“But among these, there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron, the priest, who had listed the people so Israel and the wilderness of Sinai, for the Lord has said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left except Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua, the son of Nun.”
– Numbers 26:64–65
What happened earlier in the book of Numbers is now becoming a reality like the people of God who are going to enter into the promised land include no names from among those who rebelled against God at Kadesh Barnea. The only names of people who were alive on that day and were going to the promised land are Caleb and Joshua. Because they trusted in God and obeyed God, they would experience the blessing of God. Every single other person, adult, would die in the wilderness. Not one of them got to experience God’s blessing.
God help us to obey you. Keep us from disobedience. May we have courage to trust and follow You.
Obedience Leads to Blessing
Like it couldn’t be any clearer. God help us to learn this lesson from Numbers 26:64–65. Obedience leads to blessing. Disobedience forfeits blessing. Like it’s that simple, and blessing in the most comprehensive way. Don’t read into this like some kind of health and wealth, name it, claim it, prosperity theology that is totally bogus and misses the teaching of scripture. It’s not if you obey God, everything will go well for you. You’ll have all kinds of good health and more money in this world and more stuff in this world. That is decidedly not what the bible teaches. So that’s not what we’re talking about here.
The Blessings That Matter Most
We’re talking about a life that is much bigger and greater than possessions and health. We’re talking about joy and peace that supersedes circumstances and about bearing fruit for the glory of God. And the spread of the gospel. We’re talking about thriving and flourishing and all the ways that matter most. In ways that matter for all of eternity, that kind of life, that kind of blessing. Obedience leads to that kind of blessing. Disobedience forfeits that kind of blessing, so do you want it? Do you want life and joy and peace and satisfaction and bearing fruit that lasts for all of eternity? Do you want a reward forever in heaven? Then obey God.
Numbers 26:64–65: Asking God to Help Us With Obedience
Oh, God, please, please, please help us today, not just theoretically, but practically today help us to obey you and to experience your blessing. God, please, please, please keep us from disobedience. Keep us from forfeiting your blessing, your good plans, and designs for our lives. God, please keep us from disobedience. Please help us to walk in obedience. God help us to be like Caleb, like Joshua. Give us faith. Give us the courage to believe you, to follow you, and, in the process, to experience all that you have for us in our lives and families and the church.
Everything we do, God, I pray this. For my life, I pray this for everybody who’s listening to this. Help us to obey and to experience your blessing today in Jesus’ name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
