Today’s blog is about the possibility of forfeiting, giving up, or missing out on promises God makes to us in the Bible. Forfeiting means losing or surrendering something for failing to fulfill our obligations or responsibilities. This idea of forfeiting can have broad application to our lives. We can lose our health, marriage, friendships, possessions, or a job by making bad choices or simply ignoring our responsibilities in those situations. You may have lost something important to you because someone else decided to renege on a responsibility. Our choices affect us, as well as those close to us.
Our relationship with God has two sides: His and ours. We have seen this reality play out throughout God’s interaction with the Israelites. God chose Abraham to father a nation that would bring His love and salvation to the entire world. He promised to provide all they needed in return for their loyalty and worship of Him as the One True God. Unfortunately, this relationship was often a very one-sided one, with God always keeping His promises, but the Israelites showing themselves untrustworthy.
Today’s blog focuses on one of the most tragic mistakes in the history of the Israelites, a sin that caused them to forfeit the Promised Land. Take a moment to review what led up to this great failure to secure God’s promise. https://www.cosdavis.com/gods-part-and-our-part/.
How the Israelites forfeited the Promised Land
Now, in Numbers, chapter 14, we resume the tragic story of how the Israelites dealt with their disappointment. Numbers 14:1 tells us that they cried all night. That’s understandable. But, they allowed their disappointment to turn to bitterness and turned against Moses and Aaron with a familiar complaint, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Numbers 14:2.
That’s interesting, they wished they could have died somewhere along the way, but didn’t have the faith and courage to risk their lives to take the land God had promised. Their complaint was just empty words. Some folks are really good at complaining and assigning blame to others, but don’t have the faith or courage to get involved in fixing the problem.
In Numbers 14:3, we see what’s at the root of the problem. After all the Lord had done to help them and provide for them, they blamed Him and slandered His character. “And why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” Think back at how they have disobeyed and spurned God. If God had wanted to kill them, He could have done so many times, but had shown mercy to them. He loved them, but they rejected Him and His wonderful plan for them.
What does it take for us to forfeit God’s promises?
The Israelites did not trust God despite all He had done for them. Numbers 14:4 tells us that they started cooking up a plan to go back into slavery, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.” Who came up with that brilliant idea?
These people were so demented that when Joshua and Caleb tried to convince them to have faith in God’s plan, they were ready to stone them, but God intervened and stopped them. Numbers 14:6-10. Simply put, they gave up all that awaited them in the Promised Land because of their lack of faith in God.
There is a condition we must meet to benefit from God’s promises. Scripture is abundantly clear about what that condition is: faith or trust in God that obeys God’s direction. James refers to faith in God as more than mental assent, but as acting on God’s direction: “I will show you my faith by my works…faith without works is useless.” James 2:18, 19.
Hebrews 11 provides multiple illustrations of how Abraham and others showed their faith in God and received His blessing upon their lives. How did they become so fortunate? In the same way, we can be blessed by God: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.
What did the rebellious Israelites lose because of their distrust in God?
As we have seen in God’s work with the Israelites, God is merciful and patient, but rejection of God has severe consequences. Listen to the anguished heart of God as He speaks to Moses in Numbers 14:11. “How long will this people spurn me? And how long will they not believe in me, despite all the signs I have performed in their midst?”
After Moses pleads again for the Israelites (Numbers 14:12-21), God declares that the unfaithful Israelites have forfeited the Promised Land. What they were to receive through the promise God had made to their father, Abraham, they had lost. In the critical moment of decision, they gave in to fear and faithlessness and wandered forty years in the wilderness, died there, and never realized God’s promise and plan for them.
The faithful spies Joshua and Caleb would receive the promise, but “Surely all the men who have seen my glory and my signs, which I have performed in the wilderness, yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not listened to my voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned me see it.” Numbers 14:22-23.
Conclusion
You will receive God’s blessing on your life by trusting Him and acting faithfully. On the other hand, you can forfeit the benefits of His promises by acting like the prideful, stubborn Israelites in this story. It’s your choice. I hope you will make the faithful one.