Have you ever wondered why the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after leaving Egypt? The trip could have taken only a few days.
The problem was unbelief.
In Numbers 13-14 the Bible tells us of the spies who went to the land the children of Israel were to possess. Ten came back with a fearful tale of giants who couldn’t be conquered. Two encouraged the people to trust in the Lord and take their God given possession.
We know the names of the two “good guys”–Caleb and Joshua. But do you know who the others were?
Their names would be forgotten to us today, except for the listing in Numbers 13:1-16.
God did not take kindly to the unbelief that sprouted and flourished because of these ten spies. The children of Israel who were age 20 and over would all die in the wilderness during their 40 year wanderings. Their children–the next generation–would survive and go into the land of promise.
That’s harsh! God means business. Don’t doubt it.
As for the ten spies who bred fear and doubt, Numbers 14:36-38 tells us,
36. And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
37. Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.
38. But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.
God knows who brings reproach to His name and is a stumbling block to His people. And He will deal with them accordingly.
God knows who you and I are, too. That’s true whether you’re one of His by faith in Christ or whether you’re among those who don’t believe and are condemned to eternal death.
Revelation 20:11-15 records what is known as the Great White Throne judgment. Notice what verses 12 and 15 say about the books of names God keeps.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works…
15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
How wonderful to have one’s name written in the book of life and not in the other books.
Where is your name recorded? Make sure you won’t be named among the unbelievers.