Numbers 26

“These are the ones registered by Moses and Elazar the priest when they registered the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across Jericho. But among them there was not one of those who had been registered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they registered the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord said to them that they would all die in the wilderness. None of them was left except Caleb, son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”  Numbers 26:63-65 (HCSB)

“Hey Moses, turn the lights out when you leave!”

Have you ever been the last one in line? You know, it’s halftime at the football game, and you wanted to watch the marching band, so now you’re stuck for 30 minutes trying to get a hot dog, only to find out the guy in front of you bought the last hot dog. It’s a bummer to wait for something and then be denied. That was the story of almost all the Israelites who had left Egypt. All but two: Joshua and Caleb.

The generation of Israelites who had been delivered from Egypt had grumbled, complained, and turned from the Lord. They had refused to enter the Promised Land by faith, so the Lord told them they would not enter at all. The whole generation was to die in the desert within 40 years. Only Joshua and Caleb were to enter. They were the only ones who declared, “We can defeat the inhabitants of the land because God is with us!”  

In addition, Moses & Aaron disobeyed the Lord by refusing to “speak” water from a rock, choosing instead to strike it with Moses’ staff. In return for their poor leadership, God barred Moses and Aaron from leading Israel into Canaan.

As Moses got the results of the census, one thing must have been going through his mind:  I’m the last guy. End of an inning,  

Every one of the adults (from the generation who left Egypt) had passed away, just as God had declared. Soon, Moses would be gone, but according to God’s promise, Israel would enter the much-awaited “Promised Land.”

Something I love about Jesus is how He has entered Heaven before us. Not only will He lead us into Heaven, but He has also defeated the enemy! Moreover, He prepares a place for us where we will by no means be cast out.