Overflow Daily...ish: Rejecting Paradise



Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and little children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.” 

Numbers 14:3-4 


Since Genesis 12 we have been waiting for the promise of God to be fulfilled; for His people to become a great nation. And for that, they needed land. A land that reminds us so much of the garden. But it is not just the physical beauty and the fruitfulness of the land that reminds us of the garden. It is the fact that God will be with the people and that they will have God dwelling among them.

This is a paradise that still falls short of the perfect communion that Adam and Eve had with God in the garden of Eden. A communion that Adam and Eve rejected when they ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge causing them to be cast east of Eden. And as the people of God are finally led to the land of Promise, one that is flowing with milk and honey (figuratively), and is assured of being able to have God dwelling among them we have hope. There is hope of a return to the former state, although not perfectly because of the veil, it is a far better state.

But the story takes a turn when in the 13th chapter, the spies deliver a poor report and in the proceeding chapter we read of the effect. The people moan and complain and wish they were still in slavery. It is ironic that they had seen God perform many signs and wonders in their midst and defeated nations before them and still they reject Him. All that was required of them is to put their faith in Him and live in righteousness, according to His law and will, and they would be given presence with God and promise of land.

And this is but a shadow of the reality which reverberates in our hearts, because this same promise is given to all mankind. For those who will put their faith and trust in Jesus, submitting to His Lordship, they will be given eternal life and eternity with God in Heaven. And the Holy Spirit is given to all true believers to convict them of sin and train them in righteousness to live lives in obedience to God. But like the many Israelites who rejected paradise and wished to return to slavery in Egypt, so too many have and will reject the grace of God and return to slavery to sin.

But by God’s grace, like Joshua and Caleb who were faithful and trusted in God, those of true faith have also placed their faith in God and are waiting for the time of judgment when they will finally enter into the presence of God. Where others have rejected paradise, the elect have entered in peace.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alex

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