Numbers 14 -15, Psalms 90

(Monday)

Well, I think I can safely say the Israelites really angered God. Here God is, trying to bless them with a “land flowing with milk and honey” and what do they do? They decided that their fear of the Amalekites, et al, is stronger than their faith in what God can and will do for them.

God wants to wipe them out – destroy them. Ever hear of the Wrath of God? Well, this is it. But then Moses intercedes for the people, I’m not sure I would have… all things considered, but then Moses is their leader and they are his responsibility, Moses makes a good argument and God withholds punishment that would have destroyed all of Israel.

What we have happening here is the overwhelming and uncontrollable emotion of fear. Fear that blinds the people – they can’t see beyond the obstacles; the fortified cities and the very large descendants of Anak. What fear or fears do you have that will keep you from entering the “promise land”? Don’t let your fears control you, God is bigger than any obstacles we might face.

So then Moses tells the people what their punishment is and now they think they can go in and conquer their enemies. Going forward without God is not going to end well for them. When will they ever learn, when will we ever learn?

I pray that you will be more faithful in your journey with Christ than the Israelites were. We need to learn to trust that where God leads us, we should willingly follow.

The Psalm that we read today, known as the Prayer of Moses, speaks well to the situation. The Psalm takes us from despair to hope. Life is difficult, and our time on earth is often spent facing insurmountable obstacles, but in the end what really matters is a life lived for Jesus. The hope that we have is the promise that beyond these days, beyond our mortal bodies, there is so much more waiting for us.

Blessings on the day!

PK


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