Moving At God's Direction

Good Morning! 

I am beginning to like the book of Numbers … and discovering more about the trek from Egypt to Israel.  My intent this morning was to take a look at the rebellion of the people at Kadesh-barnea, when they were on the cusp of entering the Promised Land.  You remember the story …  Israel arrives at the border of Canaan … the Promised Land.  Twelve spies are sent into the land to assess the inhabitants that they would face.  Joshua and Caleb return with a bounty of fruit, shouting encouragement.  Ten other spies come in, fearing the inhabitants.  And the people revolt against Moses … even to the point of attempting to appoint a new leader to take them back to Egypt. God then pronounces judgment upon the people … saying that He will strike them all down … and raise up a new generation from Moses.  But Moses intercedes … and God relents.  Instead, God pronounces that no one over the age of twenty (except Caleb and Joshua) would enter the Promised Land. 

Now I knew this story … but I had not read on in Numbers 14 to see a very important event.  Let’s take a look …

Numbers 14:39-45 English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁹ When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. ⁴⁰ And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” ⁴¹ But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? ⁴² Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. ⁴³ For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” ⁴⁴ But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. ⁴⁵ Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.

Moses delivered the message of judgment to the people … who belatedly realized their sin against God … and mourned because of the punishment.  But rather than accept their punishment, they decided to try to enter the Promised Land on their own. And, as you can see, it didn’t turn out too well.

Okay … but what does this have to do with me?  The answer is “a lot”! 

As a bondservant, my obligation is to serve God when He calls me to serve Him and in the way He calls to serve Him.  When I fail … when I rebel … God will punish me. At that time, it is too late to try to go back and do what He told me to do (unless He tells me to do so).  If I do, I will make a bigger mess of things … and not be successful because I have not learned to follow God’s lead. 

Moses tried to warn the people … to tell them that God was not going to be with them.  They didn’t listen … and they were soundly defeated.  As ambassadors for God, we must represent Him according to His direction. 

God bless you all this good day.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer: Teach me, dear Father God, to move at Your direction so that You will be glorified.  In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today: Numbers 14:39-46