So, for everyone that will cheer and support as you move toward God’s destiny for you – your promised land, there’s those who won’t. They’re time wasters, complainers, full of envy, back seat drivers who want to take the wheel only to drive it into a ditch.
It should’ve taken the Israelites eleven days to get to the border of the Promised Land and cross over. Instead, it was 40 years. Besides the Israelites sometimey faith were those going along for the ride but not the destination. And sadly, one of the main stumbling blocks was the usual suspects of family and friends.
Aaron, the oldest brother but a follower, let sister Miriam talk him into confronting Moses, as her hand puppet. Yes, her quick thinking saved Moses and got her Mama a good government job. But Miriam’s take over spirit prevented her from acknowledging God is in control. However, God showed her better than he could tell her and the next time we hear about Miriam is that she died…in the desert.
Instead of showing a united front inspiring the community these two set up a rebellion template against the man God spoke with face to face. It gave legitimacy to persistent, organized rebellions that followed.
Now, if brother and sister weren’t enough there was Korah from Moses’ same tribe. Mind you no one had heard a peep from cousin Korah since they left Egypt. But he too rose up early one morning without a doubt that he would be a better leader.
Once again God had to deal with him and all his stupid followers which caused yet another delay.
Last but least were the uninvited who came along anyway. They had a lot to say with the Israelites having no better sense than to listen to them. Some translations called them rabble, and they continually roused the Israelites against Moses and God’s provision.
Despite Moses trying to move them forward, the Israelites, homesick for hell soon fell under the rabble’s influence of delusional thinking prompting them to fixate on what they never had…and now would never get.
Year after year two steps forward and one thousand backward with a generation dying outside of God’s promise, who flatly refused to walk by faith.
Together, family feuds over leadership along with foreign influences that were welcomed by the hearts and minds of a people who had seen the parting of the Red Sea but couldn’t see a path to freedom.
Reference: Deuteronomy 1:2, Numbers 11:4-6, 12, 16, 20:1
