What Sin Does (Dt 1:19-46)

Few passages in Scripture provide a fully study of what sin does than Dt 1:19-46.

1. Blinds: Sin blinds people to God's gracious providences. Moses highlights frequently the motif of "seeing" (Dt 1:19, 22-23, 25, 28, 30, 31, 33). But sin or "faithless eyes" are selective in what they allow to register in their hearts and minds. They only saw the obstacles and difficulties. Because they were blind to the greater One among them (1 Jn 4:4), they could not and would not see the prize (Dt 1:35-36). They had no "theology of remembrance." They could not remember God's many interventions on their behalf (Dt 6:20-25; 26:5-11).
   
2. Snowballs: The many faces and manifestations of sin. Sin or faithlessness does the following:
• Unbelief: It suppresses the truth (Dt 1:32).
• Disobedience: It is expressed in stubbornness and rebellion against God's command (Dt 1:26).
• Bitterness: It leads to grumbling behind the leader's and God's back, bitterness, and misreading the heart of God (Dt 1:27).
• Blames others: It accuses other members of the community (Dt 1:28).
• Fear: It leads to fear and cowardice (Dt 1:29).
3. Shallowness: Sin causes shallow and superficial repentance. They assume that the mere mouthing of penitential words will win the favor of God (Dt 1:41).
4. Presumption: Sin leads to presumption and further devastation (Dt 1:41-46). Even their tears of bitter weeping did not move God to pay attention. They needed a sincere desire to obey God, rather than crying tears of regret.