In our last study we saw Israel not following through with what God commanded them to do. They were to conquer the Promised Land and drive out the inhabitants, but lack of faith, along with fear and intimidation caused them to pull back instead of pushing forward. This will ultimately be a thorn in their side as we will see in this week’s study.
God chose Israel to be His holy people, but that required obedience and trust on their part. It’s the same for us today. It’s easy to say the words I believe but there has to be action that accompanies these words or it is just words.
James 1:21-25
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Israel forgot who they were as God’s chosen people and their own actions brought adversity and conflict.
