Never Get Too Familiar with God
But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they."
Moses said to the LORD . . . "If you put all these people to death . . . the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 'The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land He promised them on oath . . .' "
The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live . . . not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times -- not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors." Numbers 14:10-23
Moses said to the LORD . . . "If you put all these people to death . . . the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 'The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land He promised them on oath . . .' "
The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live . . . not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times -- not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors." Numbers 14:10-23
The Bible declares in Jeremiah 17:9 that "the heart of man is desperately wicked . . ."
It sends chills down my spine to think that some of the Israelites talked about stoning Moses after all his hard work in bringing them out of Egypt. God was understandably angry because the people had treated God with contempt. He was ready to strike them down and make a new and greater nation out of Moses.
But Moses intervened and reminded God that the nations will mock God and say, "The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land He promised them on oath."
God forgave the sins of His people but there were severe consequences for their disobedience.
None of the wicked grumblers would see the Promised Land. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years until each of them died off!
It is said that "familiarity breeds contempt." The Israelites had become so familiar with the Presence of God on the journey that some of them had no reverence for God or respect for His servant Moses. In God's own words, "How long will these people treat me with contempt?"
In our walk with the Holy God, may we never become so familiar that we take Him for granted and treat Him and His servants with contempt. When we question the integrity and ability of God, we treat Him with contempt. When we give less than our best to God, we treat Him with contempt. The spirit of familiarity exacts a heavy price. It is dangerous and definitely not worth it. Let's repent of any such inclination and walk with God with deep reverence.
It sends chills down my spine to think that some of the Israelites talked about stoning Moses after all his hard work in bringing them out of Egypt. God was understandably angry because the people had treated God with contempt. He was ready to strike them down and make a new and greater nation out of Moses.
But Moses intervened and reminded God that the nations will mock God and say, "The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land He promised them on oath."
God forgave the sins of His people but there were severe consequences for their disobedience.
None of the wicked grumblers would see the Promised Land. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years until each of them died off!
It is said that "familiarity breeds contempt." The Israelites had become so familiar with the Presence of God on the journey that some of them had no reverence for God or respect for His servant Moses. In God's own words, "How long will these people treat me with contempt?"
In our walk with the Holy God, may we never become so familiar that we take Him for granted and treat Him and His servants with contempt. When we question the integrity and ability of God, we treat Him with contempt. When we give less than our best to God, we treat Him with contempt. The spirit of familiarity exacts a heavy price. It is dangerous and definitely not worth it. Let's repent of any such inclination and walk with God with deep reverence.
Prayer: Father, please forgive me for any way in which I have failed to reverence you. Help me never to get so familiar with you that I forget your might and holiness. Amen.