4 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Deuteronomy 1:2-3 (CSB): “It is an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea by way of Mount Seir. In the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first of the month, Moses told the Israelites everything the LORD had commanded him to say to them.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
I once worked with someone who had the gift of giving “the jab.” What I mean is that he had the ability, when he wanted to get back at someone, to ever-so-subtly say or do something that really got under that person’s skin. Then, when he was confronted about what he had done, he would typically respond with, “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Deuteronomy 1:2-3 feels like a jab. While I know that God’s Holy Spirit was the one who led Moses to write this biblical book, I also know that Moses frequently expressed his anger and exasperation at leading the people of Israel. So, it seems that Moses gave them a subtle jab as they stood on the banks of the Jordan River.
Deuteronomy 1:2-3 (CSB): “It is an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea by way of Mount Seir. In the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first of the month, Moses told the Israelites everything the LORD had commanded him to say to them.”
I think he gave a jab instead of saying what he really wanted to say. It seems that he recounted one of the things that exasperated him in a way that wasn’t overtly rude or confrontational.
So, if we could read between the lines in Deuteronomy 1:2-3 and listen to Moses say what He really wanted to say, what might we hear?
“IT TOOK US 40 YEARS TO TAKE AN 11 DAY TRIP! WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU GUYS?! INSTEAD OF TAKING A WEEK AND A HALF, IT TOOK US FOUR DECADES! WHAT A WASTE OF TIME!”
Why did it take them 40 years instead of a mere week and a half to get to the edge of the Promised Land?
Answer: Kadesh-Barnea!
It was at Kadesh-Barnea that Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land to check it out. When those spies came back to report, 10 of them discouraged the people of Israel. Because of their lack of faith, God determined that they would wander in the wilderness until that generation died and another came behind them. (See Numbers 13-14)
Big Idea: If you don’t want to waste your life, be determined to live a life of faith. And, as the old hymn says, ask God for “grace to trust Him more.”
God can’t stand it when we don’t trust Him. The Bible is clear that without faith (trusting in Him), it is absolutely impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).
So, seek to trust the Lord. He’s worthy of it, my friend.
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to point out any areas of your life where you are not trusting Him. Is there some area where you are afraid to trust Him?
- Ask God for the grace to trust Him more.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into why God made the Israelites wander in the wilderness for 40 years, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“Why was Israel cursed with forty years of wilderness wandering?”
Sharing
If this post has been helpful to you or if you think it could help others, please consider tapping one of the social media buttons below to share it on your favorite platform.
____________________
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)
Matt’s Musings 