Read Deuteronomy 1 – 3
Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 1:32 KJV
The book of Deuteronomy is made up of a series of messages from Moses to the children of Israel as they prepared to cross the Jordan into the Land of Promise. In the first chapter he explains how an eleven day journey turned into forty years of wandering because of unbelief. The reminder is intended as a warning. God brought them out of bondage and set the land, which He promised to their fathers, before them. All they had to do was to go in and take possession of it. But it is one thing to have God’s promise before you and another to respond in faith and take possession of it. Verse 32 simply says they did not believe the Lord. This statement says a lot! (1) Unbelief makes God a liar, and questions the dependability of His Word. (2) Unbelief wastes time; it turned an eleven day journey into forty years of wandering. And (3) unbelief robs us of the best God has waiting for us.
Lord, it seems all too easy to hesitate in unbelief when we focus on the potential problems of moving forward in faith to take possession of your promises. Rather than focusing on the problems, help me keep my eyes on the one who has made the promises. How different things would have been had Israel done this! Keep me from unbelief that I might experience the best you have for me.
