The Israelites were practically at the edge of the Promised Land, but they wouldn’t step in because they were scared. They changed their minds when they heard the other option. “God wanted us to do it before, so won’t he bless us if we do it now?” They wanted to avoid the repercussions of their sins by finally obeying, but it was too late. They had previously protested, whined, and not done what they were told.
Even though they were ready, the cloud did not lead them. They chose to leave without Moses, the Ark of the Covenant, or God. They lost badly.
The will of God changes depending on the time and place. God wanted them to go in when they first heard the news. It was no longer God’s will when they reacted to the report. They had to face the results of what they did. You can’t go back in time and fix things. You have to deal with the consequences. If you ever decide to travel back to avoid the repercussions,
God won’t be there for you. Ask God for help to deal with the consequences of your sin. God will be with you when you confront them if you are sorry for what you’ve done. The Jews didn’t do what they were supposed to, so the next best thing was to do what God said from then on and not try to modify things. When you get the first instruction, do what it says right away. It is a hard lesson with big consequences. Learn to do what you’re told the first time. Understand that following God’s commands is the greatest thing for you.
Prayer: Lord, help me understand that your way is better. Please help me listen to you and not let fear win.
