Breach of promise. Numbers 14:34. “After the number of days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise (altering of purpose).”
Negative voices share harmful opinions that influence actions, whether we like it or not. Trusting men who give bad advice leads to despair and sounds of defeat. Fearful people express their worries everywhere, and when that happens, perspective is lost, and emotions take over the moment. Forgetting God's character, His promises, and the way He has led us leaves us without joy in the Lord. Energy is wasted on going backward instead of moving forward toward joy. A cry of despair—then ten—then millions—how sad, how defeating. After all this, why, oh why, stop short of the goal!
Turning away from those wise men and losing trust in God leaves the weak and clammy spirit of fear, which has such power over those who are vulnerable. The sounds of sorrow, the tearing of clothes, and ignoring the advice of men who could see by faith overwhelmed the people, even though they tried to turn away from the negative voices, complaints, and fear. “The Lord… He will bring us in…He will give…;” but no, people reached for stones. Negative voices, fear, and despair lead many to murder in their hearts. Two respected men, confident in God, offered advice—remember the promise of God. But instead of evaluating their advice and comparing it to what God had promised—His Word—they rejected it quickly and without consideration. They did not enter, nor would they ever enter into the promises of God because they said “No” to God.
God is powerful—creating all things by the word of His power. God is longsuffering—immensely patient—enduring their manners in the wilderness. God is of great mercy—His love is a promise we can always trust. God is forgiving—time and again, He forgives iniquity and transgression. God is just—there's no way sin can be ignored as if it didn’t matter. God is a pardoning God—His grace reaches into the darkest corners of human experience. God is unchanging—His character and actions remain consistent through every age. God knows the spirit of man in each person—and judges accordingly.
Ten times, His people failed to trust and obey Him. At the Red Sea, fear took over. At Marah, they complained about bitter water. They also complained in the wilderness of Sin; they were not satisfied with the manna quota but collected more than enough out of greed. They went out on the Sabbath to gather manna when they had plenty the day before—complaining about the lack of water at Rephidim, and engaging in idolatry by making and bowing to the golden calf. They complained at Taberah, about manna, and over the lack of Egyptian food, listening to evil reports and failing to enter the Promised Land. How much can God and His servant endure?
The promise to the nation is changed—children will enter, but not the complainers. The next generation—those who trust and obey—will go forward, while those who fail to do so will not. Forty years, or a year for each day, they will wander in the wilderness. Close, but not inside. They tried in the flesh and lost to Amalek—the flesh wins. Failing to trust God brings about more problems than we first thought. Without trust and obedience, we are doomed to wander aimlessly. God’s “breach of promise” doesn’t mean He takes back what He said; it means if we don’t “trust and obey,” He will find someone else who will.
“I am enjoying this land of Beulah, O God of longsuffering and great kindness. In this land of God’s promise, I find great delight in every bush and under every tree. Each place I go, and each job I do gives a sense of God at work - and fulfilling all the promises You have made. I worship sitting here at this desk as I think about how You have led me – from Egypt and the promise of the blood to this place and the Word. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”