A warning to consider
It’s too Late
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And early in the morning they went up to the crest of the hill country, saying, “Here we are, and we will go up to the place that the Lord commanded, for we have sinned.” But Moses said, “Why are you now transgressing the commandment of the Lord? It will not succeed!
Numbers 14:40-41 (NET)
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Here’s the warning:
Sometimes you wait too long and it’s too late.
This story comes from the Israelites after they refused to go up to the Promised Land. They saw the giants in the land (“we were like grasshoppers to them” -- probably hyperbole, but still paints a picture) and feared for their lives and the lives of their children.
Legitimate fears as far as I can tell.
Yet God had told them He would fight for them. Plus they had already seen His mighty wonders in toppling Egypt.
I mean, they had plundered the Egyptians by asking for gold and the Egyptians just gave it to them!
Despite having legitimate fears, they should not have disobeyed God.
Character is looking at a situation, being scared, and doing the right thing anyway.
There have been a few times when I’ve had to tell myself, “it’s okay you’re scared … do it anyway.”
I can’t think of ever regretting that decision.
What the people here did regret was waiting to be obedient.
God punished their faithlessness and they decided to try and appease Him by going out to battle like they were first asked to.
But it was too late.
I had a mentor once say, “delayed obedience is present disobedience.”
Clearly evident in this passage, with the consequences on display.
Bottom line:
If God wants you to do something, do it right away.
(Yes, I’m preaching to myself here too.)
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2026 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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