Scripture

Our verse for today comes from 1 Corinthians 10:5, ” But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. ” 

Background

If you’ve watched any of the Olympics, chances are you’ve seen some thrilling victories as well as some heartbreaking defeats. For me, the most difficult losses are the ones that are over so quickly and unexpectedly. For example, if a sprinter mis-times his start out of the blocks before the gun fires, he is immediately disqualified. There are no second chances, no do-overs. All of his years of training cannot undo the tragic mistake that has been made. And even apart from the sudden disqualifications, when an athlete suffers an injury and is unable to perform or complete his event, is there any consolation for getting so close to one’s dream and seeing it vanish in an instant? I could see where such disappointment could cause one to wonder where is the sense in it all. Far more demanding than the rigor of years of training would be the challenge of reconciling the vanquishing of one’s dreams in such a pointless manner. 

Application

For the Israelites who had waited for so many years to be delivered from Egypt, how sweet was the day when their generation was the one to walk out of Egypt as so many before them had hoped to do? But along the way to the Promised Land, they crossed a line that God would not overlook. They complained and doubted and worshipped other gods. And it wasn’t just one hopeful Israelite who lost his dream. The entire nation, hundreds of thousands of them, displeased God and met the death they had feared back in Egypt somewhere on the way in the desert. At 47 years of age, I could have left Egypt with them as a seven year old and seen every adult of an entire nation die over the next forty years. And that would have been hard to reconcile. That’s why Paul told the Corinthians to flee idolatry. As illogical as it might seem to rescue a people and then have them die in the wilderness, it’s even more foolish to place something, anything, above the God of the universe. And I’ve got idols in my life. I’m not exactly sure what they all are quite yet, but I’m looking. And I would suggest you do the same. It just seems to make sense. 

Charge

As we seek Him today, look to see if your eyes are on your plans more than they are on Jesus. Ask Him to show you what’s leading you to be scattered in the wilderness. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words