Healing for the Nations

Read It: Numbers 14:15-19

15 Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, 16 ‘Because the Lord could not bring this people into the land which He promised them by oath, therefore He slaughtered them in the wilderness.’

17 But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, 18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.’ 19 Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”

Meditate On It

1. Read Numbers 14. What is the context of this passage? What has just happened to the Israelites as they were traveling towards the Promised Land?
2. How did the Israelites respond to the report regarding the land (vv. 1-4,10)? What did Moses do as the leader of the people (vv. 5-9, 13-19)?
3. Examine Moses’ prayer more closely. How did he view God’s character? What did he ask specifically from God?

Apply It

Just like the Israelites on the way to their appointed destination, we too often grumble at the onset of obstacles. Despite having clear directions from God, we waver and resort to following our own ways. Nevertheless, Moses prays on behalf of the people: to be pardoned for their disobedience and to be spared from pestilence. The Lord remained merciful and extended His promise to the generation after; that they may be God’s faithful witnesses to the rest of the world.

1. Whenever I experience hardship or hear of troubling news in the country and around the world, what is my first recourse? Instead of being paralyzed or protesting, how can I pray more?
2. Do I regularly confess to God and keep accountable to others for my sin and shortcomings? How can I be more transparent in admitting my faults and in being humble to improve? (Take the time to confess any aspect of life that may not be pleasing to the Lord. Ask and pray for a contrite and humble heart.)
3. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God and of this nation, do I fulfill my part in being filled by the Holy Spirit and by being prayerful? In what way can I reflect God’s character more in my life and in the world around me?

By faith, I will develop a lifestyle of prayer and being Spirit-filled by…Set Simple, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic, Time-bound (SMART) commitments

Example: “As a Christ-follower, I will pray and fast every Friday at noontime for the Philippines, the world, my church, and my family.”

Pray It

• Intercede for the citizens of our nation — that we may all live for God and care for one another as Christ has shown us. May every citizen come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and grow in Christlikeness.
• Intercede on behalf of our country — including government officials, so that we may all seek the Lord and fulfill His will over the issues that continually encroach upon our nation.
• Pray for leaders to uphold biblical values and exemplify godly character, competence, justice, accountability, and family — for them to serve with integrity, wisdom, faithfulness, protection, and guidance
• Pray for major national issues:
  • Graft and corruption, drugs, forced labor, human trafficking
  • Ungodly values, moral decline, materialism, idolatry
  • Economic hurdles, high gas prices, inflation, traffic problem, bills, and laws that are against God’s word and will
• For more citizens from all walks of life to be saved by the Gospel, to develop a genuine love for the Lord, and to be discipled by the Church
• For the Lord to raise awareness among citizens (especially the youth) on political engagement and good citizenship that is Christ-honoring and Bible-based
• Pray that every nation would come to know and experience the love of God in Christ through His global church