Numbers 19-21 = Today's Thoughts

Today’s thoughts from Numbers 19-21

 

How concerned is God with our obedience.  Well lets look back over the last several chapter and what do we see.  God has given specific instructions on nearly every aspect of life.  In many of the cases failure to obediently follow his plan is met with swift consequence and often resulting in death, not just the death of one or two but in many cases of disobedience the death of thousands was the consequence. Who is exempt, in our world today we often recognize that there are rules but often feel exempt for one reason or another, well look at Moses.  Moses quite possibly had the most unique of all relationships with God.  He has regular and familiar conversation, he is taken into God’s presence for regular interaction probably more so than any other individual in scripture less Christ himself.  And yet even when Moses is disobedient to God’s will he is not spared from severe punishment.  But don’t confuse punishment with abandonment.  God never abandoned his people even when they were  severely punished,  for example they didn’t trust him…Lost out on promise land for 40 years….he provides for their daily sustenance while they are wandering….people rise up against Moses and Aaron….God wipes those people out…..then helps them win specific battles against their enemies….Moses doesn’t follow God’s plan….Water is still provided to sustain them.   On and on the examples go of God’s provision in an atmosphere of correction.  The Israelites just as we are today, were a terribly flawed group of followers.  At times belligerent, ungrateful, self-serving, prideful, insolent children, and while God punished them because that’s what was right in their relationship too him he also never stopped providing for them, and caring for their well being.  Don’t confuse punishment and correction for abandonment.  Make sure that you learn from it and work toward restoration of relationship with the father.

 

Have a great day.

Rob

 

 

 

Numbers 14-18 = Today's Thoughts

Today's thoughts from Numbers 14-18

 

If I were to titles these chapters as a group it might be called, “Not a good day to be an Israelite”  God has just shown them their inheritance (the promise land), a land flowing with milk and honey.  A land he has not only promised them, but led them to, overcoming enormous obstacle and adversity along the way.  All along the way he demonstrates with myriads of miracles His power his authority and his passion for these people.  All for them to take one look at the land see hurdles and immediately crumble, defeated and disillusioned.  How frustrated God was with his chosen people.  It isn’t different today though.  We see God working all around us and yet fall defeated at the sight of perceived hurdles and obstacles.   We have opportunity placed before us and often we see only the pitfalls.  We fail to remember the enormous blessing that brought us to the point we are at in our relationship and we only see the potential failure.  We forget that God can work all things out for his Glory.  Just like the promise land look so foreboding God had a plan to succeed,  it only required the faith of his people.  And while the promise land looked like a tough road, look at what a lack of faith provided the Israelites.  God didn’t abandon them in either option and we can be assured that he isn’t going to abandon us either, but which track will we as believes follow.  The one that requires a supernatural faith in a God that has proven his devotion, or little faith and a road that while may be consistent, who really wants to wander aimlessly in their journey with God.  He was with the people in the desert for 40 years, but how much greater would their lives been had they stepped in faith and followed God where he was providing them direction.

 

God didn’t ask the Israelites to step blindly, he asked them to follow where he was leading because they knew where he had led them from.  Where are you headed in your relationship, the Desert or the promise land?

 

Have a great day

Rob

 

Numbers 7 - 13 Today's Thoughts

Today’s Thoughts from Numbers 7-13

 

God knows our hearts, good or bad, he knows our thoughts and the motivations of our lives as if we had clearly articulated it to his face.  When the people of Israel grumbled against God, he knew their heart, their motives and their justifications.  When Miriam and Aaron were resentful and jealous of Moses and his authority, God knew the destructive nature of their thoughts.  When the 12 spies came back with their reports, God knew of their overwhelming lack of faith in Him and his power to prevail.   Talking to God daily is for our benefit, not his; he already knows our thoughts and our heart.  He does however long for that relationship and when we seek him is when we can find him.  Regardless of how busy you get, make sure you take time to spend part of it with the Lord.

Rob