If you remember, Moses brought the children of Israel to the borders of the Promised Land and sent spies to look out over the land. Eight of the nine spies came back scared spitless and soon made the entire camp afraid to trust God for His promises. They almost stoned Caleb and Joshua for believing God for His promises.
And then the Lord came and told the Israelites to turn back around. He was going to make sure none of the unbelievers would enter His rest in the Promised Land. Moses, Caleb and Joshua, as part of the children of Israel also had to wander along with those who were unbelievers.
But wait a minute! Wasn’t that kind of unfair to make these three wander in the wilderness as well? After all, they believed God and His promises. Why did they have to wander too?
As humans we can’t know all the reasons why God does this or that. Who are we to question God? But if we think about it we can see a partial answer anyway.
I think part of the reason Moses, Caleb and Joshua had to be included in the wilderness wanderings was because we often grow closer to the Lord when we have to go through the difficulties associated with pain and what seems unfair.
From our point of view it seems unfair that Moses, Caleb and Joshua had to walk that terrible forty year road.
It seems unfair that one person’s inattentiveness while driving killed the little three year old in the other car.
It seems unfair that the inattentiveness of the captain caused that oil tanker to run aground, spilling its cargo and contaminating hundreds of miles of delicate shoreline.
It seems unfair that because our government makes poor choices, the poor suffer.
How does that work with vision and believing God for His promise of Ebenezer? I honestly don’t know. What I do know is that no matter how difficult my life gets, what set-backs I might experience, what hardships and pain, I’m going to hold onto the promises God has given me and know that in His timing all will be as He knows best. And what He knows best is what I want.
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes. Wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14.
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenants and obey his demands. Psalm 25:10
What He opens no one can shut and what He shuts no one can open. Revelation 3:7
You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. Proverbs 23:18
I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory. Psalm 118:21.
My heart has heard you say, “Come talk with Me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (NLT)