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. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

15: They repented for the first time, But... (Judges 10:1 – 18)

They repented before the Lord, but He was not willing to deliver them because He knew their irresistible tendency toward idol worship. Read Judges 10:1 - 18 Q1. After the death of Abimelech, Tola rose up to (             ) Israel and (         ) Israel for 23 years. After him, (             ) rose up and (           ) Israel for 22 years. The towns he and his sons ruled were collectively called (                   ). Both (          ) and were buried in their hometowns. Answers πŸ‘‰ After the death of Abimelech, Tola rose up to ( deliver ) Israel and ( led ) Israel for 23 years. After him, ( Jair  ) rose up and (  led  ) Israel for 22 years. The towns he and his sons ruled were collectively called ( Havvoth Jair ). Both ( died ) and were buried in their hometowns. They "rose up." While there is no explicit mention that the Lord appointed them as judges, this does not necessarily mean they assumed leadership on their own.  Tola appears to have risen to deliver Israel du
Read more

25: ‘Tell us plainly’ vs ‘The Father and I are one.’ (John 10:22 – 42)

As Jesus announced the Father and Jesus were one, the Jewish leaders tried to stone him. πŸ‘‰ Read John 10:22 - 42 Q1. Why did the Jewish leaders not believe in Jesus? Answers πŸ‘‰ They refused to believe in Jesus, for they were not Jesus’ sheep. ‘you refused to believe.’ This tells their willing refusal.  Note that Jesus Himself doesn’t call Himself the Messiah. Instead, He called Himself the One sent from God. He focused on doing the Father’s works and proclaiming His words. From Jesus’ works, they could have concluded that He was the Messiah sent from God. But they refused to admit it. Instead, they asked Jesus to admit His identity as the Messiah plainly, which Jesus wouldn’t do. Q2. They asked Jesus if He were the (           ). But Jesus claimed that the (          ) and He are one. Because of this, they condemned Him of (             ) and tried to stone Him. Answer πŸ‘‰ They asked Jesus if He were the ( Christ ). But Jesus claimed that the ( Father  ) and He are one
Read more

13: Abimelech: The Rise of a Self-Appointed Leader (Judges 9:1 – 21)

All the judges in the Book of Judges were chosen by God. However, Abimelech claimed kingship on his own. The people of Shechem supported him but did not truly follow him. Although they appeared to act out of loyalty to their kin, they were ultimately pursuing their own interests. This alliance would ultimately lead to mutual destruction. Read Judges 9:1 - 21 Q1. Why did the people of Shechem follow Abimelech? (2-3) Answers πŸ‘‰ Abimelech was their close relative. His mother was from Shechem.  Q2. The people of Shechem gave him (                 ) silver coins. And he hired some (            ) men and killed his (             ), seventy sons of Jerub Baal, on (              ).  Answer πŸ‘‰ The people of Shechem gave him ( seventy ) silver coins. And he hired some ( lawless ) men and killed his ( brothers ), seventy sons of Jerub Baal, on ( one stone ). Take note of expressions that emphasize brotherhood, such as “our own flesh and blood” and “He is our close relative.” Alt
Read more