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Deuteronomy 1:34-44 – Repentance Without Consequence
Repentance without consequence is what we all want. Repentance without having to reap what we have sown sounds wonderful and looks forward to the future. Yet that is not God’s way. How many more would confess if they knew there would be no consequence? Is the reality of our sin heavier because of the consequences? Does that reality create true mourning, instead of superficial sorrow?
You know too well the story of Israel fearing the giants, casting consternation among their fellow Israelites, and disparaging even God’s goodness (Deut.1.27). God’s judgment, Israel’s consequence, was not entering the land of promise and wandering around the wilderness for another 38 years. This obviously did not settle well with the Israelites. Listen to their response:
Deuteronomy 1:41 HCSB “You answered me, ‘We have sinned against the LORD. We will go up and fight just as the LORD our God commanded us.’ Then each of you put on his weapons of war and thought it would be easy to go up into the hill country.
Sounds good, right? They confess their sin, and set out to obey their God. They wanted repentance without consequences. However God said,
Deuteronomy 1:42 HCSB “But the LORD said to me, ‘Tell them: Don’t go up and fight, for I am not with you to keep you from being defeated by your enemies.’
So what did the Israelites do?
Deuteronomy 1:42 HCSB “But the LORD said to me, ‘Tell them: Don’t go up and fight, for I am not with you to keep you from being defeated by your enemies.’
So much for obeying God! So much for true repentance. Keep reading Moses’ words and we learn that God was not with the Israelites, and consequently they failed (Deut.1.42-44). Because they were not with God in obedience, God was not with them in their so-called “repentance.” Maybe that is why God’s way is repentance with consequence. Only then do we show our true heart. Only then can we truly repent because we are willing to suffer the consequences.
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