February 20th

February 20th -- Numbers 14:5-45 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2014:5-45&version=NLT)

The people rebel and Moses intercedes for them, but God still punishes them.

Aaron and Moses try pleading with the people, which leads Caleb and Joshua to also plead. They explain it's a great land and God has promised it to them, so they need to not doubt the Lord! This doesn't do anything, though. so God's presence comes down to the Tabernacle. He says that for their contempt He will destroy them.

Moses objects, reminding God that if He destroys them, the natios will doubt Him, saying He did it because He could not deliver them like He promised. Moses pleads for God to instead show them that He is as powerful as He says and forgive the people and lead them out of this wilderness. God agrees, but He also says not any one of the people currently here will enter that land, because they doubt still. Caleb, He says, for having a different attitude, will be the only one to enter that land.

Then God punishes the Israelites, saying none of them will enter the Holy Land. He also says that because they wandered for forty days in the land they were promised, they will wander for forty years in the wilderness. The ten men who had explored and incited the rebellion after were struck dead with a plague. The people then go up and try and apologize, saying they are ready to enter the land now. Moses warns them not to try, as God has said they cannot, now, for forty years. They do anyways and are chased a long way away to Hormah.

So, well, really, I don't know what to say for this....
On second thought, here's one thought:
God may forgive us for our sins, or somethign we did wrong, but He may still also punish us for it. He needs us to learn, and the only way we seem to do that is punishment. If He just forgave us every time with no consequence, we'd really have no reason to stop sinning. So, don't think "oh, no, I'm safe, because God forgave me." but instead remember God will still punish you. He's not just gonna' give up teaching you a lesson - the faster you learn it, the sooner it's over with!

That's all! God bless!