Scripture Daily

Context No. 2749 of 4322 · Deuteronomy

Context · Reflection

Deuteronomy 1:42-46: in context

42The LORD said to me, “Tell them, ‘Don’t go up and don’t fight; for I am not among you, lest you be struck before your enemies.’” 43So I spoke to you, and you didn’t listen; but you rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and were presumptuous, and went up into the hill country. 44The Amorites, who lived in that hill country, came out against you and chased you as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even to Hormah. 45You returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD didn’t listen to your voice, nor turn his ear to you. 46So you stayed in Kadesh many days, according to the days that you remained.

Moses is recalling a bitter memory. Israel had just refused, in fear, to enter the land God gave them. So God told them the moment was gone: do not go up and do not fight, for I am not among you, or your enemies will strike you down. But the people rebelled in the opposite direction. Presumptuously they charged into the hill country, and the Amorites came out and chased them like a swarm of bees and beat them back.

This is disobedience running both ways. First they would not go when God said go; then they went when God said stop. Their sudden late courage was not faith at all but self-will, an attempt to seize on their own terms what they had already forfeited by unbelief. They wept before the Lord afterward, but he did not listen. Obedience means moving at God's word, not doing the hard thing on my own schedule once the window has already closed.

Do I obey God's timing, or refuse when he says go and then rush ahead once he has said wait?

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