You know things have gone wrong when an 11-day trip takes 38 years

Consequences are real.

The book of Deuteronomy contains Moses’ final words to God’s people.  He was about to die and the people were about to enter the Promised Land with Joshua as their new leader.

He introduced the first speech by reminding them of the terrible consequences that the people had endured because of a fateful choice.

Thirty-eight years earlier when spies returned with a report about the Promised Land, the people decided not to go into the land. The spies told them that the land was good but they were afraid of the people who lived there.  God had promised that they would be victorious over those people but they disbelieved and refused to enter.  As a result of their unbelief the people wandered in the wilderness for total of 40 years until all the adults who did not trust God had died.

The trip from where they disbelieved God to the Promised Land should have taken 11 days. It took 38 years. (Deuteronomy 1:1-4)

God is still faithful

God have not forgotten them.  He had been with them in the desert and provided food and protection.  They where now about to enter the Promised Land.

God had promised this land to them and now they would go in.

There were consequences but God was faithful.

God doesn’t write us off. We do suffer consequences for bad decisions but when we change there is always a future for us in God’s blessing.

Have you ever thought that you messed up so bad that there was no future?

Have you experienced God’s faithfulness after a long time in the desert?