Week 36: Do not rebel against the LORD

Now that summer vacation is over, it's a good time to renew your commitment to read the Bible, and to get into the habit of having a daily Bible reading routine. This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): II Timothy 3-4
* Monday (the Law): Numbers 13-16
* Tuesday (history): I Chronicles 20-24
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 105-107
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 22
* Friday (prophecy): Joel
* Saturday (gospels): John 13-15

This week's SOAP is from Numbers 14:

Scripture
"The land we passed through is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD." [Numbers 14:7b-9a]

Observation
This passage in the book of Numbers always strikes me. The people of Israel are on the verge of entering the Promised Land. They send out 12 explorers to explore the land. The land is good, flowing with milk and honey as the passage says. They bring back huge grapes, and a good report about the bounties of the land. But 10 of the 12 explorers also bring back a bad report about the inhabitants of the land and their fortified cities. They see 'lions and bears' on the road to the Promised Land, and they don't believe in the power of the LORD, to defeat their enemies and give them the land, even though he promised to give it to them, and despite all the miracles they have already witnessed in the desert.

Only Caleb and Joshua believe in the strength and the promises of the LORD. They plea with the people to not believe the bad report: "Do not rebel against the LORD!" But 10 against 2 is a tough situation, and the people do rebel against God. They believe the 10, and even want to stone Joshua and Caleb. Then the LORD appears in all His glory, and protects these two men who believed in Him. You have to read the remainder for yourself to see what God does, and how the story ends.

Application
We are all on our way to the Promised Land, eternity with Jesus Christ and God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. What do we do when we get closer to the Promised Land? (and every day we live, we get a little closer!) Do we believe and cling to God's promises, or do we rebel against God, and make it hard on ourselves and the people around us? I know for myself that there have been times I have rebelled. Or there have been times (and still are sometime), when I don't believe in the power of God, and I only see the 'perceived problems' on the way to the Promised Land: the 'fortified cities' of the enemy (the devil), and his helpers who try to keep me away from the Promised Land. When that happens, I have to realize that God is in control, that his promises will never fail, and that he has the power to bring us safely into the Promised Land, regardless of my situation.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to focus on you, on your power. To not rebel against You, but to trust your promises and lean on them, day after day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Have a great week.

Dick