The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.
Numbers 14:20-23 NIV
Does forgiveness eliminate the consequences of a person’s actions? While sometimes it might, there will often still be a price to pay for our actions. And the 14th chapter of Numbers demonstrates that very clearly.
God had rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt, established a covenant relationship with them, and brought them to the edge of the land he had promised them. But after the spies’ report, they decided to head back to Egypt. God threatened to destroy them until Moses interceded on their behalf.
And, in response to Moses’ prayer, God forgave them. But that did not mean that things were as they had been. Even though they had been forgiven and not destroyed, they lost the opportunity to enter the promised land. Instead, they wandered in the wilderness for the next 38 years until all the adults leaving Egypt, apart from Joshua and Caleb, had died.
How often is this true in my own life? If I break my country’s laws, God’s forgiveness is available. But that forgiveness does not eliminate the consequences imposed by my government. If I betray a trust, the one I betrayed may forgive me, but it may take a long time, if ever, to rebuild that trust. And some of my actions, even if forgiven, could potentially disqualify me from serving in certain areas within the church.
How much better to do what is right in the first place? To not have to seek forgiveness. And not have to live with the consequences of our sin, potentially for the rest of our lives.
It’s a thought-provoking caution to the reader.
Thanks. That was the intent of the post.
Forgiveness Doesn’t Eliminate Consequences: Numbers 14:20-23
It’s frightening to imagine the consequences of our sins. It would have been good if this subject was elaborated a bit more in the light of the New Testament.
Thank you.
The article was looking at the physical consequences of our actions rather than the eternal consequences. God’s forgiveness does indeed deal with the eternal consequences of our sin. But we will often still have to deal with their physical consequences while we live here on earth.