Guiding Scripture: Numbers 14:23 - “They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it.” (NLT)
- We all love to focus on and talk about the excitement of walking in the promises of God---having our prayers answered, our lives changed, and our dreams fulfilled in Him. Many people in the Bible experienced these kinds of extraordinary blessings, which is why we know their stories today. But what about the people who missed the mark? Where did they go wrong? And more importantly, how can we avoid making their mistakes?
- Reason #1: Unforgiveness (Joseph)
- Psalm 105:17 - “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.”
- Genesis 45:5 - “But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.”
- Reason #2: Doubt/Lack of Faith (Zechariah)
- Luke 1:20 - “But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
- Reason #3: Dishonor/Rebellion (Moses)
- Numbers 20:12 - “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
- Reason #4: Impatience (Abraham)
- Genesis 16:3 - “So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.” (NIV)
- Reason #5: Disobedience (Saul)
- 1 Samuel 13:13-14 - “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
- The good news is that when we repent after missing God’s promise, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)
- David did this after he slept with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed (Psalm 51). Although he still experienced consequences for his sin, he kept his throne and God mercifully kept His promise.
- Saul, in contrast, never repented to the Lord directly. He asked Samuel to forgive his sin first (1 Samuel 15:24-25), and then wanted Samuel to worship with him so he could save face in front of the elders and all of Israel (1 Samuel 30-31).
Action Step: Study the lives of Saul and David this week. Compare their moments of sin and how each of them responded when confronted (1 Samuel 15 for Saul, 2 Samuel 12 and Psalm 51 for David). What differences do you notice in their behavior, and what does this say about their ability to see God’s promise---or not?