“And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.” Deuteronomy 2:14
Moses is speaking to the people of Israel and reminding them of the things that had happened since God brought them out of the land of Egypt. The Lord gave them the opportunity to enter into the land of Canaan at Kadesh-barnea, but they turned back because they were afraid of the people of the land. Their lack of faith made the Lord so angry that He told Moses that none of the men who were old enough to go to war would live to go into the land of Canaan except for Joshua and Caleb. They were the only two men of fighting age who were willing to trust God and do what He had told them to do. The people of Israel spent the next thirty-eight years waiting for those men to die. They never had the opportunity to accomplish anything or build anything of lasting significance. They never owned land or built a home. They sat around in their encampment wasting away their days.
How sad it would be for us to live this way as Christians! A life of disbelief and disobedience is a miserable life for a person who has accepted Christ. The only way to find true fulfillment is to exercise our faith in His Word and to obey the commands that He has given us.
Morning: Deuteronomy 1-3
Evening: Mark 10:32-52