Forgiveness and Accountability (by Walt Henrichsen)

Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” Numbers 14:19

The spies, sent by God to recon the Promised Land, returned with news of the giants. The Israelites complained that God did not treat them properly. Charging God with wrong ensured His judgment. Moses, realizing that the people had sinned, interceded with God on their behalf.   God responds with the promise, “…I have pardoned according to thy word.” Numbers 14:20

When Moses said, “Pardon … as Thou has forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now,” God did not forgive them in the past, as seen in His sending a plague. Numbers 11:31-33  So too, God says He will pardon them, when in reality He forces the nation to wander forty years in the wilderness, ensuring the death of those who complained, prior to God bringing them into the Promised Land.

Obviously, “pardon” and “forgive” do not mean the absence of accountability, but rather the promise of maintaining His covenant with them; they still had to suffer the consequences of their unbelief. If you are not careful, you can easily confuse God’s “pardon” and “forgiveness” in your life as well; God’s pardon does not eliminate the consequences of sin.