“Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the Lord, we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.” Deuteronomy 1:41
The background of this verse takes us to a time when the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land. God had commanded them to take the land, but instead of obeying, the people were afraid and doubted God’s plan. As a result, they refused to enter. In response, God punished them by declaring they would wander in the wilderness for forty years, until a new generation would be ready to obey Him.
The Israelites were in this position because they doubted God. Their refusal to trust Him led to their wandering in the wilderness. After God pronounced His judgment, the people realized their mistake and wanted to go and fight the enemies in the Promised Land. But God had already made His decision. The people were trying to reverse God’s will because they were fearful of the consequences they faced due to their lack of faith.
Why God Had Changed His Mind on Them
God had originally intended for the Israelites to take the Promised Land, but their disobedience and lack of trust changed their course. When they finally decided to go into battle, it was too late. God had changed His mind because they had not obeyed when He first commanded them to do so. They missed their opportunity to find God’s will.
The lesson here is clear: we must act on God’s will for our lives or risk facing a different, less pleasant path. When the Israelites first had the opportunity to enter the Promised Land, they saw the giants and felt afraid. However, facing those giants would have been far better than wandering in circles for forty years in the wilderness.
This is what happens to Christians who don’t trust God—they end up wandering through life without direction or purpose. It’s important to follow God’s guidance when He presents it, even if it seems challenging or intimidating. Trusting in God and acting on His will leads to blessings and fulfillment, while ignoring His will leads to confusion and hardship.
Deuteronomy 1:41 reminds us that when God calls us to do something, we should respond with faith and obedience. Otherwise, we may find ourselves missing out on His best for our lives. We should strive to align with God’s will and trust Him, knowing that His plans are always for our good.
