One Chance

As I've been reading through the Bible looking for the characteristics of God, some other things are standing out to me as well. The book of Deuteronomy contains the last words Moses spoke to the people of Israel before he died and Joshua led the people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

In Deuteronomy 1 Moses begins by reminding Israel about the last forty years since they left Egypt, and in this account we see something we should take to heart. Sometimes we only get on chance. So often we wait or put things off, but what if we are missing the only chance we get?

In verses 20-21 it says, "I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites which the Lord our God is about to give us. See, the Lord your God has placed the land before you; go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'" God had made a promise to Abraham hundreds of years earlier that His descendants would take possession of the land. God had lead them out of Egypt, and brought them to the edge of the Promised Land, and then He said "Go take it, it's yours." God said go, after everything they had seen Him do to Egypt and the lessons they had learned in the desert you'd think they might have been inclined to trust Him.

But verse 22 says, "Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter.'" Rather than just going on what God said the people want to check out the land first. They want to know what they are getting into. God said go, and they should have just started marching, continuing to follow Him, but instead they said, "Hold up a minute, let's scout this out first."

Verse 23 tells us that Moses was pleased by this request, and so he sent twelve men, one from each tribe, to spy out the land. They bring back a good report, that the land is all the God said it would be. But they also bring back a warning, that the land is full of giants who live in strong fortified cities (Numbers 13). The people refuse to trust God, they refuse to obey Him, and instead the rebel against Him.

Because of this God is angry, and He says that those who refused to trust Him would not enter into the land of promise. Because they failed to trust God they missed out on the blessing. Because they wanted to know everything that was waiting for them they were overwhelmed and refused to move. God doesn't show us everything ahead of time, because if He did, then we wouldn't move, just like Israel didn't. Once they knew the dangers that were waiting for them, their faith in God was shaken. Because they wanted to know, the ended up missing out on the blessing.

But we see something about human nature here, once the promise has been taken away we are ready to fully trust. When we are about to miss out on something good, we're ready to jump in with both feet. But most of the time at that point it's too late. Deuteronomy 1.41-45, "Then you said to me, ‘We have sinned against the Lord; we will indeed go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ And every man of you girded on his weapons of war, and regarded it as easy to go up into the hill country. And the Lord said to me, ‘Say to them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; otherwise you will be defeated before your enemies.”’ So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. Instead you rebelled against the command of the Lord, and acted presumptuously and went up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do, and crushed you from Seir to Hormah. Then you returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord did not listen to your voice nor give ear to you."

Sometimes we only get one chance. I think for Israel this was the final straw. God had put up with so much from them, had brought them through so much, and now on the edge of the promises fulfillment they fail to trust and obey Him. It costs them everything. We need to learn from this story.

When God says "go", we need to move. He doesn't show us all the detail and hardships because if He did we, like Israel, wouldn't go. Salvation is like this, we only get this life for it. Once we see the result of not receiving it, it is too late. Just as Israel didn't trust until after God told them the punishment, many will refuse to believe until it's too late. Israel decided to trust after God passed judgment on them, but then it was too late.

God has given us this life to find Him, trust Him, and be saved by Him. He hasn't made Himself hard to find. Romans 1.20 says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." All of creation points to God. God alone has the power to create, and as the creator of the Universe, everything points back to Him. Yes, things are messed up and not used as God intended. Sin has entered the world through disobedience to God. Satan now takes God's good creation and twists it, corrupts it, and abuses it. But God is still in control and God is still seen in His creation.

God sent His Son to save the world and to redeem it. If we accept His forgiveness, then we will receive His blessing of the Promised Land. But we only have this one life to do it. Trust God while you can, because one day it will be too late. The Bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2.10-11). One day all will acknowledge Him with the honor and glory that He must be given. But at that point it will be too late to trust Him. Don't demand all of the details from God, because He won't give them, knowing that if He did we would never take the first step. When God says move, move. We only get one chance, take it.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you