DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LISTENING TO GOD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LISTENING TO GOD

" 'The time we took to come from Kadesh Marnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, just as the LORD had sworn to them.' " (Deuteronomy 2:14).

The name of this book, Deuteronomy, means the second giving of the law. Deuteronomy recalls the Law that God gave at Sinai, and also some of the things that they encountered on their journey. Now they are ready to enter Canaan.

It has been 40 years since Israel was delivered from Egypt and their journey through the wilderness. Sadly, thirty-eight of those years were unnecessary. They could have entered the promised land years ago if they had obeyed God. God used the first two years to prepare them by giving them the commandments of the Law at Mt. Sinai. Because of their unbelief, they went around and around in the wilderness for 38 years.

We would do well to consider again what caused this 38 year journey. After the first two years, they were ready to enter the land that God had promised to Abraham. The account in Numbers chapter 14 contains some telling information.

When the spies came back and gave a report, the people chose to believe the majority report of the 10 rather than the faith report of the two – Joshua and Caleb. Now I believe in a Democratic Republican form of government. But it has its weakness because the majority is not always right. We are advised in Proverbs that "in a multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14; 24:6). But that carries the assumption that the counselors listen to God. When we listen to the crowd that comes from a humanistic worldview, we are on dangerous territory. Listening to the crowd made them wander for 38 years.

Then, after they were aware of their error of not trusting God, they thought they could conquer the enemies in their own ability even when God said "no" (Numbers 14:39-45). They did not have God's commission thought they could do it on their own, and they were soundly defeated.

I am still learning this lesson – to listen to God more than all the voices of the multitude. God's way is best. I can trust Him.

Love, Dad