The Israelites are finally on the brink of actually entering the Promised Land. They are numbered, reminded of the daily sacrifices and feasts, given some final instructions, Joshua is appointed to lead them in battle. Then, a few tribes decide to stay put, and claim the land that was just emptied instead of carrying on to the promised land. Oh sure, they send soldiers, but the reality is that they have sacrificed their inheritance for the immediate opportunity that has presented itself.
The Midianites sinned against the Lord and Israel, God's wrath meant their destruction, the land was open in front of them. It was an open door, an answer to a hope for them, land for their herds and their families. Certain land. But God had so much more planned for them! God had so much more he wanted to give them, and he had TOLD them he would give them. They went for the sure thing rather than God's promise of the future.
How often do we do this? We see something open up, and we take it as an open door even when we know, deep down, that God is asking us to step out in faith and go for the full promise. God wants obedience, and he too will take us all the way to the promised land if we let him.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Devotions: Life of Moses Numbers 22-25
God can use even those who are against him to reveal his plans and blessings. The story of Balaam is an interesting one, he is a man who was not a follower of God, didn't believe in Him and Him alone. He took money to cast a curse and then God used him to bless Israel instead. He tried to warn Balaam, even told him that, yes, indeed, you will only be able to say what I tell you to say! But Balaam went forth, and tried three separate times to do what the King told him to do, curse the people of Israel.
God however, had a different plan, he opened Balaam's mouth and through the Holy Spirit, made him bless the Israelites, his people. He restated his covenant with the patriarchs, affirmed his plans for the people and the promises he had given them, and then prophesied the destruction of Israel's enemies and eventually the coming Messiah.
God can use whomever and whatever he wants to communicate his will, his blessings, and his promises. He can turn the people whom you would least expect into his mouthpieces. We need to be in tune to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to open our mouths and speak. Maybe next time we want to curse someone (denigrate, criticize, treat with disrespect) we should pray first, wait and then say what the Holy Spirit would have us say. If blessings come out of your mouth instead, God is using you to promote his will instead of your own.
God however, had a different plan, he opened Balaam's mouth and through the Holy Spirit, made him bless the Israelites, his people. He restated his covenant with the patriarchs, affirmed his plans for the people and the promises he had given them, and then prophesied the destruction of Israel's enemies and eventually the coming Messiah.
God can use whomever and whatever he wants to communicate his will, his blessings, and his promises. He can turn the people whom you would least expect into his mouthpieces. We need to be in tune to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to open our mouths and speak. Maybe next time we want to curse someone (denigrate, criticize, treat with disrespect) we should pray first, wait and then say what the Holy Spirit would have us say. If blessings come out of your mouth instead, God is using you to promote his will instead of your own.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Devotions: Life of Moses Numbers 21
Finally we are seeing the Israelites becoming victorious and heading towards the promised land. In the early parts of this chapter, they win a crucial victory at Hormah - where they had been defeated 38 years prior. This place of defeat and sin where the Israelites strayed from the Lord's will has become their first victory!
There is something touchingly poetic about that. Sometimes your greatest sins, where you feel like you could never recover from, can then become your greatest victories. God teaches us, he doesn't just let us fail. Each time we turn to Him he raises us up and teaches us of His mercy, grace, and will for our lives. Maybe that sin that you have been stumbling over, or the massive sin - such as Hormah for Israel - that has brought you to your lowest low, is going to be used as a place of victory later in your life.
The Lord desires to use us, in his will, to accomplish great things. The Israelites are finally achieving victory by trusting in God, and dedicating their lives to his purpose. Have you done that? What is the Lord doing through you? Where do your victories lie? Trust in the Lord and he will provide the victories for his glory!
There is something touchingly poetic about that. Sometimes your greatest sins, where you feel like you could never recover from, can then become your greatest victories. God teaches us, he doesn't just let us fail. Each time we turn to Him he raises us up and teaches us of His mercy, grace, and will for our lives. Maybe that sin that you have been stumbling over, or the massive sin - such as Hormah for Israel - that has brought you to your lowest low, is going to be used as a place of victory later in your life.
The Lord desires to use us, in his will, to accomplish great things. The Israelites are finally achieving victory by trusting in God, and dedicating their lives to his purpose. Have you done that? What is the Lord doing through you? Where do your victories lie? Trust in the Lord and he will provide the victories for his glory!
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Devotions: Life of Moses Numbers 20 & Psalm 90
Moses sinned and was banned from ever seeing the promised land. Immediately, reading the passage, you think: okay how? His sin isn't obvious at first glance. He struck the rock when God said speak to it, he was angry with the people when God didn't instruct him to chastise, but God says he failed to honor him and trust in him.
That made me pause. A while ago I read a novel adaptation of the life of Hezekiah from 2 Kings and he had a similar problem, he was doing everything right, causing the people and his kingdom to turn back to God, but in one instance he claimed the deeds of the Lord as his own and was punished severely for it.
How often do I do this? How often do I allow things that are not my doing, things that I know God has done, to be credited to myself? I should be bringing honor to my Lord, bringing the glory to my Lord, and trusting only in Him not myself to accomplish the things in my life.
And then to read Psalm 90 - written by Moses - to see the humility and love that Moses had for God. How he trusted him to "establish the work of our hands". It is never too late to turn back and have God work through you, with you, no matter the sin. Start honoring Him in your speech, your thoughts, your actions today.
For me the very specific example of this is my car, which is having expensive problems right now, but God gave us 4 months of saving before we were able to get into our house last summer, so we have the money to take care of it. I could say "luckily" (and I've found myself saying that and corrected myself) or I could just take credit "I've been budgeting so..." but it's not the truth. The truth is that we trust God to take care of our needs and He knew the car would break down, and he knew how much money we would need and he has provided for that need. Just like water at Meribah. God is willing to provide for his children. All I have to do is remember to trust him and honor him with all the praise he deserves.
That made me pause. A while ago I read a novel adaptation of the life of Hezekiah from 2 Kings and he had a similar problem, he was doing everything right, causing the people and his kingdom to turn back to God, but in one instance he claimed the deeds of the Lord as his own and was punished severely for it.
How often do I do this? How often do I allow things that are not my doing, things that I know God has done, to be credited to myself? I should be bringing honor to my Lord, bringing the glory to my Lord, and trusting only in Him not myself to accomplish the things in my life.
And then to read Psalm 90 - written by Moses - to see the humility and love that Moses had for God. How he trusted him to "establish the work of our hands". It is never too late to turn back and have God work through you, with you, no matter the sin. Start honoring Him in your speech, your thoughts, your actions today.
For me the very specific example of this is my car, which is having expensive problems right now, but God gave us 4 months of saving before we were able to get into our house last summer, so we have the money to take care of it. I could say "luckily" (and I've found myself saying that and corrected myself) or I could just take credit "I've been budgeting so..." but it's not the truth. The truth is that we trust God to take care of our needs and He knew the car would break down, and he knew how much money we would need and he has provided for that need. Just like water at Meribah. God is willing to provide for his children. All I have to do is remember to trust him and honor him with all the praise he deserves.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)