Unbelief blocks God’s promises

Hebrews 3:19: “So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”

The verse talks about the nation of Israel. It was Moses’ generation that failed to enter the promise land. We can be slightly surprised, because the Bible clearly says that God expressed his will regarding the Promised Land unquestionably. God wanted them to get there and conquer the land. He made a lot of miracles both when the Israelites were in Egypt and on their way to the Promised Land. Those had to prove the people of God regarding Lord’s perfect will. God made everything that they would enter the land. And yet, they did not. 

Why? Where is the problem? Did God change his mind about the subject? Maybe it was not his will after all. No, God does not change his mind as we do. It is us who might think one thing today and absolutely different tomorrow. We make a decision today and revoke it by making a completely different choice tomorrow. And we often think that God is like us. No, He is not. If He was like us we would not be able to trust him. There has to be something stable for us to stand on. His word is stable ground for us to stand on and His promises are ‘yes and amen’. 

So, where is the problem? Why did the Israelites not enter the Promised Land? Because of unbelief! Although God did a lot of tremendous miracles in front of their eyes they would not believe him and at the slightest test would start complaining, crying and murmuring. They actually believed that God meant them to experience bad things and even perish in the wilderness. How wrong they were! How wrong we often are about our God and his intentions towards us! He always means good. His will is always good towards us. 

It is us who fail to trust him. That’s where all the problems lie. Everything that we get from God we get by means of his grace and by faith. Any promise God gives us He also expects us to believe that promise to come true and act in faith so that the promise would come true. James 1: 6-8: “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

So, if you expect to get anything from the Lord you have to believe Him. Doubts block promises of God. God is willing, ready and can do anything, but will you trust him till you see the promise come reality. Be thankful for the promises that God gives you. Keep the attitude of gratitude till the invisible becomes visible. Trust God that He wishes you well and that He will do everything on his part to make that true. You do everything that is required on your part. And that is believing!