Are We There Yet?
Part 2
Musings from Psalm 90:9-11 & Numbers 13
In Numbers 13, we find God instructing Moses to send spies to scout out the land of Canaan. God already decided to give the land to His people, but as their Father, He wanted them to discover it for themselves. Baby steps to show these former slaves the abundant blessing of freedom and the challenges of character-building.
Good plan, right? At Moses’ word, Joshua, Caleb, and ten other spies go out to spy the land. They return with their cheeks full of grapes and more to share. Caleb encourages the people, “God has thought of everything, guys. Now all we have to do is trust Him and go take the land.”
Too late. Unbelief had already set in like rigor mortis. Despite Joshua and Caleb’s pleading, the Israelites chose to stay in their desert wandering rather than trust God.
Circling back to Psalm 90:9-11, you will not be surprised to find that Israel’s unbelief and refusal to enter the Promised Land left Moses tasked with leading the Israelites kicking and screaming through the desert for forty excruciating years. Moses was exasperated on many occasions, but his heart was right. The Bible tells us that he was the meekest man that ever lived. What could Moses do or say that would get the people out of their own way?
It is clear the consequences of Israel’s unbelief cost them more than they bargained for; however, I cannot deny hoping they regretted their sin of unbelief and gave way at last to God’s sovereignty and His ability to accomplish all God called them to do.
For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
We finish our years like a sigh.
The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
Psalm 90:7-11 (NKJV)