Reflection: 40 days and 40 years

Rescued and sustained only by the powerful hand of their God, here they are! Almost smelling the roses of the promised land. Moses is salivating as he sends 12 spies to dip their toes in the water:  to check out the people, the towns and their fortifications, the timber, the soil, the vegetation…and, it’s autumn, so, “Bring back some grapes”!

Forty days later ten spies return with science-fiction reports that frighten the proverbial socks off the people (see Numbers 14:37).

“God’s just out to get us! If only we’d died back in the wilderness!” the people moan.

“Let’s get a new leader and head back to Egypt.”

 For all they’re worth, the other two spies, Caleb and Joshua, simply cannot convince the people to trust that God’s ultimately their leader and his plans are trustworthy.

Wilderness? You wish you’d died in the wilderness? Again, God gives them what they want.

“Your reward is your punishment. Your bodies will wither in this wilderness. For 40 years your children will be shepherds in the wilderness. They’ll suffer for your unfaithfulness in the wilderness…until the last of your bodies lie dead in the wilderness.” (Numbers 14:32-33, my paraphrase)

But…there’s still hope to this tragic tale that cost a generation. In fact, it’s here that the drama distils to its essence: God keeps his promise. Your children will inherit the land.

Prayer:

Human unfaithfulness does not annul your faithfulness, God. You are always, always true and trustworthy. Amen. Amen!