Part 3 - And 603,548 Men Fell
If you are just arriving for the first time, hop over to Part 1 and work your way back here. We've covered a lot of foundational ground on this topic that you won't want to miss.
In Part 2, we left the Sons of Israel drinking water at Elim after failing their first test.
Notice with me, that even though Israel failed this test, YHVH provided them with water. You know what I call that?
Grace.
Failure is part of our human existence. The hope, however, is that from failure, will come growth.
Now that Israel had seen the mighty hand of YHVH deliver them these two times, they would grow to trust Him...right?
I so wish that were true!
Instead, however, we are given example after example of how Israel continued to walk faithlessly.
Their first complaint was about not having water. By Exodus 16, only one month after crossing the sea on dry land, we hear Israel complaining about their desire for food.
Another test...
"I will rain bread from heaven...so that I can test them to find out whether they will walk according to My Torah or not." Exodus 16:4-5
"However, they did not listen to Moses...." and their bread was rotted and was filled with worms.
Another failure. Surely this time they will have learned...
But when we reach Exodus 17, we see that Israel once again became fearful and complained about not having water.
To Moses they cried, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt? To kill us with thirst, along with our children and cattle?"
They had been given a second "water" test. An opportunity to get it right...
And they failed again.
Guess what? There were multiple "food" tests, too.
More failure.
Israel's lack of faith eventually went further than just food and water. Before too long, they had resorted to idolatry, worshipping the golden calf as though it were YHVH.
Even Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses.
But in spite of their consistent failure, Israel was blessed by YHVH. They lacked nothing. Food and water were provided, and later we learn that even after 40 years, clothing and shoes had never worn out.
To say that YHVH was patient with Israel is an understatement.
By the time of the "bad report," of the 10 spies, YHVH was near his threshold of tolerance for Israel's lack of trust, complaining, and disobedience.
So, YHVH did not deny the 603,548 men entrance into the Promised Land over their grumbling due to the "bad report" of the 10 spies. That was just the straw that broke the camel's back! Israel had done nothing but complain since leaving Egypt.
It was their consistent failure to trust YHVH, after many tests (opportunities) had been given, that cost them entrance into the Promised Land.
Scripture tells us that the 10 spies who brought the bad report "died of the plague in YHVH's presence."
The 2 spies who gave the accurate report, Caleb and Joshua, were gifted with entrance into the Promised Land. However, they would have to wait...
Moses cried out to YHVH on behalf of Israel.
Don't miss YHVH's response:
"I have forgiven them just as you have spoken. But as certainly as I live and as certainly as the glory of YHVH fills the entire earth, none of the people who saw My glory and My miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness -- yet tested Me the ten times and did not obey My Voice -- not one of them will see the land I promised to their forefathers."
They. Were. Forgiven.
They had been covered by the blood on their doorposts.
They would be provided for...for the next 40 years in the wilderness. (Grace)
But they WOULD NOT enter the Promised Land.
We have looked at almost every point about this topic that I set out to cover, but there is one very important one that we desperately need to meditate upon, as it applies to us, too...
Today
There is a day designated for each of us as, "today."
We will make that our focus, when I invite you back soon to ...
Come Seek With Me!
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