If we go back in history to around BC 1400 along with the Jews who were journeying from Egypt to promised land and ask them to share some of the bitter memories most of them will mention the word Kadesh. Yes Kadesh!! a place they reached so close to the promised land but could not enter it.
Israelites spent around 400 years in Egypt as slaves suffering at the hand of Pharaoh. Bible does not mention the Pharaoh’s name. Based on the city they were building it could be Ramses. But there are no evidences for it. They got used to slavery mind set and getting used to following orders. After might miracles Israelites came out of Egypt and miraculously crossed the red sea by God’s guidance. They enjoyed the protection of God all through the journey. The food was given to them every day and they were walking towards the promised land, the land of milk and honey. After approximately two years they reached Kadesh, which was at the edge of promised land.
As per God’s instruction 12 men (all leaders) one each from tribe were selected and send out to explore the promised land (Numbers 13:3). There were specifically instructed with tasks what they should be doing in the next 40 days. After 40 days they reported back all they found.
The reports is recorded in Numbers 13:27-29:
They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.
This is the report from the Jewish leaders, who saw the mighty miracles of God in Egypt and all through their journey for the past two years. They had approximately 600,000 abled men to fight. Above all, they had Jehovah God himself as their leader and captain of the army. Their mindset of slavery came back to them and started comparing themselves as grasshoppers (Numbers 13:33). Contemplated about going back to Egypt and stoning Moses and Aaron (Numbers 14:10).
The curse of God came heavily on them. It costed them all.
In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. – Numbers 14:29,30.
Israelites after all did enter promised land but had to wait for 38 more years. Not the generation which walked out of Egypt, a new generation under the guidance of Joshua.
Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. – Deuteronomy 2:14
Is our spiritual blessings blocked by our incompetence to stand up to challenges God is asking us to take? Are we cozy, comfortable and happy with the earthly blessings God has provided and unwilling to move? The message from Kadesh is clear.
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