites that they would have to wander aimlessly in the wilderness for the next 40 years until all those twenty years of age and older died. He would spare the lives of the two spies who had brought back a good report and whose hearts were toward God’s plan–but even they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Bad decisions often affect all of us. Soon the Israelites were repentant. They wanted to go in and do as God had originally directed their leader, Moses. But Moses warned them–it was too late. God was no longer in it. The opportunity had passed. The stubborn Isrealites tried anyway. They were defeated.
Follow God’s directions immediately. Sieze the opportunities of the moment. They may never come again.
One Response
This is an incredible story! It always frustrated me to read it, and now I get to watch it first hand. It’s extremely sad.