“In accordance with the number of days that you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall suffer the punishment for your guilt a year, that is, forty years, and you will know My opposition.” (Numbers 14:34 NASB)
Let’s explain the use of the text before we unravel the answer to the question, “Can’t move forward?”. The children of Israel were on their way to a better place. Twelve spies were sent out to check out the land of promise, the land flowing with milk and honey. Ten came back with a bad report and discouraged the people from going forward to their goal after 40 days. Only two spies, Joshua and Caleb came back with a good report. God was not pleased. The older generation would wander in the wilderness for 40 years but would die off before entering The Promised Land.” They had opposed the instructions the Lord, the sovereign head of all creation. The Lord reacted in a serious way.
It reminded me of the time that my earthly father had told me to do something. I did not comply, knowingly so, thinking I knew better, choosing to follow my gut reaction or rely on my own intellect. Failure to comply resulted in me being punished. My punishment was to sit on the couch until he said I could move. I was in the “can’t move forward” position for a long time. By a long time, I mean it was late morning when I was reprimanded to the couch and commanded not to move. My boundaries were as wide and long as one of the three couch cushions. My only except, with permission, was for two supervised restroom breaks. I remained on that couch until way after dinner. By that time, the sky had turned bright to night, birds had clocked out from a full day of work, and the kids next door could not be heard playing in the yard. That was my consequence, as a young person, for opposing the one who was the head of the house. I could not move forward.
Now, let us deal with the question in real time, “Can’t move forward?”. There are people, perhaps you or maybe someone that you know who has aired their complaint to you about being stuck someplace, not able to go to their “someplace;” stuck and unable to make a relationship better, stuck in a job position, passed over for promotions, stuck in regard to moving on up economically in general, and even stuck in regard to spiritual growth. I need to inject that just like individuals, local churches, big and small, can get stuck too, when they oppose the Lord’s words regarding the actions necessary to build His kingdom.
Being stuck, in a position where one or a body of believers can’t move forward, finding themselves unable to get to the place where they were destined to go, is in many cases because they are living a life in opposition of the Lord’s instructions, as found in His word. Obedience brings blessings, but disobedience brings curses or troubles or disappointment. Well, that is what I concluded after reading Deuteronomy 28. Guess what? The principle still applies today.
Good news! There is a remedy! Thank God! We just need to trust in the Lord, take Him at His word, and press on in obedience to the prescribed way of living, walking like a child of God ought to walk. What is the “ought?” Look at the closing verse. Wake up, spiritually, and have a wonderful Wednesday! Be blessed!
“… for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 The Amplified Bible)