Numbers 14:1-15:41

At the report of the scouts the people begin to weep and complain.  They are fearful of going into this land and decide that they will select their own leaders and return to Egypt.  The Lord says that he will destroy the people, but Moses intercedes and asks that the people be spared.  God tells the people, “you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy,” and declares that they are to wander in the wilderness for 40 years and that none of that ungrateful generation will see the promised land with the exception of Caleb and Joshua.  The 10 scouts who stirred up the trouble are struck down with a plague.  The Lord tells the people to go to the wilderness, some disobey and attempt to enter the promised land; these people are killed by the Amalekites and the Canaanites.

In this narrative God withholds his blessing because the people do not trust God.  Their distrust is so pervassive that God says ” you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.”  How often do we distrust God and make God our own enemy?  One of my great struggles is to wait for God to lead me and not try to push ahead.  When I run out ahead of God we are working at counter purposes.  Fortunately God is loving and usually works to restore me to rightful place: following God.

I pray that each of you does not make yourself an enemy to God.   I do not believe that I have disobeyed to the point of being God’s enemy, but there have certainly been times when I was not God’s friend.  Align yourself with God; don’t try to align God with yourself.

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