Cherish What God Has Given You

“Then they despised the pleasant land….”
Psalm 106:24a (NIV)

Israel’s experience in the wilderness provides a sober warning for us today. How was it possible for them to “despise the pleasant land” when it was the very land God had promised them, a land they should have cherished after leaving 400 years of slavery in Egypt? They despised the gift of God by refusing to enter it out of fear and unbelief. Is it possible for us to despise the gifts of God in our lives as well? Have fear and unbelief caused us to reject God’s promises?

Moses had given them a description of this “pleasant land” in Deuteronomy 8. In verses 7 through 10 (NLT), he wrote, “For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land He has given you.”

They must have longed to enjoy this pleasant land as they imagined what it would be like. What a contrast to the barren wilderness they were walking through to get there. They would be free! They would have their own land! God would be their God! Jeremiah reveals the heart of God who gave this land to Israel in Jeremiah 3:19 (NLT): “I thought to Myself, ‘I would love to treat you as My own children!’ I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land— the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling Me ‘Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from Me.”

What went wrong? How did they go from cherishing the thought of what God desired to give them to despising it? Israel had been out of Egypt for about two years when the Lord brought them to a place called Kadesh Barnea on the border of the Promised Land. Numbers 13 and 14 record the tragedy that happened there. Instead of trusting God to give them the land, the people asked Moses to appoint a committee to survey the land and bring back a report. While that may have seemed reasonable, God had already done this for them.  In Ezekiel 20:6 (NLT), the Bible says, “Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: When I chose Israel—when I revealed Myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt—I took a solemn oath that I, the LORD, would be their God. I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them—a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere.” The point is Israel did not need more facts; they needed more faith. God said it was a "pleasant land" and a "good land" but ten of the twelve spies came back with an evil report. They said that Canaan was a dangerous land filled with giants, high-walled cities, and fierce armies. Their faith was tested. They had a choice to make. Would they believe God’s promises and inhabit the land or shrink back in fear? Unfortunately, the Bible records that they reacted in fear - weeping, complaining, and planning to return to Egypt. While their attitude should have been one filled with praise and gratitude for all that God had done and promised He would do, they were filled with fear and despised what God had promised. They gave in to their fears, believing they would die at the hands of those who inhabited the land and their children would become slaves.

It broke God’s heart. In Numbers 14:30-31 (NLT), God said, “You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised.”

Israel had become unfaithful and ungrateful. They despised what God had given them. They refused to receive His gift, rejecting this pleasant land. In what ways have you failed to cherish what God has given you? When we reject Christ, we fail to cherish the gift of salvation He freely offers. Unbelief is at the heart of the problem. We’ll talk more about that on Monday.

Dear God, I am so sorry for the times I have failed to cherish what You have given me. How often have I taken Your good gifts for granted and responded with ingratitude? As I repent of this attitude, I pray You will align my heart with Your heart so that I may receive every good and perfect gift You have for me. When my faith is challenged, help me to trust You and believe in Your promises, and not give in to my fears. My hope is in You, Lord.

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Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.