The children of Israel could not go into the Promised Land until they had been tested and proved. God ordained the wilderness to test and prove His people. They could not inherit the Promised Land without many challenging battles. They could only be won by a people who had learned to keep their eyes on God and to trust Him to give them the victory.
This good land that flowed with milk and honey could only be taken by a people who had learned the right attitudes. They would could not allow pessimism, negativity, grumbling, or complaining to rear their ugly heads. On the contrary, they needed the attitudes of zeal, faith, positive confession, courage, an optimistic spirit, and an obedient and humble heart that waits on God for His counsel and directions.
Joshua and Caleb were the only ones of that entire adult generation that came out of Egypt who made it through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. It was the next generation that went with Joshua and Caleb.
Read 1 Corinthians 10: 1-12:
v. 5-7: But with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now these things were our EXAMPLES, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
ARE YOU PLAYING OR PRAYING?
v. 8-10: “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”
ARE YOU A GRUMBLER? A COMPLAINER? NO MURMURERS GOT INTO THE PROMISED LAND!
WILL THERE BE MURMURERS IN HEAVEN? NO. WE BETTER STOP MURMURING NOW!
PLEASE READ NUMBERS 14:26-38. IT IS FOR OUR WARNING.
v. 11, 12: “Now all these things happened unto them for EXAMPLES: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Hebrews 10:39: “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell