Years ago, I was in Berlin on a bridge near the Pergamum Museum. At that time, on the bridge, were about 10 people entertaining the crowds. Each person had their territory on the bridge and they were playing the shell game for money. Each individual had three match boxes and one pea. The onlookers had to identify where the pea was after they had shoveled the boxes around. So many in the crowd believed they knew where the pea was, and so much money was lost by the crowd. Yet individuals in the crowd stayed until they had lost enough money to make them feel utterly defeated. 

Israel played the obedience game with God. They believed their obedience would be enough to gain them favor with God. God continually watched them in their disobedience. He truly wanted them by His side. He even made it clear that the covenant He had made was based on Him and not on them. He merely wanted them to exercise faith. His hand was extended, and all they had to do was to take it.

As you walk through life the deathly temptation is to trust in your works to gain you acceptance in God’s kingdom. That will never work. It ends in damnation. The only road to glorification is faith. Trust Jesus today and live.