February 13

February 13, 2009

Today Numbers 26
Tomorrow Numbers 32, 34


Numbers 26:64 Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the desert, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son
of Nun.

Was God to harsh on his people?

It is now 38 years later and a new census is taken. During that time every man and woman from the initial generation had died in the desert, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua. Was God to harsh on his people?

Four reasons why God was more than gracious to this generation.

1. He gave them so many powerful, dramatic and obvious miracles but the people refused to believe. God will not force himself on anyone. God was more than fair in giving people a chance to respond to his loving guidance. Just seeing the Red Sea parted should have done it for this generation. But their hearts were stubborn and they didn’t want to give up control of their lives.

2. God did fulfill his promise and bring them to the edge of the Promised Land but the people didn’t want to possess it. Numbers 14

3. God was more than fair in setting the age of accountability at the age of 20. God did not hold any young person as guilty if they were under the age of 20. If we apply that to our children today you can see how gracious God is.

4. There was much more at stake than just a home in the Promised Land. What is at stake is a home in God’s eternal kingdom. Compared to an eternity separated from God, a long walk in the desert is nothing. So keep your eyes on eternity. God is doing everything possible to bring mankind to an awareness of the seriousness of sin and a future separated from his love.

Thought for the day: It is much easier to get the people out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of the people. Beware of the seduction of the culture. Sin is a very serious matter.