God Disciplines Those He Loves

Discipline. Not something we think of fondly. However, if we are honest with ourselves, it is good for us. God's discipline is for our good and His glory. He is refining and growing us to be what we were meant to be. In Numbers 14, God honors Moses’ intercession for Israel when they refuse to take the Promised Land. He forgives the Israelites.  But there are still consequences to Israel’s sin. God will destroy them, but not all at that moment.  The faithless people who saw all God did in Egypt yet refused to trust Him will die in the desert.  So many Israelites did not trust God to bring them into the land He promised them. They will never enter God’s promise.  In fact, they will wander in the desert one year for every day they explored the land.  They have brought a 40-year death march upon the very children they were so concerned about.  It would have been better for these men to die an honorable death in battle with the “Giants” they saw than to die wandering about in the desert, especially since so many others had to suffer as well. 

Deuteronomy 8 says that the Lord led them in the desert to humble and test them. He was cultivating the next generation. God wanted to know what was in the Israelites’ hearts and whether they would obey Him. He humbled them also by causing them to hunger then feeding them manna so they would learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Further, God goes on to say that their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell even though they were on the move for 40 years. Have you ever undergone God’s discipline?  The passage from Deuteronomy ends with saying that God disciplines them like sons. The Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in (Proverbs 3:12).  

Part of my testimony includes being arrested.  During that time in my life, I was saved but still living in some of my old ways.  When I was released from a horrible night of handcuffs, fingerprinting and other humiliations, I came home and got on my knees and thanked God for not giving up on me.  I still fell into my old sin from time to time after that night, believe it or not, but God was treating me like a daughter and with His help I grew to turn from those ways.  I shudder at the memory of that time in my life.  I did not realize that I was in the desert but looking back I can see how God helped me through such a terrible time.  His discipline showed me the error of my ways. 

GRAVE CONSEQUENCES 

So, Israel is not eradicated for their rebellion, but there are consequences to their sin.  Someone today may sin by sleeping with their girlfriend or boyfriend and then repent.  If their repentance is genuine, God forgives.  But the girl may still become pregnant as a result of the sin.  Or we may inappropriately react to another in anger then ask for forgiveness.  The other person forgives, but it will take time to win back their trust.  If we take our feelings to the Lord and pray before reacting, we can save ourselves a lot of grief and heartache as a result of sinful responses.  Can you think of a time that you prayed for God to help you and as a result, you had a godlier response in a normally tempting situation? It happens to me all the time, though there are times I don't stop and pray first and say or do something I regret. Thank God for his mercy and grace!

God makes another statement when passing judgment on faithless Israel that bears scrutiny.  In Numbers 14:23, God says, “No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.” God is speaking of the Promised Land.  However, this can apply to heaven.  “Disbelief of a promise is forfeiture of the benefit of it” (Matthew Henry).  Those who do not believe will not enjoy God’s rest.  God wants to give us rest.  If we struggle with God, we are choosing to delay this rest.  God says if we come to Him, He will give us rest (Matthew 11:29-30).

Our society is very busy.  Many are harried and hassled, running from one thing to another.  God has rest for our souls.  Jesus says that “only one thing is needed” (Luke 10:42).  We can choose what is better like Mary does in Luke 10, or we can run around after status, possessions and grace.  We do not have to try to earn grace, Jesus paid the price for our redemption.  We need only believe and trust.  My friend, what can you give up today that will slow your pace and give you time to enjoy the rest God has for you and to notice others around you who need to enter in to God’s rest? 

CALEB 

God honors Caleb in His pronouncement of judgment on the Israelites.  Caleb followed the Lord wholeheartedly.  He had a different spirit.  Have you met someone like Caleb?  Do you know someone with a different spirit?  They usually shine in dark places.  They even stand out among other believers.  What is it they have?  Wholehearted devotion to God makes them appealing to most everyone.  They are beloved everywhere they are known, even as they are strong in their convictions.  They are joyful and always look at the positive.  We should all be like Caleb.  Pray to God to give you that different spirit and wholehearted devotion to Him.  Choose to look at the positive and trust God and you will be on your way to becoming like Caleb. 

It is likely that Caleb tried to talk sense into the ten spies on the way home.  I am sure that he talked to the Lord a lot on the exploration journey.  Does that mean God doesn’t listen?  No, God allows the ten to have free will to choose to follow Him or not.  He will not make men into robots to do His will.  It is unfortunate, even unfathomable, that they would choose this negative view of God’s provision; however, there has been rebellion in the camp since they left Egypt. 

Because they rejected His Promised Land, God is giving them a new travel route, starting tomorrow.  They are going to return the way they had come to begin their wanderings.  The Lord tells Moses and Aaron the sentence and has them tell the people what He has decreed.  God said, “I will do to you the very things I heard you say…” God is giving them a punishment to fit the crime.  God had sworn to give them the land, but they grumbled against Him and did not believe His word.  None of them will enter the promised land, except Joshua and Caleb.  God continues in His judgment, “As for your children that you said would be taken for plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.” (verse 31) 

As God is bringing this judgment on the Israelites and they hear His words, they are starting to realize that their thoughts made no sense.  Unbelief rarely looks rational when exposed to the Truth.  God uses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise. (I Corinthians 1:27) What God calls us to do often doesn’t make sense without faith.  But if we step out in faith, our lives testify to God’s calling, provision and guidance.  The Israelites had the opportunity to have a very successful, triumphant campaign conquering the Promised Land against all odds because of God fighting for them and with them.  They surrendered that blessing through unbelief.  They will experience the discipline of God over the next 40 years.