“You can go easy…or you can go hard.”
Israel left Mt. Sinai with an eleven-day walk ahead of them to reach the edge of the Promised Land.
That simple little “walk” took forty years.
This is an example of “going hard.” What should have been easy turned into a long, tough lifetime because of the wrong attitudes.
“The way of the transgressor is hard.”
God is more interested in your character than your progress.
Check off these attitudes and be sure you are not delaying your destiny:
Complaining about misfortunes.
As soon as Israel left Sinai, they began to complain. They were there in the “glory” at the mountain, but ended up in the barren wilderness for the rest of their lives.
Unappetizing food was where their “detour” all started. Their imagination reminded them of the delicious food in Egypt (not to mention that they were slaves there, having their backs beaten and making unbearable brick quotas).
Complaining brings you to a “full stop.” God answered their complaints about manna by giving them so much quail that it ran out of their noses.
“You can go easy, or you can go hard.”
Criticism of leadership
Aaron and Miriam (Moses’ siblings) began to criticize his choice of a wife.
There was only one problem: it was none of their business. Also, Moses was God’s chosen leader who brought them out of Egypt.
Miriam was suddenly turned into a leper. Full stop.
The whole nation had to wait for seven days while God healed her and allowed her back into camp.
“You can go easy, or you can go hard.”
Discouragement from bad reports.
Israel sent out twelve spies to check out the Promised Land. They returned with an “impossible” report.
The people were furious at Moses and spoke of stoning him and Aaron. God decided to make them spend one YEAR in the desert for every DAY the spies were in the land (forty years).
It’s important not to get cynical, critical, and fearful. It stops you in your tracks and causes you to miss your destiny.
“You can go easy, or you can go hard.”
Rebellion against God’s government.
Korah and his buddies were Levites (not priests). They wanted the priesthood and blamed Moses for blocking that process.
God told everyone to clear out from around the rebels’ tents. Suddenly, the ground opened up under them, and the entire group of them fell alive into hell.
Be careful about spreading dissension and rebellion against godly, humble leaders.
“You can go easy, or you can (really) go hard.”
Wrong responses from a leader.
Moses led like no other leader for thirty-eight years.
One day, however, he lost his cool. Trying to open the rock to get water, he hit the rock twice when God had told him to “speak to the rock.”
God had to cancel his reservation for the Promised Land.
No one is exempt from a bad attitude, even leaders.
“You can go easy, or you can go hard.”
Stay humble. There is no need to turn eleven days into forty years.