Articles
What a Journey!
“…He made them wander in the wilderness forty years...”
(Num. 32:13)
Are we there yet? Surely, this is a question that you asked your parents and/or at least heard while on a long car ride. How would you feel if you never made it to your destination? Naturally, the Israelites must have regretted their disobedience and had sufficient time to reflect upon their foolish choices. Their children suffered due to their parents’ unfaithfulness (cf. Num. 14:33). Imagine how each person felt while they were wandering through the desolate wilderness.
For a moment, try to look at this from God’s perspective. I rescued you from the Egyptians, you were protected day and night, and you will inherit a land flowing with milk and honey. You have barely set foot out of Egypt, and you’re complaining that life is too rough on the journey toward the promised land. If life is too difficult now, then how will you be able to conquer Canaan? How will you be able to accept the laws that I have prepared for you? Why haven’t the signs and deliverance been sufficient to prove that you can depend on Me to keep My promises?
The Israelites raised their first complaint shortly after the Lord parted the Red Sea. For three days, the people had gone without water, and the mind and body can't function when it's not hydrated. It can be easy to ask; "Well, why didn't they pray to the Lord or petition Moses to intercede on their behalf?" We have the advantage of knowing how the people needed to respond, but would we have acted any different? Fortunately, the Lord heard the cries of Moses and provided for the people (Ex. 15:22ff).
In the following chapter (16:1ff), the Israelites found themselves in the wilderness of Sin. What an appropriate name! Once again, they complained to Moses, showing their lack of faith in God to provide sustenance for the journey. The Lord heard their bellyaching. He further displayed His power in giving them heavenly food (manna) and quail.
A little later in Israel’s journey, before receiving God’s Law, they made this ironic statement, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” (Ex. 19:8) It is hard not to laugh at this statement! They reiterated this exact statement after receiving the LORD’s commandments (Ex. 24:3). As soon as those words came out of their mouths, they had Aaron fashion a golden calf to be their god (Ex. 32:1ff). The intercession of Moses propitiated God’s wrath (vv. 11ff).
Even the righteous occasionally fail. Whether Moses was frustrated, didn’t pay attention, or for some other reason, he made a mistake that cost him. Having people scream in your ears and constantly complain doesn’t give anyone an excuse to disobey God. Some may say that Moses didn’t do anything horrible. God explains to Moses and to us the severity of this one disobedient act. He said, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them” (Num. 20:12). Before his death, Moses pleaded with the Lord to allow him to cross over and enter the promised land (cf. Deut. 3:23ff). However, the Lord told Moses that he would not enter due to his disobedience in that one single moment. God was still gracious enough to allow Moses to view the land (Deut. 3:27, 34:1ff; cf. Num. 27:12). This example helps us to understand the importance of always making sure we are doing what glorifies God.
There is no doubt that Moses felt disappointed for having come so far but falling just short of his desired earthly destination. Nevertheless, the Lord led His beloved servant into the true promised land. Let’s learn from Moses’ and Israel’s example and not fall short of entering into the eternal promised land.
