Numbers 26 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“These are the ones registered by Moses and Elazar the priest when they registered the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across Jericho. But among them there was not one of those who had been registered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they registered the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. For the L_rd said to them that they would all die in the wilderness. None of them was left except Caleb, son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.” Num 26: 63-65

“Hey Moses, turn the lights out when you leave!”

Have you ever been the last one in line? You know, it’s half time at the football game and you wanted to watch the marching band, so now you’re stuck for 30 minutes trying to get a hot dog…only to find out the guy on front of you bought the last hot dog. It’s a bummer to wait for something…and then be denied. That was the story of almost all the Israelites who had left Egypt…all but two: Joshua and Caleb.

The generation of Israelites who had been delivered from Egypt had grumbled, complained and turned from the L_rd. They had refused to enter the Promised Land by faith, so the L_rd told them they would not enter at all. The whole generation was to die in the desert, within 40 years. Only Joshua and Caleb were to enter. They were the only ones who declared, “We can defeat then inhabitants of the land because G_d is with us!”

In addition, Moses & Aaron disobeyed the L_rd by refusing to “speak” water from a rock, choosing to smack it with Moses’ staff. In return for their poor leadership, G_d barred Moses & Aaron from leading Israel into Canaan.

As Moses got the results of the census, one thing must have been going through his mind: I’m the last guy.

Every one of the adults from the generation, who left Egypt, had passed away, just as G_d had declared. Soon, Moses would be gone…but Israel would enter the much-awaited “Promised Land”.

Something I love about Yeshua is how He has entered-in to Heaven before us. Not only will He lead us into Heaven, but He has also defeated the enemy! Moreover, He prepares a place for us…a place where we will by no means be cast-out.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Monday, June 2, 2014