Faithfulness in God 02.19.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Tuesday February 19, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Numbers. Please read Numbers 14 -- 15, from your Bible or, Click Here. In today's lesson we will read and learn about Moses interceded in prayer for the Israelites; Israel's wasted life; and the laws concerning offerings, sins, and the Sabbath.

Leaving the wilderness of Sinai, the Israelites were led northward until they reached Kadesh-barnea where, for the first time, the people could actually see the promised land lying before them. The march from Egypt, including the 12-month stay at Mount Sinai (Horeb), had taken about 16 months. Now they stood on the threshold of that glorious promised land. A leader from each tribe had taken 40 days to spy out the land. When they returned carrying a single cluster of grapes so large it took two men to carry it, the Israelites were assured by all of them that Canaan flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. They had visible confirmation of its extraordinary fruitfulness. However, ten of the spies discouraged the people from wanting to go into the promised land. Instead of trusting in God they stood there crying, compaining about Moses and Aaron. "And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." (Numbers 14:1-4). It seems incredible that the children of Israel would cry out in foolish rebellion, but they failed to see that God was answering prayers and taking care of every need that they had. When their suffering had become unbearable, God spared them from continued slavery and miraculously opened the Red Sea and delivered them from Egypt. This marked the end of their journey to the land of promise and began 38 years of wilderness wanderings, awaiting their death sentence.

The very root of their rebellion was self-destructive unbelief, which always disregards God's ability and integrity to fulfill His promises. In bold opposition to the majority opinion, Caleb shouted his faith in the promises of God yet no one would listen to him. Caleb had faith to recognize the vital importance of obeying God's Word as their Guide regardless of circumstances. It appears that the Israelites were ready to stone Caleb and Joshua, who were willing to die for their faith in the promises of God. God rewarded the faithfulness of Caleb who later asked if he could possess Hebron as his inheritance in the promised land. His willingness to remain faithful resulted in being able to enjoy his choice in the promised land. "And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it." (14:21-24)

One of the severest tests of sincerity is found in the willingness to remain faithful to Christ when it seems like everyone is against you. Our usefulness to God lies in obedience, and the measure of our usefulness is determined by our faith in the Word of God and the degree of our discipline and submission to God's will. Satan's objective is that our decisions be like the unbelieving Israelites and not like Caleb. Satan seeks to divert a Christian's thoughts from trusting in the Lord to doubting Him. Such diversion is in opposition to the single eye that takes God at His Word and that puts the Lord first and foremost above all other considerations. We must always put God above all things as He is our only hope from being lost in the wilderness.

In today's lesson Jesus Christ is revealed as God's glory (Numbers 14:22). Jesus Christ is the brightness of His glory. "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:" (Hebrews 1:3).

Today's Psalm: 31:23
"O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer."

Today's Prayer: From Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God bless you.
Christina

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