Judges 2:16-3:6 “Nevertheless”

Nevertheless, is a powerful word…
In English it means “in spite of.”
In Hebrew it means “ceasing,” “an end to,” “finality.”
In Greek it means “a transition into something new.”
The word nevertheless can have a positive or a negative connotation.
And we have an example of how the word works in both the Hebrew and Greek.
In Numbers 13 we read:
And showed them the fruit of the land. 27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. (Numbers 13:26-27)
As the spies Moses sent into the Land of Promise to give a report…came back…they said the land is all God said it would be.
It was flowing with milk and honey, and it had plenty of fruit.
But then they said this:
Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. (Numbers 13:28)
That one word…nevertheless…brought an end to what God wanted to do with the children of Israel in the Promised land…
They were on a journey from Egypt to the Promised Land…and that one word caused that journey to cease…
As that generation would not enter the Promised Land at all…they would die in the desert.
And Joshua and Caleb would lead the next generation from age 19 to the youngest into the Promised Land.
We find the word nevertheless in the New Testament Greek as a positive response.
After fishing all night and not catching anything Jesus told Peter to:
“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4)
So, Peter responds:
“Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5)
Nevertheless…in this case it was transitioning into something new.
Peter obeyed and his obedience transitioned into a blessing of so many fish the boat almost sank.
The word nevertheless has the power to change everything…it has the power to change us as individuals and as a church.
It has the power to cease what God is doing in your life because of your disobedience or lack of faith…
Or, it has the power to transition your life from defeat to victory!