THE LAW OF CONSEQUENCE

 

 The greatest lesson we can learn from ancient Israel is the law of consequence. I see this in their 40 years of wanderings.

After arriving at Mt Sinai in the third month following their departure from Egypt (Exodus 19:1-2), they remained there for a year where they received the Ten Commandments, made a covenant with Jehovah and built the tabernacle. It took just eleven days following their departure from Mt Sinai to arrive to Kadesh-barnea where they were on the verge of the promised land (Deuteronomy 1:2). It was within their grasp but their failure to have faith in obtaining the land (Numbers 13:26-33) resulted in one serious consequence…..so near, yet so far.

After Moses pleaded with Jehovah to spare the congregation from destruction due to their murmuring against Him, the Lord showed mercy and decreed that all men 20 years of age and older, men of war who wouldn’t take possession of the land due to lack of faith, will never enter the promised land but He would allow the next generation to possess it (Numbers 14:26-35). It makes for heart wrenching reading.

 It cost ancient Israel an additional 38 years of wandering to suffer the consequence of disobedience. They did not arrive at the promised land again until all the men 20 years and over who had come out of Egypt had died in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 2:14). One might ask, surely in 38 years the Israelites would have become repentant enough for Jehovah to show mercy…..but the consequences of sin cannot be removed even when forgiveness is granted……primarily for our subsequent learning and growth. Where a consequence has to be suffered, it is unlikely the sin will be repeated. In Israel’s instance, the mercy was given the Israelites when their destruction was averted and another promise made….the mercy was the second chance.

This is the greatest lesson that can be gleaned from this. The Saviour will never go back on His word. When Moses, after 38 years of wanderings, stood on the east of river Jordan and viewed the promised land of Canaan from Pisgah with longing,  he beseeched the Lord to allow him to enter the promised land despite being told he will never get there because of the incident of ‘the rock of Meribah’ (Numbers 20:2-13). The Lord refused and told him to ‘speak no more to Him of this matter’ (Deuteronomy 3:23-26). Once again, consequences have to be suffered, especially for Israelites who had to become a peculiar people.

This, however, is the greatest lesson….the Lord will not go back on His word and this is why. The God of Israel is a God of integrity who does not bend with the wind, is not wishy washy and is not changeable. If He was, we would not know where we stood from one moment to the next. We can therefore be assured that He will never go back on what He has decreed and this is why it is important for us to know this, so that we know with utmost surety that He will never break His covenant with us  (Leviticus 26:44,45; Deuteronomy 4:31).

This is a God we can trust and depend on for the salvation of our souls. A God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. This is a God who will never forsake us, a God of commitment who endured the cross to the end and given us this assurance:  “Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands….”  (Isaiah 49:15,16)

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: My Judgments are Just by B. Laura Wilson)