Say What?

Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. [Numbers 14.17a]

What a thing to say to God!

It is noteworthy however that God, even though He relented of immediately abandoning Israel, still led them back into the wilderness where all the doubters would die off not having entered the Promised Land.  So, while God forgave Israel as a nation, He still imposed penalty, albeit delayed, upon the individuals for their faithlessness.

Disobedience simply does not go unpunished.  And, it is here we are privileged to direct our thoughts to Jesus upon Whom was placed all the penalty for the faithlessness of those who believe.

Back to the case at hand though...  There is no uncertain generational factor in all this.  Had God wiped out Israel at this moment in history, there would have been no Israel - no successors - no generations to follow.  Even though Israel sinned greatly in complaining, they still had children (both born and unborn) who had not been faithless and therefore remained candidates to experience God's promise.

When I try to consider the contemporary application of this, my mind goes blank.

Father, help me to see Jesus every day I read the Bible!  Help me as well to comprehend what it is that You are speaking uniquely to me each day from the Bible (because I know You do).  Help me to understand how my sin affects not only me, but the generations that follow me.  Help me to see how Jesus has redeemed me and what affect that has on generations to come...