13 August 2019
Backdrop
Potential Discussion Questions
Potential Discussion Questions
We again, encounter a scenario where some serious sins are committed among God's people ( in current times, it would be in Church / Church body)
(1) They rebelled against God and his appointed authority (i.e., v 14:4:- "And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” "). (2) In their rebellion they went way too far - They were about to stone God's men Joshua and Caleb (v 14:10), (3) They lacked faith in God (i.e., 14:1-4), (4) They tried disrupting the most important plan of life from God - the plan of God to redeem the world from the Fall (of Genesis 3)!
Like these Israelites, we Christians too are on a journey whose destination is new heavens, new earth (i.e., Revelation 21). In our journey, God will often compel us to take our respective next steps. Sometimes the next step can seem scary and / or daunting (i.e., Jesus warns in Matthew 10:16 - "... I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, ... ", Mark 10:21- " ... sell all that you have and give to the poor ...") and we will be tempted to not proceed with our callings. In general, I am sure everyday as a Christian, you are tempted in various ways to not live up to the Word of God, and go astray.
This scenario today would be some serious sins that occurred in the Church body, and at times the sins can be very serious, as indicated by the judgments by Jesus on the unrepentant Churches in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 2,3). So, we should keep our Church guarded.
Fear and lack of faith / trust often holds us back.
They paid a huge price for these grave sins. Their journey to the promised land would get delayed by 40 LONG years (Numbers 14:34)! Note that even righteous - Caleb, Joshua, Moses & Aaron who did not partake in the sins here, got tied to this punishment from God!! Also those, twenty years and older, who partook in these sins (say apart from Caleb, Joshua, Moses, Aaron, ...) would die in the wilderness in the next 40 years and not make it to the promised land (Numbers 14:29).
v 37:- " these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord".
Sin, will potentially eat away from God's blessings for one's life (https://www.gotquestions.org/consequences-of-sin.html).
Also, see commentary on "How Church members are disciplined for sin in today’s time? " in Exodus 32 commentary.
Again, this scenario here, today would be some serious sins that occurred in the Church body, and at times the sins can be very serious, attracting judgments by Jesus, as on the unrepentant Churches in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 2,3). So, we should keep our Church guarded.
God is justified, as God is 100% just (We all agree that there needs to be perfect justice in the world). But then, this is also scary because we have ALL sinned and fallen short. That is, we are naturally children of wrath (i.e., Ephesians 2:1-3). Fortunately, God also provides means of relief from absolute judgement on wrong-doings via His Son Jesus (but, maintaining the perfect standard on justice at the same time).
We Christians, today are definitely at much better place because of what Jesus did on the cross. But, we should still not feel any more sorry for the people who lived before Jesus died on the cross, as God's ways are always good and perfect.
See commentary on "How Church members are disciplined for sin in today’s time? " in Exodus 32 commentary.