The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Numbers 32:10-14, “So the LORD’s anger burned in that day, and He swore, saying,

11 ‘None of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob; for they did not follow Me fully,

12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have followed the LORD fully.’

13 “So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of the LORD was destroyed.

14 “Now behold, you have risen up in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to add still more to the burning anger of the LORD against Israel.”

Did you ever offer something to someone only to have it rejected? How did you feel? I once came into possessin of book that I thought my pastor at that time would appreciate. I waited until after the evening service and made my way to him and politely said, “I came across something I think you will like, and I want to give it t you.” He looked at the book title and rather bruskly replied, “I already have it.” I was not angry, but his refusal was certainly a rebuke to me. Could he not have said, “Thank you. I appreciate your thinking of me” and politely accepted the book?

Back in Genesis 13, the LORD showed Abram the land we now know as Israel. “I will give it to you and to your descendants forever,” the LORD said. But when the time came for Israel to possess the land, they balked. This angered the LORD, and He said, “None of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob; for they did not follow Me fully…” So, He made them wander around in the wilderness until all of them who were disobedient died.

Remember what I wrote about children following in the footsteps of their parents? You don’t? Well, you and I learn what to do and what not to do by watching our parents. Moses himself said it: “Now behold, you have risen up in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men…” You’re just like your dads!

The LORD was angry because they rejected what He promised them. They refused to take possession of the land.

How does this apply to us? Well, what has the LORD given to us? Salvation and blessings of life, He has given, but we have turned against Him and pushed back His well-intentioned gifts. Shame on us!! We ought to be praising the LORD every day. He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place. He raised Jesus from the dead, and gave us His Holy Spirit to instruct us from the Word. What “land” does He want us to possess? Why, the souls of those who rebel against Him. Are we

praying for the lost? Are we talking to the lost? Are we rejecting participation in the evil, sinful things of this world? We are not if we love Him. Take inventory of your life. Let it count for Christ!

We are praying for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”