In Numbers 13 and 14, ten Israelite leaders refused to believe God's promise to give them a land. They incited rebellion, longed for Egypt, and talked of stoning Moses.
They'd seen abundant proof of God's faithfulness, but they refused to trust and obey God.
"How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me?" (14:11)
God is slow to anger, abounding in love, mercy and forgiveness. However, if we stubbornly refuse to do the things He asks, we forfeit blessings (v.18).
The ten faithless leaders died for their unbelief. And the rest of the people still refused to repent. They attempted to take the land without God's help and were soundly defeated.
Using their story of lost promises, Hebrews 3 says: "encourage one another daily...so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (v.13)
Let's not test God's patience. Let's trust and obey and receive every blessing He has for us before "it's too late."
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