The Israelites rebelled against Moses after hearing the frightening reports about Canaan from ten of the twelve spies. Joshua and Caleb tried to convince the people that God would help them defeat the tribes in the land, but the Israelites wanted nothing of it. The grumbling got so bad at one point that they appointed a new leader who would take them all back to Egypt.
Even then, Moses had the patience to endure. Though God threatened to
let His anger have its way with the people, Moses interceded on their behalf
and appealed to God’s mercy. As a result, God relented and spared the nation.
However, He would not let them enter Canaan at that time, even though
several of them tried. Instead, He told them that they were to turn around and
wander in the desert for forty years, until everyone who grumbled was buried in
the sand. God offered His people a land of their own and they refused it.
Imagine, for a minute, a single mom who could hardly make ends meet.
She had one daughter, for whom she worked very hard to provide and protect. The
girl’s birthday came around and all the mom wanted to do was to provide one
tiny gift. She worked extra hours and pinched every penny to save enough money
so that she could buy what she knew would be the perfect gift for her little
girl. But when the day came and her daughter tore open the package, she refused
it. In fact, she cried and complained that it was not what she wanted, that she
wanted something better.
Of course, any mother would be devastated. Her heart would be broken
by this ungrateful child. In the end, most mothers would’ve returned
the gift
and gotten their money back, but not this mom. She loved the child so much that
she kept the gift for
the day when her daughter would better appreciate it.
Daily Reflection
Did you notice that God gave the people what they asked for? They
preferred “to die in the desert than to go into Canaan and face the giants”
there. So then, the Lord led the people back into the desert to die.
How many gifts has God desired to give to you except that
you have refused His generosity by demanding what you wanted instead? Be careful what you
ask for.
He may give you want you want, though it will not be His best for you and it
will hurt you in the end.
Have you come to a place in your life where you don’t sense the Lord’s
leadership or the Lord’s blessing? Perhaps you have taken the lead yourself and
He has backed away, to let you have your way. Perhaps it is because He
has tried to lead you one way or another and you have consistently refused to
listen.
What was the last thing the Lord asked you to do? Where was the last
fork in the road that the Lord led you to? Did you follow His way or your own?
Imagine a life in which you never refused the Lord’s leadership. What
great things you would see and do. He is waiting to lead you “into Canaan,” but
do you have the faith to follow?
BiAY.org | Daily Reflections Day 62 — 303 Days to Go
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