Here is the follow up to Deuteronomy 1.19-25. The first part can be found by clicking here. This post focuses on Deuteronomy 1.26-36.
Complaining, Rebellion, and Fear
But then you weren't willing to go up. You rebelled against God, your God's plain word. You complained in your tents: "God hates us...'The people are bigger and stronger than we are; their cities are huge, their defenses massive—we even saw Anakite giants there!'" (From Deuteronomy 1.26-28 MSG, emphasis added).
I wonder how many times God hears us say, "God, where are you?" It would be great if we had the audio files of God. I believe sometimes He is saying, "Why are you rebelling against me?...Why are you complaining?... Where is your fear coming from?" We must hold ourselves accountable if we want to enter the Promise Land. God is waiting on us to Trust Him.
God, your God, is leading the way
I tried to relieve your fears: "Don't be terrified of them. God, your God, is leading the way; he's fighting for you. You saw with your own eyes what he did for you in Egypt; you saw what he did in the wilderness, how God, your God, carried you as a father carries his child, carried you the whole way until you arrived here. But now that you're here, you won't trust God, your God—this same God who goes ahead of you in your travels to scout out a place to pitch camp, a fire by night and a cloud by day to show you the way to go." (Deuteronomy 1.29-33 MSG, emphasis added)
Need I say more? Remember what God has done for you in the past. Give thanks to Him. Trust Him to lead you into your future!
Following God Heart and Soul
When God heard what you said, he exploded in anger. He swore, "Not a single person of this evil generation is going to get so much as a look at the good land that I promised to give to your parents. Not one—except for Caleb son of Jephunneh. He'll see it. I'll give him and his descendants the land he walked on because he was all for following God, heart and soul." (Deuteronomy 1.34-36 MSG, emphasis added)
I don't know about you, but the last thing I want is for God to explode in anger because of what I say. God gives us life, He expects us to live for His Glory. I want to follow Him with Heart and Soul straight into The Promise Land!
Promise Land Pearls
1. Big or small? Is God bigger than your 'Anakites?' Focus on God, not your challenges.
2. Praise & Thanksgiving. Praise God and Give Him Thanks instead of complaining.
3. Trust & Obey. Take your energy that you put into rebelling against God and use it to Trust Him and to Obey Him
4. God Our Warrior. God Fights for us, leads our way. Meditate on how He has delivered you in your past and know that He is fighting for your future!
5. Are you ALL for following God with Heart and Soul?
