Limited Grace?

Weekly Torah Lesson

Parasha: Shlach Lecha – send for yourself
Torah: B’midbar 13:1 – 15:43

“A servant will not be corrected by words; For though he understand, he will not give heed.” (Pr 29:19)

** Most of humanity isn’t motivated by “words” to make significant, permanent changes in their behavior. A lot of those same people are completely dependent on an unlimited source of “cheap grace”. “Cheap Grace” is the belief that one can be forgiven multiple times for the same negative behavior by simply thinking about and maybe even asking to be forgiven without any attempt to change that behavior. I think that Scripture teaches us something different. Grace is neither cheap nor unlimited. Someone is keeping score. That is why it is written,

*** “because all those men that have seen my glory, and my signs, which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;” (Nu 14:22)
*** “26 And Avinu spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying, 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28 Say to them, As truly as I live, said Avinu, as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you: 29 Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me. 30 Doubtless you shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which you said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your prostitutions, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which you searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall you bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know my breach of promise. 35 I Avinu have said, I will surely do it to all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. 36 ¶ And the men, which Moshe sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander on the land, 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report on the land, died by the plague before Avinu.” (Nu 14:26-37)

These words were spoken when the forty year wandering in the wilderness began. Avinu’s grace had exceeded it’s limit and approximately two – three million people were doomed to die over the next forty years. This is why we are being warned today,

*** “He that being often reproved hardens his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (pr 29:1 ) And later the warning is repeated,
*** “Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in
the day of the trial in the wilderness,” (Heb 3:8)
*** “And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?” (Heb 3:17)

The strongest warning comes a little later,

***“26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. 28 A man that has set aside Moshe law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: 29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of Elohim, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense. And again, Avinu shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Elohim. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings; 33 partly, being made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used. 34 For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of Elohim, ye may receive the promise. 37 For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry. 38 But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.” (Heb 10:26-39)

Avinu reached His limit in the wilderness. Grace doesn’t give us a license to do whatever we want to do. The sacrifice that brought grace is meant to be valued, not abused.