Today’s Daily Light:

From the study and meditation of my friend/pastor, David. 

6-5-17           Numbers 14:39-45  Sorry for what?

Num. 14:39    When Moses reported the LORD’s words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief.  40 Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. “Let’s go,” they said. “We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the LORD has promised us.”

41    But Moses said, “Why are you now disobeying the LORD’s orders to return to the wilderness? It won’t work.  42 Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the LORD is not with you.  43 When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The LORD will abandon you because you have abandoned the LORD.” 44   But the people defiantly pushed ahead toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant left the camp.  45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in those hills came down and attacked them and chased them back as far as Hormah.   NLT

Grief and sorrow are not the same as repentance. Israel was terribly grieved to hear the Lord’s declaration that all the men 20 years old and older would die in the wilderness. So, “They got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills.” They were going to solve their problem as soon as possible. They realized and admitted they sinned, and decided they were ready to do what Joshua and Caleb had begged them to do earlier.

But it was too late. Because they had abandoned the Lord, He now abandoned them. The people still refused to believe God. They believed either He would go with them, or they could enter the land without Him. So they pushed ahead trying to enter the land, only to be attacked and defeated by the inhabitants of the land.

Of course they didn’t want to die in the wilderness. They wanted to enter the land. Israel was grieved that they would not enter the land, but they were not grieved over their refusal to trust God. That was shown by the fact they were still making decisions contrary to what God said. They would disobey and go without Him.

Lord, we believe we know what is best for our lives and do not want to submit to anything that keeps us from finding “happiness”.  And we often try to find ways or people who will help us do what you have forbidden. I have talked with many people who are grieved over “getting caught” and their sin made public, but are still not grieved over their sin. I think we are all like that. And perhaps because we have heard so much about Your mercy, we don’t want to believe that it is ever too late for a “do-over” or there should be permanent consequences to our sin.

Help me see the ugliness and arrogance of my sin more than the disappointment about consequences for my sin. Even if I suffer no consequences for sin, help me choose to trust and obey You above having my own way.