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