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!
