Nothing Escapes His Eye

Verse of the day: Numbers 26:65 For the LORD had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

We live in a world, thanks to sin and death, where something can go wrong at any moment. None of us are immune from bad things happening to us or someone we know and love. Trials will come, persecution will come in one form or another, and we may encounter at any moment someone who is wicked and cruel. We will be treated unfairly, and we may be the victim of injustice. However, for us, the child of God, there is one thing, one Person, we can always count on. He is always faithful, and He always keeps His Word. He is our Living Hope. I am sure that many of us have experienced the frustration of watching the unjust seem to get away with doing things that are hurtful, dishonest, cruel, and just outright wrong, with seemingly no consequences. It is even more frustrating when we, or a loved one, are on the receiving end of such wickedness. What the Lord said to Moses here serves as a reminder to us that God is faithful to His Word and always keeps His promises. When all in life fails us, we can ALWAYS count on the Lord God to follow through on what He promises us. In this instance, we have an account of the census taken before Israel enters the land of Canaan. God, being true to His Word, came through on His promise that none of the generation of those who murmured against Him in the wilderness, and discouraged everyone from going forward into the land God promised them, would enter it. The only two who would see the land of Canaan would be Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 1:19-45). God’s promises to that generation, and to Joshua and Caleb, should be encouraging to us from two perspectives. First, when God told them that they would pay for their rebellion and disobedience, this should encourage us in that God will not allow the wicked to go unpunished for their deeds. Regardless of how much planning and scheming man comes up with, or how many join together to carry out their wicked devices, God’s justice will prevail. Proverbs 11:21 promises, “Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.” In Isaiah 13:11 God promised, “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” Secondly, when God promised that only Joshua and Caleb would enter the Land of Canaan, this should encourage us in that we have hope in the promises of what is to come for the children of God. God’s promises of deliverance are found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 34:4, 17-18, “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” 1 John 5:4-5 reminds us, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” Regardless of what God allows us to face here on earth, He promised us victory over the ultimate killer…death. 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 tells us, “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ 55 ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” I could go on and list every promise that God made to us, but it would be easier if we each just took the time to read our own Bibles and studied them ourselves. There are so many that we would not have to read for too long before we come across a promise or two. The bottom line is that whatever injustice we have experienced, are experiencing, or will experience, God will know every instance, and everyone involved will give an answer and pay the price. His justice and deliverance will prevail and be seen by all in His time (2 Peter 3). In Christ Jesus, we have the ultimate victory over the wicked, over sin, and over death.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).