When Moses reported the Lord’s words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief. 40 Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. “Let’s go,” they said. “We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the Lord has promised us.” Numbers 14:39-40 (NLT)
Again the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron and let's be honest, against God. God's answer was that they would not enter the Promised Land. And, he told Moses this. Moses shared it with the people and they decided to go anyway.
EXCUSE ME? God tells you not to do something and you are going to do it anyway? Don't you know who you are dealing with? God is well, GOD! He controls everything. He knows the end from the beginning. He is present in everything. He is all-powerful. He has a plan and the plan always works out the way he wants. And you, Israelites, decide to go it on your own? What is wrong with you?
Wait. What? Do I ever do this same thing? Do I ever read my Bible and ignore the parts I don't want to deal with? Do I ever feel convicted about something and tell God I'll do that later? Do I ever do something that I know God doesn't want me to do because.....well.....because I want to?
Well, if you put it that way....yes, yes I do. I may have been one of the Israelites standing on top of the hill about to go into the Promised Land without God. What about you?