11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? (Numbers 14:11)
In chess there is an opening called “gambit”. The word comes from the ancient Italian “gambetto” meaning “to trip, to stumble.” With this move, the player sacrifices a chess piece (which is risky), but eventually, he achieves an advantageous position. The risk is taken because the gambiteer sees farther ahead than the mere loss of the chess piece (former world champion Mikhail Tal once reportedly told his opponent Mikhail Botvinnik that he had sacrificed a pawn because it was simply in the way).
Some situations in our life may be rather precarious, and we, desperately, try to make them secure and stable. However, it may be that we just do not see “farther ahead.” When Moses and Israel started on their journey to the promised land of Canaan, that seemed to be a regular road trip – the journey would only take about two weeks. About halfway there, Moses sent a few spies into the land to scout the routs out. The spies returned claiming that the Canaanites were too powerful for Israel to overcome. That led to a revolt: the Israelites refused to take the land. They rebelled against God and Moses. They complained about food, about water, they complained that they would be crushed by their enemies. God gave them their wish, decreeing that the whole generation would die in the wilderness, and the land would be taken by their children.
Father, we pray that You work Your promises into our hearts. Help us put our problems in Your perspective, knowing that You always stand by Your word.
BLOGGING IS LIVING: Bible Notes 
Amen!