Through Numbers 預覽

Costly Mistake 

Today's passage is one of the most challenging of the Bible to digest, in my opinion. It is a reminder of what God expects of us. Imagine the frustration of Moses. He was happy living with his family in Midian when God told him to go to Egypt to deliver the Israelites. Delivering the Israelites from the clutches of Pharoah was not an easy task. He had to be a spokesperson of God and show the mightiness of God to the Egyptians. 

God lead them toward the Red Sea, and there they see the Egyptians follow them. They thought they saw the last of them a few days back. God came through again when the Israelites got sandwiched between the Red Sea and the pursuing Egyptians. The Red Sea parted, the Israelites walked on dry ground. Meanwhile, the pursuing Egyptians found themselves under the sea as the walls of water melted.

Difficulties didn't stop there. At one point, even God gave up on the Israelites. Then Moses pleaded with God to change His mind. Moses stood in the gap between them and God on many occasions. It appears that Moses finally runs out of patience as he struck the rock instead of talking to it. 

Did Moses run out of patience, or was it that he doubted God? Was it that he was more comfortable striking the rock than talking to it? God reprimands Moses and Aaron in front of the congregation that they did not trust Him and or treat Him with Holy reverence. The consequence of this disobedience was they were denied entry into the promised land. This seems unfair. 

How do we respond to those times in our life when we question God's fairness? Do we go close to God trusting His word, or do we storm out of God's presence, believing He is not worth it? Like Moses and Aaron, can we complete our journey on earth looking to God to strengthen and lead us? Though we see Moses negotiating with God to reverse his decision, he willingly accepted God's judgement and went through the consequences. God is a just God, not a fair one. If He was fair, we would all die in our sin. 

Thought for the day: 

What situations in life challenges or hinders you in following God's leading to complete your journey in the Lord?

Lord, Help me to walk each day with you in this journey of life. 

Additional Reading - Numbers 19-21