Because of unbelief

“So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief”. (Hebrews. 3:19).

God heard the cry of His people. He promised to deliver them from Pharaoh’s slavery and give them a land that will flow with milk and honey. They have seen and felt, not one sign but ten, that the Lord God Jehovah lives and thus they were delivered as promised and started their journey to the land that is unseen. That day the hands of the Lord broke the chains of slavery. There was no map to guide them through the wilderness. And the Lord went before them as a pillar of cloud to lead the way by day and by night the pillar of fire. Thus Israelites, led by Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, reached at the edge of the Sea of Reeds and camped there.

In spite of His wonders, the children of God suspected His power. When they saw the Pharaoh’s army behind them, their beliefs faded. They thought it was a suicide for them to leave Egypt; either the army or the sea would ravage them. They might have asked, “Wasn’t there enough room in Egypt to bury us? Is that why you brought us out here, to die in the desert?” “Don't be afraid!” replied the Mosses, “Be brave, and you will see the Lord save you today. These Egyptians will never bother you again. The Lord will fight for you, and you won't have to do a thing”. As Moses said, the Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob kept his word: the children of Israel found dry ground, but the Egyptians were stuck in the mud and sea receded and drowned them. There after they went many days through desert without water. Again they started to doubt God but He provided them with water in desert. Not too late they started grumbling about food. God gave them Manna for them not to starve to death. The muttering of Israelites didn’t stop with that, they cried for meat. Yet, despite of the fact that these ungrateful people deserved death, God chose to extend them yet another mercy. God fed them with quail for evening meal. They even made golden oxen to worship. This was how they repaid the God who did all those blessings despite of their faithlessness. God was waiting to see for how long would they disobey Him and how long would they turn their backs against Him. The merciful god pardoned their sins but added that, that generation would not enter the promise land because of their unbelief.

When God is within us we will glow like a star. However, the heathens around us would be in darkness. With out sanctification and separation, their darkness may cover the glory of God in us and create vagueness around us. Then as the children of Israel, we may also be worried about our obscure future. Nonetheless, as a Christian, we should believe that the lord our God who has saved us will fight the battle for us and will guide us through right path and lead us to the eternal life if we believe and surrender to His will. Consequently, if we start to suspect His promises and worry too much about our material gains and future, God may refuse us His eternal glory as he did to the generation of Moses. Therefore, as a child of God we should glow in belief, attract the others to faith and follow His will.

Because of unbelief we may be thrown out of glory. Its not how we start, it is how well we end our race! Steadfast unto the end (Hebrews. 3:14). So beware dear friends. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”. (Hebrews. 3:13).

“But the fearful, and unbelieving...shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:which is the second death” (Revelation. 21:8).