July 16

“It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.” Deuteronomy 1:2

Kadesh-barnea was at the very entry to the land of Canaan itself. Thus only eleven days after leaving Mount Sinai, the children of Israel would have entered Canaan. Yet because of their unbelief, they wandered in the wilderness for thirty-eight long years before their descendants finally entered the land. What a circuit they had traveled!

How many days have we wasted in our spiritual journey? All too many, I fear. Problems that might have been solved in a few days remain outstanding, often for years. Like the Israelites, we circle around in the wilderness, wasting God’s time and our own. Instead let us heed his voice exhorting us to hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end. His ways are straightforward. He has a promised rest for us to enter.