the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 1 of 5
Deuteronomy 1:19-28
From Horeb, the departure point, Israel heads towards Canaan, through the "great and terrible wilderness." And once again the dismal scene of Kadesh-barnea is before our eyes. We learn here that it was at the request of the people that the men were sent to explore the land (v. 22), something which Numbers 13 does not make clear. The root of the trouble lay there, in the lack of confidence in the LORD. They felt the need to make sure for themselves. And when we walk in such a way, "by sight" and not "by faith", the enemy is keen to place seemingly unsurmountable obstacles before us to make us retreat (v. 28).
As a result of their unbelief the whole of that generation died in the wilderness, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. The epistle to the Hebrews uses this solemn example to warn all those who, even today, harden their hearts when they hear the Word of God. That Word is of no use when it is not "mixed with faith" (Hebrews 4:2).
"Because the LORD hated us" (v. 27) the wretched people moaned. What is the saddest feature of unbelief? It is the fact that it is capable of casting doubt on a love which has nevertheless proved itself, the love of a God who did not spare His own Son from the cross (Romans 8:31-32).
