Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness because of their unbelief and disobedience. God brought them to the promised land fairly quickly, but when the spies returned with an unbelieving report of giants in the land, the people refused to believe God and so they were sentenced to 40 years of wandering. Only Joshua and Caleb, the faithful spies, would be granted entrance into the land. Scripture says that for the most part God was not pleased with that generation; most of them died in the wilderness in unbelief.
Nevertheless, God provided from them in the wilderness abundantly. He sent them magical bread six days a week, and then even quail on occasion, and gushing water from rocks in the middle of the desert. He supernaturally cared for their well-being, protecting them from enemies, and Scripture says He even cared for their shoes, so that they did not wear out. In the midst of judgement, God still remembered mercy. In the midst of walking through the consequences of their sins, God walked with them in the tabernacle, and the fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day, providing shade from the burning heat.
Sin frequently has consequences, but there is a massive difference between walking through those consequences under the blessing of God or the cursing of God. God is full of compassion; He makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. But for the just, for those who look to Him in faith and gratitude, that rain is even sweeter.
Perhaps you are enduring some consequences of your past actions even here today. The offer of this table, the promise of this table, is that Christ will be with you, even there, even in the consequences of your sin. Here is your bread in the wilderness. Here, is even wine from the grapes of the promised land, ahead of time.
If you have confessed your sins, then you are clean. You are completely forgiven. This bread and wine is God’s solemn promise of that forgiveness, and His solemn vow that you are now under His blessing. Scripture says that this is a cup of blessing. Would you have the blessing of God on your life? Then come in faith. Confess your sins. Humble yourself completely. And rejoice in Christ.
And come and welcome to Jesus Christ.
Shalom says
Wow. That was a very encouraging thought. Thanks Pastor TS.