September 24, 2025
Numbers 14:20-25 (HCSB)
20 The Lord responded, “I have pardoned them as you requested. 21 Yet as surely as I live and as the whole earth is filled with the Lord’s glory, 22 none of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested Me these 10 times and did not obey Me, 23 will ever see the land I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have despised Me will see it. 24 But since My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me completely, I will bring him into the land where he has gone, and his descendants will inherit it. 25 Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the lowlands, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.”
David Bale
Like many of us as we’ve aged, we might have gained a deeper respect for our parents and the way they raised us. As a high school teacher, my mother could be tough at times. She never raised me like I was her friend or buddy--I was her son, and there were times she made sure I knew that. Her favorite statement, when I really misbehaved was: "When we get home, you’re going to regret it” (gulp!). That phrase always terrified me, knowing that consequences for my actions would follow. Looking back, I see how much thought went into her discipline. It wasn’t just about rules; it was about teaching respect, responsibility, and accountability. She always forgave me, but her tough love (i.e. consequences) shaped who I am today, and I’m thankful for it. As we see in today’s reading, after the Israelites rebellion against God and refusal to enter the Promised Land, God offers them forgiveness, but the consequences are costly. Moses pleads on their behalf, and God does forgive their disobedience, yet those who doubted His promise will die in the wilderness, leaving only their children to inherit the land. This passage highlights the balance between forgiveness and consequences. While God pardons their sin, the natural consequences remain. It’s a reminder that, though forgiveness is granted, our choices often carry lasting effects.
20 The Lord responded, “I have pardoned them as you requested. 21 Yet as surely as I live and as the whole earth is filled with the Lord’s glory, 22 none of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested Me these 10 times and did not obey Me, 23 will ever see the land I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have despised Me will see it. 24 But since My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me completely, I will bring him into the land where he has gone, and his descendants will inherit it. 25 Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the lowlands, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.”
David Bale
Like many of us as we’ve aged, we might have gained a deeper respect for our parents and the way they raised us. As a high school teacher, my mother could be tough at times. She never raised me like I was her friend or buddy--I was her son, and there were times she made sure I knew that. Her favorite statement, when I really misbehaved was: "When we get home, you’re going to regret it” (gulp!). That phrase always terrified me, knowing that consequences for my actions would follow. Looking back, I see how much thought went into her discipline. It wasn’t just about rules; it was about teaching respect, responsibility, and accountability. She always forgave me, but her tough love (i.e. consequences) shaped who I am today, and I’m thankful for it. As we see in today’s reading, after the Israelites rebellion against God and refusal to enter the Promised Land, God offers them forgiveness, but the consequences are costly. Moses pleads on their behalf, and God does forgive their disobedience, yet those who doubted His promise will die in the wilderness, leaving only their children to inherit the land. This passage highlights the balance between forgiveness and consequences. While God pardons their sin, the natural consequences remain. It’s a reminder that, though forgiveness is granted, our choices often carry lasting effects.
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