Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Thursday February 19, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Numbers.

Today's Bible Reading: Numbers Chapters 14-15
You can read the chapters by clicking on the link above, if the link does not work you can copy and paste this one into your browser: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2014-15&version=9

Today's Message: Promised Land
God promises us a wonderful life, but we must be willing to let Him guide us to the promised land.

Leaving the wilderness of Sinai, the Israelites were led northward, for the first time the people could actually see the promised land lying before them. A leader from each tribe went to spy out the land. "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel." (Numbers 13:1-3).

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. For forty days they searched the land, "So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. And they returned from searching of the land after forty days." (13:21-25).

When they returned carrying a single cluster of grapes so large it took two men to carry it. The grapes were a confirmation of its extraordinary fruitfulness. Caleb and Joshua, two of the twelve were quick to say that they could take the land, but the other ten discouraged it and caused chaos with all the Israelite's. "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." (14:1-4). The children of Israel were determined to decide for themselves what was best rather than look to the Lord. The Israelites then changed their minds; but the Lord forbade them to go into the land.

This marked the end of their journey to the land of promise and the beginning of forty years of wilderness wanderings. "Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me. Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise." (14:28-34).

Although the Israelites admitted without repenting that they had sinned, they did not pray for guidance, but they immediately decided to sin again. First they sinned by their unbelief that God would help them conquer the land. Then they sinned by their presumptuous self confidence in deciding to enter the promised land even after Moses had told them not to.

Today, many people are self sufficient, independent, and determined to guide their own lives. They feel they do not need God to help them through anything and disregard Him all together. Consequently, they forfeit the many promises of the abundant provision of the Lord.

Growing up in a fatherless home one can become pretty independent, but even the strongest person needs God's guidance. Without Him we are weak and vulnerable to every evil our there and what might seem like the opportunity of a lifetime ends up being total disaster. It is not possible to go against the will of God and prosper, there may be temporary joy, but it never lasts. We must put aside all of our pride and humbly seek God for He truly is the only one that can guide us to the promised land. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33).

Today's Psalm: 9:9-10
"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
We are confronted with deception on many fronts every day, so much so, that we can be deceived without even realizing it. Would You help us to watch out and be on our guard so that we are not deceived by man’s words, no matter how convincing they are, how charming their personality, or how cunning their craft. Help us not to fall for Satan’s deceptive tactics that have brought down believers throughout the church age. We seek You for strength and discipline. We search the Scriptures for discernment and the true revelation of who Jesus is; the Son of the Living God. In Jesus' name..........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night.
God Bless,
Christina

Visit A Spiritual Guide
www.aspiritualguide.net