March 3, 2025 - Consequences

NUMBERS 14:1-15:41

Chronological Bible Readings

Numbers 14:20 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 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—23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

Numbers 14:26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29 In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Moses interceded for the people and God heard and forgave, saving them from a plague that would destroy them. God heard Moses and forgave them but that does not mean that there were not still going to be consequences. Just like Jesus saved us from our sin and death but that doesn't mean we don't have consequences for our sins.

Numbers 14:33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’

Sometimes we suffer because of the sins of other people. Just like everyone who will be allowed into the promised land still had to wait 40 years and wander in the wilderness along with those who would not get to enter it. Thanks to Jesus we will enter the promised land someday but until then we live in a land that is full of people who have rebelled against God. We still have the struggle with our sin nature that will cause us to stumble, and there will be consequences. But we can hold onto the hope of the promise that we will one day enter the promised land and be freed from all sin and suffering.