In all that we do, decisions, crossroads, challenges, and going about our daily life, we need to ensure God walks with us otherwise all our efforts are futile.

And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them. Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.

Deut 1:42, KJV

Story (Deut 1):

The children of Israel attempted to enter the Promised Land (Canaan), on their own without God, but were utterly defeated by their enemies.

God had told them not to go up and fight, because He wouldn’t go with them, but they would not listen.

So they were defeated by the Amorites, who came out and gave them chase, destroyed them, till Hormah (v44).

They had insisted to go in and inherit the promised land themselves, after hearing that God wouldn’t give it to them, but only their children (the next generation) would be able to enter.

From Deut 1, Moses gave a summary retelling the whole incident in Numbers in more details, on how God was so angry with them that he denied the entire generation of Israelites to enter Canaan, and sentenced them to wander in the wilderness for forty years instead.

Only the next generation (their children, and descendants), were permitted to enter the promised land, while the whole generation perished in the wilderness, except for two men: Joshua & Caleb (v36,38) who showed obedience to God.

It started out when the Israelites were commanded to set out from Horeb (around Mount Sinai), through Seir, to Kadeshbarnea, which was an eleven days journey (v2).

Upon reaching Kadeshbarnea, Moses reiterated God’s promise of the Abrahamic covenant, to give the land of Canaan to them, and not to be afraid.

So they sent twelve spies, one from each tribe into Canaan, to determine their military strength, devise a conquering strategy.

Indeed when they came back, they found it was a good piece of land which was fertile, but their enemies were mighty and fortified.

So they refused to enter the promise land, although at this point God had commanded them to, rebelling against God.

Instead they remained in their tents murmuring, and falsely accusing God that He hated them, had left them to die in the hands of the Amorites their enemy.

Despite Moses reassuring them not to worry about the size of their enemies, but to trust in God’s ability to deliver them, they did not believe in Him.

Despite Moses reminding them of how God has miraculously rescued them out of Egypt, and He has led them through the wilderness through cloud by day and fire by night, they continued complaining.

So God was very angry, and decided that this generation of Israelites will not enter the promised land, and sentenced them to forty hard years in the wilderness, till the entire generation perished.

Unhappy with the sentencing, they tried to enter the promised land with their own ability, but did not succeed, as seen above.

Lessons Learnt:

We can learn a couple of things from the Israelites and their heart towards God, from this passage.

Firstly, complaining about our current circumstances and situation does not get us anywhere.

Complaining is basically dislodged frustration.

The Israelites murmured in their tents, and even against their leaders Moses & Aaron (more details in Exodus).

Instead of directing their current circumstances and frustration to God Himself, they chose to vent it indirectly on God, within themselves.

And so this complaining, has angered God, and did not bring them anywhere closer to the promised land, but further instead.

Next, we can learn that miracles do not necessarily bring about real transformational change, in trusting God that He is willing and able to help us.

Despite the many miracles the Israelites have seen with their own eyes, they still couldn’t trust that God was capable to deliver them from their fortified and strong enemies.

Instead, they were petrified by their obstacles / enemies ahead which look so scary, that it even seemed bigger than God.

Despite the miracles which they have seen, which are meant to strengthen their faith in God, it seemed like in the face of their current adversity, they have totally forgotten him.

And couldn’t believe that God could actually bring them through the problem, no matter how big it was.

Also, they did not know their God, His character and His faithfulness, but had a wrong understanding about Him.

They thought being God’s chosen nation, and children, life for them would go smoothly always.

So we can see in Exodus 15, immediately after crossing the Red Sea upon encountering their first difficulty of bitter water in Marah, their expectation of a smooth Christian life was shattered, and they started complaining.

Instead, they were so focused on their problems, that they didn’t know, understand, or remember God’s promises to their forefathers Abraham, to give them Canaan.

That they lost sight of the bigger picture that even through various trials and obstacles which they currently encounter, God will always deliver them, as He remains faithful to His promise.

Perhaps, they didn’t experience God’s faithfulness, or completely forgotten about it when He first fed them in the wilderness in Exo 16, and for all this while, providing quail and manna for them daily.

It is ironic, how we can too forget God’s faithfulness in our daily provision, we must thank Him for each day He gives us our daily bread.

Instead, upon encountering their difficulties, they thought God had intend to send them to die and be defeated by their enemies.

So it seems like they didn’t come into a personal relationship with God, to know for themselves, and with their hearts who God is, his attributes, like faithfulness.

With a personal relationship, trusting in Him would be easy.

But because they didn’t know God personally, and always depended on Moses.

So they started speculating negative things which were untrue, and falsely accused God, that His masterplan was to bring out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, and be destroyed by their enemies.

They had thought that God had bad intentions, was an evil God, who wanted to see them suffering.

But suffering in a Christian life, is completely normal.

God’s bigger plan and his masterplan is to sanctify us daily to be more like Jesus, and to bring us home to heaven, at the end of our assignment here on earth.

Despite the challenges we face in our lives, God gives us enough grace, and will always walk with us through those problems, as He is faithful.

Thirdly and finally, we can learn that walking in the will of God, is very important, to ensure He walks with us.

In any decision we make, and what we do in our daily lives, or even ministry, ensuring that this is God’s will is important.

Because we know that when it is His will, He will walk with us, and give us grace to emerge from our problems victorious.

However, when it is not God’s will for us to do something, e.g be in certain jobs, ministries, then there is no guarantee He will walk with us.

We see the Israelites, wanting to enter the promised land despite God saying they will never enter, as part of His punishment.

Despite recognising their sin, they insisted to go up, and prepared their military gear.

But God said to them, not to go up, as He is not among them, and warned them they might be defeated by their enemies.

However, they still refused to listen, and did not walk in God’s will, so God didn’t walk with them through their battles, and they ended up being defeated even.

So we have constantly seek God in every decision we make, in whatever we do, that our plans are surrendered to Him, to ensure that it is within His will.

In that way, we can always be sure that in whatever we do, He will walk with us, and give us the victory.