Today’s Reading: Numbers
While Moses was on the mountain, God gave him detailed instructions regarding the building of a holy sanctuary where God could live among the people of Israel. Those instructions included specific patterns for every piece that furnished the Tabernacle. Each detail had a purpose. One detail was to set up seven lamps in the lampstand, placing them so that their lights would shine forward (Numbers 8:1-4).
There was an intentionality to direct the light in such a way that others would see it — that they would be drawn to the light. The light had significance and it was meant to be cast forward for all to see. Just like the lampstands were built by design, we are also created with a purpose. We are to be a light in a world full of darkness.
WE ARE CALLED TO REFLECT GOD’S LIGHT SO THAT OTHERS ARE IMPACTED BY OUR RADIANCE.
The people of Israel (all 603,550 of them plus women and children) were still wandering in the wilderness and had not yet arrived to the land God had promised. Eventually the Israelites became tired of this way of life — wandering from place to place, daily picking up and moving on. Manna was no longer enough for them. Now they wanted meat. Moses became aggravated with the people and began to feel sorry for himself, taking out his frustrations on God.
Moses responded – Where am I supposed to get enough meat to feed all these people?!! Oh Moses, I relate to your faithless behavior. I know I serve a God who provides generously, yet I find myself asking how I am supposed to do what God is calling me to do. I can also sadly relate to the people who had been blessed by God yet had become dissatisfied and bored, ready for God to bless in a new and different way. Oh, what a patient God we serve! Oh, how we must frustrate Him!
Numbers 11:23a
God answered Moses, “So, do you think I can’t take care of you?” (The Message)
“Has my arm lost its power?” (NLT)
“Is the Lord’s arm too short?” (NIV)
Over and over again Moses had witnessed the Lord’s provision, yet he lacked the faith to believe that God could do what He said He would do. I would love to sit here in judgment of Moses but the truth is that I am no better than him. I hear the Lord asking me, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? So, do you think I can’t take care of you? Has my arm lost its power?”
WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT OUR GOD IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.
Now the Lord told Moses to send out men into the land of Canaan to explore the land. Twelve men were chosen, one leader from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The men came back and reported what they had found, and they brought back the fruit of the land to show Moses. The land was indeed flowing with milk and honey and the fruit was luscious, but the people were powerful and the cities fortified. They celebrated the bounty of the land but also worried about the “giants” in Canaan.
God was blessing them with a wonderful opportunity — the fulfillment of His promise to them. God had proven to them that He was both their protector and their provider, yet they lacked the faith to step forward in obedience. They chose fear instead of faith. Thankfully two of the spies saw the size of their God rather than the size of their enemy.
Because the people of Israel lacked the faith to cross into Canaan, Moses asked God to forgive them for falling short once again. God had rescued them from Egypt, allowing them to see His power at work through the plagues as well as the crossing of the Red Sea. They had walked on dry land, received quail and manna from heaven, and been nourished by the water God caused to flow from a rock, yet they lacked the faith to take the final step into all God had promised them.
Had they learned nothing from their journey with God? Because of their lack of submission, tomorrow would look much different. Instead of stepping into all God had beautifully planned for them, they would turn around and head back to the wilderness. For every day the 12 spies had spent in Canaan they would spend one year wandering in the wilderness.
When God’s people camped at Kadesh, there was no water and they began to rebel against Moses and Aaron once again. They blamed the leaders for their discomfort and circumstances. Without water, there would be no grain, no grapes, no pomegranates, and obviously nothing to drink. The brothers went to the Lord and God gave them clear instructions, just as He is in the habit of doing for us.
Moses took his staff of leadership with the intent of following God’s instructions but, when the moment came for him to act on his leadership, Moses trusted in his staff more than He relied on His God. He was instructed to speak to the rock (20:8) and instead struck the rock. Water poured forth and their needs were supplied, but not in the way God had instructed Moses. Moses found himself relying on the strength of his own leadership instead of God’s miraculous power, and the consequence was great.
Moses was not called by God to rescue the Israelites from Egypt; he was called to be the leader through whom God would deliver His people from their enemies. Moses was not tasked with leading the Israelites to the Promised Land; he was assigned to follow God as God daily led His people by a cloud during the day and fire at night. But because he had a moment of doing things his own way instead of God’s, because he received the glory instead of allowing God to demonstrate His holiness, Moses would never cross over the Jordan River again.
As they followed God out of the wilderness, they experienced attack after attack, yet the Lord faithfully gave them victory over those who were choosing to oppose God’s people. He provided for them according to His plan, each day bringing them closer to the land He had promised to their forefathers. Following God did not mean a life without opposition but He was with them each step of the way.
WE ARE CALLED TO TRUST IN THE GOD WHO LED US TO THIS MOMENT.
Lord, thank you for teaching us through the stories of your people. May we live in confidence today that you are more than enough. Looking back at the many ways you have provided for us and protected us along the way, we choose to follow you into your plan for our future. May our willingness to trust you become a light for those around us as we reflect your radiance. Amen.