How close to the milk and honey?

Numbers 14 - 15

How close do you think we often times get to our own land of  milk and honey, yet we don't have the faith to believe God?

Reading today it kept going through my mind ~ wow, that sounds just like me or old so and so...I don't think I'm alone sometimes filled with doubt, fear, life ~ am I?  Am I the only one that quite honestly moans and groans putting on those rose colored glasses (yesterday) with a selective memory?  Honestly, I know I'm not!  I hear it in groups.  I hear it in conversations.  We all want to believe.  We all want to appear brave, yet at times it seems more important to blend in rather than stand out and well take that step on over into the land of milk and honey!  

Are you caught up in not standing out like Caleb and Joshua did?  I mean these two men believed, they saw and they were ready to step into...two men is all?  God had brought all of these people through and out of slavery, yet they didn't believe enough to follow through.  Sad, but how often do we do exactly the same as all of these complaining, whining, folks?

So, why not understand that God got tired of it?  That He disciplined all of them, but the two believers?  After all, He's God...He had shown His love, His Mighty Power, His Commitment, yet they still moaned and groaned...Why is it hard to believe that God loves each of us so much that sometimes He does discipline?  Discipline at times is a important component of love!  Ask any parent or loved one how hard it is to discipline that precious child you love so much...it is probably the most difficult thing a parent will do, but they must and God must because He loves us too much to leave us where we are!!!!!

So, He disciplines His people that He loves...It broke my heart when I read the words again this morning

"Now turn around, and don't go on toward the land where the Amalekites and Canaanites live.  Tomorrow you must set out for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.,"  What?  They are right there, but they have to turn around, because they didn't trust God.  It's sad that sometimes we have to turn around and wander around in the wilderness until we believe and trust God...

Second, thing from today's reading is sometimes we wake up a day late and a dollar short...(old expression, but truth spoken)  The people realized their mistake and began to cry in grief.  They knew their sin and were then ready, but they then heard these words from Moses...

"Do not go up into the land now.  When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in batter, you will be slaughtered.  The LORD will abandon you because you have abandoned the LORD."  

Our choices matter!  WE must believe and trust God.  

He loves us.  He loves us enough to discipline us and turn us around, because He wants all of us!

Believe and trust today and take the step to the land of Milk and Honey!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie