40 Years of Funerals
Funerals are not fun. They make us face reality in several ways. We can learn some important lessons from those realities. They remind us of the brevity of life. They show us that our choices make a difference in our lives. If we make righteous choices, we see God's blessings in our lives and in the lives of our family members. However, if we make sinful choices, it brings serious consequences for us and for our family. God drove home that reality for the children of Israel by having 40 years of funerals, as they wandered in the wilderness.(Numbers 26:64,65) We do not often think about this, but I am sure it had a huge impact on the two generations.
Each day for 40 years they had an average of 41 funerals, until all of the older generation was gone except Caleb and Joshua. That generation was made up of 603,550 men, who were 20 years old and above when the people rebelled by listening to the 10 unfaithful spies, so that they did not follow God into the Promised Land. It seems to me that would mean that they went to a funeral almost every day for 40 years. Each time they were confronted with the fact of their disobedience and the fact that they were in the wilderness, instead of the Promised Land. What do you think they told their children about obeying God?
The younger generation went to those funerals, too. They realized that they were living for 40 years in the wilderness, because of the sins of their fathers. I believe that drove home God's anger against sin, and His desire for us obey Him. Then, when the time came for them to go into the Land, they were faithful. They had to wait, but they received the blessings of God. What stories do you think they told their kids?
I am quite sure that all of the older generation regretted their choice to rebel against God's will. Also, I am sure the younger generation was much more willing to listen to Moses and Joshua. I am afraid that my generation has failed to fully follow the Lord in fulfilling the Great Commission to reach the world for Christ, and we are suffering the consequences. I pray that the younger generation will learn from our sins and do the will of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 29-32.
Each day for 40 years they had an average of 41 funerals, until all of the older generation was gone except Caleb and Joshua. That generation was made up of 603,550 men, who were 20 years old and above when the people rebelled by listening to the 10 unfaithful spies, so that they did not follow God into the Promised Land. It seems to me that would mean that they went to a funeral almost every day for 40 years. Each time they were confronted with the fact of their disobedience and the fact that they were in the wilderness, instead of the Promised Land. What do you think they told their children about obeying God?
The younger generation went to those funerals, too. They realized that they were living for 40 years in the wilderness, because of the sins of their fathers. I believe that drove home God's anger against sin, and His desire for us obey Him. Then, when the time came for them to go into the Land, they were faithful. They had to wait, but they received the blessings of God. What stories do you think they told their kids?
I am quite sure that all of the older generation regretted their choice to rebel against God's will. Also, I am sure the younger generation was much more willing to listen to Moses and Joshua. I am afraid that my generation has failed to fully follow the Lord in fulfilling the Great Commission to reach the world for Christ, and we are suffering the consequences. I pray that the younger generation will learn from our sins and do the will of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 29-32.