Rebelled from Start to Finish

[S] Deuteronomy 9:7 --
7  "Remember, do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.

[O] What surprised me here was that the Israelites were rebellious from the beginning (day that they left Egypt) to the end (when they entered Canaan).  I thought they were mostly ok except for grumbling and complaining phases they went through.  This is actually pathetic come to think of it but also comforting because that's the reality of us people; and also the reality of how God's grace embraces such a pathetic people.  Not only am I grateful for God's grand grace, I am also grateful for reminding me that when I am in a leading position of other believers, I should lower my expectations on the people's efforts because they are prone to be rebellious from the start to finish.

[A] In light of this insight, I need to keep my eyes on the Cross and lead others not based on their performance or achievements but on God's grace for me.

[P] Dear Father, Your amazing grace shined through once again through this message of the 40 years of wandering -- how Your people just rebelled from the beginning and yet You brought them into the promised land.  Thank You for doing what You promised and not what I deserve (which is nothing).  In Jesus' name.  Amen.