Breach of the promise of God

Numbers 14:34

“After the number of days in which you spied out the land [of Canaan], even forty days, for each day a year shall you bear and suffer for your iniquities, even for forty years, and you shall know My displeasure [the revoking of my promise and my estrangement].”

As stated earlier, God’s promise is a contract that He is bound to fulfil. He stands by His promise. It is a done deal. As much as God cannot overrule or override His promise, you can decide on your own to infringe on the promise He has made to you. This breach of the promise of God attracts His anger. Nothing attracts God’s wrath and anger more than when you try to take away the character of what makes Him Almighty and All-Powerful God; by not believing His word. Remember His Word is His holy promise. He regards such an attitude of unbelief as an abomination. Likewise, God is moved by your faith in Him. Unbelief implies that His character can be impeached thereby maligning His reputation as the One and Only Trustworthy God.

Beloved, the children of Israel were at the threshold of the Promised Land when Moses sent some scouts to go and spy the land and report back their findings to the people. Those selected were leaders of the people. Men who had seen God’s great signs and wonders both in Egypt and across the desert. So nobody, could tell them better who God was/is and how God works. They were at that period entrusted with the destiny of the children of Israel. They knew the promise God made to their people all too well and that was why they were chosen for the task. They went and came back with an evil report that the children of Israel would not be able to overcome the inhabitants of the land and that they were like ants and grasshoppers before them. In other words, they were suggesting that God did not have the capability to bring His promise to pass. This report stirred up mutiny in the camp of the children of Israel. This goes to say that you should be careful with your actions, attitude, words and the choices you make; especially when the destinies of your family, your people and your nation are entrusted in your care.    

Beloved, their report resulted in a breach on the part of the people. It was a breach of trust, a breach of faith in God and a breach of the promise God made to their forefathers and to them. And the anger of God was kindled against them. The result was that the people stayed 40 years longer in the desert wandering about. Every day that the spies spent in reconnaissance of the Promised Land, were converted into a year as part of their suffering and punishment. In other words, the people on their own prolonged God’s promise for their lives. But God, who is a great God, who cannot fail and can always be counted on His promise eventually, brought His promise to pass after the people completed their punishment. He led them into His promise (the land flowing with milk and honey) after the last of the unbelievers/rebels had died in the wilderness.