Beginning and Beginning Again 

Rob Genin 

01/09/25

There is great evidence that new starts like those we experience in January help our minds and hearts to establish new patterns and accomplish goals. This is important to say because there is so much cynicism about New Year’s Resolutions. By the time you read this, you might already be struggling to keep your resolve on a change you want to make. I believe God puts this desire to change for the better in our hearts, and we should celebrate those efforts with hope.  

In the book of Numbers, the people of Israel had come out of Egypt and saw God’s great faithfulness. He demonstrated through the ten plagues that He (Yahweh) was unlike all the gods of Egypt, and that He had power over them because they were not gods at all. These people had seen the blessings of God’s deliverance through the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh’s armies. These people had witnessed God’s miraculous provision through manna and water in the desert. They had everything they needed to succeed and take hold of the promises of God in the conquest of the land of Canaan –modern-day Israel (Numbers 1-10). Despite all these blessings, the entire generation perished in the desert because of their sins (Numbers 11-25) – even Moses (Numbers 20).  

I can relate to that story of having God-given opportunities that we did not take advantage of. Maybe you can as well. The good news is that this is not the end of the story. Israel was not forsaken. The son of Aaron, Phineas, showed great zeal for God and stopped the pattern of rebellion (Numbers 25). The remainder of the book of Numbers describes the second generation and how God equipped them to succeed in all the ways that their parents had failed. The book ends with incredible hope – that though Israel had failed, their children were given a chance to begin again and to take the land promised to Abraham close to 500 years before. According to the book of Joshua, this generation trusted God and inherited His promises as a result:  

So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled (Joshua 21:43-45). 

As we begin a new year, I hope that you take confidence in God. He gives us a new beginning in Christ each year, and each day – and even each moment. I hope God gives you bold visions for the obedience He is calling you to in 2025, and that this is the year you will claim that land for Jesus in faith and hope.