Are You Growing?

Numbers 26:1-4, 51

This may seem like passage that is just strictly factual for the sake of knowing how many people were about to enter into the promised land, but I believe it actually shows us a quite vivid picture.

This is the second census that Moses had been commanded to take. The first one was before the 38 years of wandering in the desert. Now everyone that had believed the spies report over God's promises had died, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. Here they are about to enter and there are about 2000 less people than there were 38 years ago. Why?

Yes, the conditions were severe, but the Israelites had been through severe conditions before. They spent 400 years in slavery and flourished. They grew from a family of 12 brothers to almost 3 million people! So why in these 38 years have they declined?

I believe God is showing us a vivid, physical picture of what it looks like to live in disobedience. The 38 years that the Israelites spent wandering in the desert were completely wasted. You can count the number of verses that have to do with that 38 years on your fingers because there is just nothing to say about them. They were wasted in disobedience, therefore the people did not grow.

If we are not growing spiritually, we are living in disobedience to God in one or more areas. If you feel distant from God or if you feel He hasn't taught you anything in quite some time, ask Him to show you where you are being disobedient so that you may confess and repent today. Don't wander in the desert any longer.