20: Forgiven or Not (Num 14:26-45)

The Lord forgave them and didn’t kill them. However, He let all of them die in the wilderness. Were they forgiven or not?

πŸ‘‰ Read Numbers 14:26-45

According to verses 26 – 30, why would the Lord let them die in the wilderness? (hint: verse 14:2-3)

 

Your children will (             ) for your unfaithfulness for (             ) years until your (                 ) will fall in this wilderness and (                ) the land that you have despised.

 

What was the purpose of the suffering for them? (34)

 

At the hearing of God’s verdict, what did they do? (v40)  From this, what would be true repentance?

 

Answers and Meditation

Their complaint says that it would be better to die in the wilderness

We might focus on their death, but the text’s focus is their failure to enter the land. The Lord did not punish them but only prevented them from entering the land. They died in the wilderness as their natural death, except for ten spies struck by plague.

Though the Lord swore to give them the land, only Caleb and Josua got the promised land, for others didn’t want it.

If you don’t want the kingdom of God, it won’t be given to you.

 

suffer, forty, dead bodies, enjoy

Interestingly, their children would suffer because of them and then enjoy the land. The land seems to be given as compensation for their innocent (?) suffering.

The Lord waits until their sinful bodies perish before entering the land. Our mortal body and its sinful desire must die before our salvation is completed.

 

To let them know what it means to thwart the Lord

The Lord got angry that they gathered together against the Lord.

 

They tried to enter the land.

True repentance is to humbly accept His punishment.

Before the Lord’s verdict, their obedience was to enter the Land. But now, once His verdict is given, their obedience is not to enter the land. 

God’s specific plan for today might not be the same as yesterday. Listen and obey Him every day afresh. 

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