Numbers 14:39-45
Whenever we resolve to do something, we give it everything that we have. Time and the cares of this life can often chip away at that resolve, causing us to fall back into the trap that we have promised ourselves time and again that we would avoid. The height of our resolve is commonly found just after our most recent failure. Like an alcoholic pledging to never drink again after a night of binging, we often put forth our best effort when our worst results are showing forth.
The children of Israel sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan to ascertain whether or not the nation was strong enough to conquer the land. For forty days the spies wandered before bringing back a mixed report. Two of the spies felt that the land held promising potential, with fruit more ripe and plentiful than they had ever seen. The other 10 spies looked beyond the potential rewards and saw a race of men so big that they themselves felt like grasshoppers in their presence (Numbers 13:33). The nation sided with the 10 spies and their evil report, going so far as to threaten to stone the other two.
God spoke to Moses and Aaron and told them that for every day the spies had spent in Canaan, the entire nation would spend a year wandering in the wilderness, until every one of them over the age of 20, save for the two spies Caleb and Joshua, were dead. When Moses shared this news with the congregation of Israel, “the people mourned greatly” (Numbers 14:39).
Early the next morning, the people awoke with great resolve. In spite of the fact that God told them what was going to happen to them for the next 40 years, Israel is now ready to take the land. Moses warns them that this will not work “for the LORD is not among you” (14:42). However they presume that they are able to do it on their own power, going up even without the Ark of the Covenant (verse 44).
The end result was, of course, absolute failure. The children of Israel were beaten by both the Amalekites and the Canaanites, starting years of discord between these nations. We know why they had resolve; they were embarrassed and frustrated, but why isn’t resolve enough?
When you walk with the Lord, there are going to be failures and they will always be on your part, never on His. Your instinct will be to pour yourself into effort and works to try and avoid a repeat of this failure on your part. You may amp up your prayer life or study the Bible more. You may attend church more often or put even larger amounts in the offering. While all of these are fine within themselves, if they are being done to achieve righteousness or right standing with God, then they are all in vain. You are already in right standing with God because of the finished work of Jesus at the cross.
How you deal with things after you fall into failure is as important as never falling again, and they are actually one in the same. Allow Christ to bring out His righteousness in you, and when you fail, simply get up, dust yourself off and move on in Jesus. Satan may tell you that you failed because you are not consecrated enough, but simply remind him that you did not receive salvation because you were good enough, but because Jesus is good enough. Go on today in victory because Christ was cursed so that you can be blessed (Galatians 3:13).
Whenever we resolve to do something, we give it everything that we have. Time and the cares of this life can often chip away at that resolve, causing us to fall back into the trap that we have promised ourselves time and again that we would avoid. The height of our resolve is commonly found just after our most recent failure. Like an alcoholic pledging to never drink again after a night of binging, we often put forth our best effort when our worst results are showing forth.
The children of Israel sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan to ascertain whether or not the nation was strong enough to conquer the land. For forty days the spies wandered before bringing back a mixed report. Two of the spies felt that the land held promising potential, with fruit more ripe and plentiful than they had ever seen. The other 10 spies looked beyond the potential rewards and saw a race of men so big that they themselves felt like grasshoppers in their presence (Numbers 13:33). The nation sided with the 10 spies and their evil report, going so far as to threaten to stone the other two.
God spoke to Moses and Aaron and told them that for every day the spies had spent in Canaan, the entire nation would spend a year wandering in the wilderness, until every one of them over the age of 20, save for the two spies Caleb and Joshua, were dead. When Moses shared this news with the congregation of Israel, “the people mourned greatly” (Numbers 14:39).
Early the next morning, the people awoke with great resolve. In spite of the fact that God told them what was going to happen to them for the next 40 years, Israel is now ready to take the land. Moses warns them that this will not work “for the LORD is not among you” (14:42). However they presume that they are able to do it on their own power, going up even without the Ark of the Covenant (verse 44).
The end result was, of course, absolute failure. The children of Israel were beaten by both the Amalekites and the Canaanites, starting years of discord between these nations. We know why they had resolve; they were embarrassed and frustrated, but why isn’t resolve enough?
When you walk with the Lord, there are going to be failures and they will always be on your part, never on His. Your instinct will be to pour yourself into effort and works to try and avoid a repeat of this failure on your part. You may amp up your prayer life or study the Bible more. You may attend church more often or put even larger amounts in the offering. While all of these are fine within themselves, if they are being done to achieve righteousness or right standing with God, then they are all in vain. You are already in right standing with God because of the finished work of Jesus at the cross.
How you deal with things after you fall into failure is as important as never falling again, and they are actually one in the same. Allow Christ to bring out His righteousness in you, and when you fail, simply get up, dust yourself off and move on in Jesus. Satan may tell you that you failed because you are not consecrated enough, but simply remind him that you did not receive salvation because you were good enough, but because Jesus is good enough. Go on today in victory because Christ was cursed so that you can be blessed (Galatians 3:13).
