Steven A. Bush - July 2, 2023
Consequences of Sin in the Midst of Grace
When the 12 spies sent by Moses to explore the Promised Land returned after their 40 day mission, excitement quickly morphed into despair. While Caleb & Joshua gave good reports of the land, the other 10 spies gave a bad report, an assessment replete with exaggeration, distortion, lies, and disdain for The Promiser. Israel swallowed the bad report and while wailing filled their camps, anger arose in God's heart. God was ready to wipe out this unbelieving people and start anew with Moses but once again Moses interceded. And though God relented--this time there'd be grave consequences. Those twenty years old and up would die in the wilderness and never step foot in the Promised Land, except for Caleb and Joshua. So what was the extent of God's partial pardon? Though the parents would die in the desert over the course of the next 40 years, their children would eventually take hold of what was promised. But a greater pardon would come 1400 years by Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 3:25-26 in the Living Bible puts it this way: "For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from His wrath. In this way He was being entirely fair, even though He did not punish those who sinned in former times. For He was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins." (TLB) So the ultimate payment and pardoning for sin comes through the blood-bought work of Christ on the cross! That's far better than 40 extra years of desert living! Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Scripture References: Numbers 14:10-45, Jude 1:5, Romans 3:21-26, Hebrews 3:1-15