By Christopher Dryden and Shirley Rosemarie Evans
39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? 42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. 43 For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.
Numbers 14:39-45 (ESV)
“How many times have I told you to tidy the bedroom? Now you go to your bed, and there’s no treats for you this evening.” “Ahhhhhhh Mum, come on, oh please! I’ll tidy it up … look I’m doing it now! Mummy, please.” “No! I said no. No treat for you and you can stay in your bedroom – without your gadgets as well.” “Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Mum.”
This generation of Israel really were living up to their title as the children of Israel. They told God they couldn’t take the land because the people were too big for them. They rebelled against God and wanted to go back. Then as soon as God got involved and told them that they would miss out, now there was no giant too big for them. “We’re ready! We got this! It’s alright, God. We can handle them. We don’t even need you. And who’s this God anyway – let’s go get it.”
It’s presumptuous and it is pathetic … and it is behaviour that tragically is not just the preserve of children and the people of Israel. How often have we presumed that we can make it up to God as though our righteousness can make the difference? As if we can escape the necessary discipline for our misdeeds? It should cause us to reflect deeply as we see the people of Israel ignore the very God that they had neglected previously that had left them in this condition. Are we really taking God at His Word and acknowledging His judgements and His will to conform us to His image – or would we rather have a god in our making, doing things on our own timetable?
Even though they were told not to go and God wouldn’t go with them, they still decided to go anyway – if that’s not the height of presumption … Sure enough they were given a sound hiding and returned with their tail between their legs. This episode should highlight their desperate need for God – to learn faithfulness by obedience.
This episode should teach us about how if God isn’t in it, there’s no point in looking to ‘help God out’ or take matters into your own hands. The loving heavenly Father sees the need to discipline us and it’s for us to yield to the discipline – to learn, to submit and to place total trust in the one who calls us and has promised great things to those who keep the faith.
Keep the faith and ensure that you take your medicine and don’t think you’ll change the parents’ mind by starting to tidy up the room now.
Ask – Why would the children of Israel risk going into the land without God’s presence or permission?
Seek – Where in our lives can we say we are presumptuous – where we act without asking?
Knock – Offer up to the Lord a prayer for forgiveness and the acts of repentance you will take to ensure that you endeavour to keep the faith and remain obedient.
(Upper Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Mark McGregor on Unsplash)
