Confessing your Sin

This morning I read about how the Israelites reacted to the report the spies gave about the promised land. All but two spies gave a bad report that struck the Israelites with fear and doubt. Instead of trusting that God would bring about what He promised they turned their eyes off of Him and grumbled. In Numbers 15 the Lord's anger was against them and after Moses' pleas He decided to allow them to live but not allow them to enter the promised land. Only Caleb and Joshua and the younger generation would be allowed to enter and take possession of it. Those who grumbled were to wander the wilderness for 40 years until they all died off.

At this point the Israelites realized they made a big mistake and took matters into their own hands. Numbers 15:39-45 tells of how they decided to take over the promised land on their own. Vs. 39-40 says, "When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people morned greatly. In the morning, however, they rose up early and went up to the ridge of the hill country, saying, "Here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the lord has promised." In the end, the listened neither to God's commands nor Moses' pleas to not do this because God was not with them and they wouldn't succeed. Vs. 43 says, "For the Amalekites and the Canannites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the Lord. And the Lord will not be with you." By the end of the chapter we read that they were cut down and their mission was unsuccessful.

This chapter reminds me of how we reap what we sow. It says in Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." Our sins will be forgiven if we confess them before the Lord, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9. We will be forgiven but that may not change the course of your sinful actions. Do not allow your circumstances to cloud your eyesight but continue to keep your eyes on Jesus and His promises to take care of you. Do not be like the Israelites who decided to forge ahead without the Lord going before them and suffered because of it.

Krista Jones
2.17.08