Results of Rejection

Yesterday we looked at the 12 spies whom Moses assigned the task of investigating and reporting on the land the Lord has promised the nation of Israel.  Rather than trust God.  They trusted what they saw.  Rather than embrace dependence on Him.  They chose to reject His help, His strength, His promise, in essence they rejected Him.  These are the same people who were led out of Egypt through the parting of the Red Sea.  These are the ones that saw the glory of the Lord on Mount Sinai and responded by making a golden calf.  These are the ones who have been eating manna…  All but Joshua and Caleb.

As a result in Numbers 14:34 God outlines what their life will be like for the next 40 years.  The key phrase is the last, “you will know My opposition.  Not sure about you – I do not want to be opposed by God.

This is not the only place that God promises opposition.  Look at 1 Peter 5:5, God opposes the proud.  Putting these two thoughts together is seems that pride may be rejecting God, in the sense that we approach life on our own strengths on the basis of what we see and how we believe we can power through a situation rather than trusting in God’s provision, His strength, His help, His promise.

We are confronted with difficult situations on nearly a daily basis.  We have a choice to make.  Will we admit that we need Him in all that we face, or will we reject Him because we can handle it on our own?

One choice results in God’s opposition.  The other in His giving grace.