Despising God

Lots here that stand out to me. But perhaps the most are these words:

The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people despise me? How long will they not trust in me…(Numbers 14:11)

How often do we link failing to trust God with despising him?

Why would that be true?

Ultimately, we are insulting him. We are insulting his faithfulness. We are calling him a liar.

That’s what the Israelites essentially did.

If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder.

Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt? (Numbers 14:2-3)

In short, they were convinced that God was lying to them.

At the very least, they thought he was promising more than he could deliver.

And in doing so, they despised God.

But concerning Caleb, God said,

Caleb has a different spirit and has remained loyal to me. (Numbers 14:24)

What was different about him? How did he remain loyal? By trusting God. By saying unequivocally,

Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it…

The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land.

If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land. (Numbers 13:30; 14:7-8)

“Extremely good.”

Those are the plans God has for us.

The question is, do we believe it? And will we follow him where he leads?

Or will we fail to trust him by insisting on going our own way, in essence, calling him a liar, and insulting his faithfulness toward us?