Do you despise the Lord? Surely not. Even if we aren’t quite what we ought to be, we don’t despise the Lord, do we?
In Number 14, the Israelites listened to a bad report from some spies who had gone through Canaan, and the people determined they could not take control of the Promised Land. Even though God promised to be with them, they rebelled. They determined it would be better to return to Egypt than to try conquering Canaan. When God spoke with Moses, He said, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?” When the people refused to believe God and obey Him, the Lord didn’t take that as a minor slight. He claimed the people despised Him.
We are no better if we persist in doubt, rebellion, or both. When we refuse to trust God and obey Him, we reveal that we, like ancient Israel, actually despise the Lord.