Today’s Reading: Numbers 20–22, Psalm 119

Do I trust in my own leadership or in the God who led me to this moment?

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. Moses and Aaron fell face down before the Lord with this new problem and God gave them clear instructions, just as He is generously in the habit of doing for us.

“You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the entire community and their livestock.” – Numbers 20:8

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 to speak to the rock and he instead struck the rock. Water poured forth and the 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.

“Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” – Numbers 20:12

Am I focused on my own plan or listening for God’s plan?

Balaam was so focused on his own plan, what he thought he should do, that he was both blind and deaf to God’s attempts to block his plan.

God’s response through his angel (22:32-33): “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to OPPOSE you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her.”

Once God had his attention, Balaam’s response was one of repentance and obedience (v.34): “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

We live in a world of smartphones, smart tvs and smart cars. If we need an answer to a question, we ask Siri. If we need directions, we go to Google Maps. If we want to get somewhere spending less money while being more environmentally friendly and get a good parking spot when we arrive, we drive a smart car. But has our culture become so “smart” that we have stopped following God’s word and stopped hearing His voice?

So again I ask — do I trust in my own leadership or in the God who led me to this moment? Am I focused on my own plan or listening for God’s plan? Am I pushing after what I want instead of listening for God’s instruction? I want to respond as Balaam did. I want to be the one who has a heart of repentance and is willing to go with God’s plan the moment I realize that I am doing my own thing instead of following the Lord. I want to be smarter than my mode of transportation.

Thank you for the reminder, Lord, to live in faith and not fear. Please show me if at any moment today I am trusting more in myself than in You. Quiet the distractions and circumstances in my life so that I can better listen for your clear instructions and your plan. My desire is for your way and not mine. I love you, Lord. Amen.

I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your decrees. Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. – Psalm 119:26–27

Today’s Reading: Numbers 16–19

“I am giving you the priesthood as your special privilege of service.” – Numbers 18:7b

Like Miriam, another person thought more of himself than he should. Korah from the tribe of Levi, along with three others from the tribe of Reuben, incited a rebellion out of jealousy – jealous of Moses’ leadership and jealous of Aaron’s elite position as priest.

They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?” – Numbers 16:3

“Korah, he had already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well?” – Numbers 16:10

As a Levite, Korah had been given a special ministry but it was Aaron and his sons who were made priests. Korah became discontent with what God had blessed him with and coveted the priesthood. But we cannot demand anything from the Lord. A calling is a privilege to receive, not a right to demand or a position to covet.

For his selfishness and pride, Korah and his followers received the wrath of God. For the first time ever, the earth opened up and swallowed the tents of these rebellious men, taking all of their families down into the grave alive. The other 250 men who had entered into the rebellion were burned up with a fire from the Lord (Numbers 16:31-35).

The Lord gave Moses instructions to gather a staff from each leader of Israel’s 12 tribes, with the leader’s name inscribed on the staff. The 12 staffs were placed in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark and God said sprouts would grow on the staff of the man chosen by God. When Moses went back in the Tabernacle the next day, Aaron’s staff had not only sprouted, it had budded, blossomed, and was producing ripe almonds (Numbers 17:1-8).

When God calls us into leadership, He takes the staff we have been given to lead with and He makes something grow. When we remain humble, recognizing the source of the growth, God can take our leadership beyond our wildest imagination. He can take our calling and make it sprout, blossom and produce fruit.

So do I tend to be more like Korah or Aaron? Do I allow jealousy to creep into my heart or find myself allowing the game of comparison to steal my joy? I pray that I humbly accept the leadership of others whom God has called. When it is my turn, when God calls me to do something significant for Him, I pray my humble spirit and faith in Him allow God to take my life and make something sprout, blossom and produce fruit – for His glory!

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that REACH deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Today’s Reading: Numbers 13–15

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.

“See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” — Numbers 13:18-20

The men came back and reported what they had found and brought back the fruit of the land. 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 worried about the size of the men in Canaan, calling them “giants”.

THEY CHOSE FEAR INSTEAD OF FAITH.

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. But there were two of the spies who saw the size of their God rather than the size of their enemy.

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!’

But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers and that’s what they thought, too!” – Numbers 13:30-33

God was angry with the people for once again living in fear instead of faith. God was ready to destroy the Hebrews with a plague, but once again Moses intervened and prayed for God to forgive His people.

“Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty…In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people…’” – Numbers 14:17-19

We serve a God of compassion who was once again willing to look past the doubt of many to see the faith of a few. God recognized in Caleb a different spirit. He saw that Caleb followed him wholeheartedly. Because of their faith in God, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who would enter into the land of Canaan.

WHEN OTHERS CHOSE FEAR, THEY CHOSE FAITH.

So do I tend to be more like Caleb or the other spies? Where am I on my faith journey? Do I have the tendency to back away from difficult situations and tough conversations, or do I respond to the Spirit’s leading regardless of my fear? Do I choose to live in fear or in faith? I want to be like Caleb, one who has a different spirit and follows the Lord with all my heart – living in faith and not fear.

Be still and know / That the Lord is in control / Be still my soul / Stand and watch as giants fall / I won’t be afraid if you are here / You silence all my fear / I won’t be afraid / You don’t let go / Be still my heart and know / I won’t be afraid [Be Still, Hillsong Worship]

Today’s Reading: Numbers 12, Hebrews 3, Psalm 103

He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. – Psalm 103:7-10

CALLED OUT BY GOD

Have you ever been “called out” for your behavior or actions or attitude? That is literally what happened to Miriam in this next passage of scripture – she was called out. Moses was a very humble man but Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses, concerned that he was getting all the credit. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?…Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” (Numbers 12:2)

God heard them and called them out of the Tabernacle where they received a good old-fashioned lecture. At the moment Miriam heard God say, “Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you”, she had to know she was in trouble. God’s response:

Listen carefully to what I’m telling you. If there is a prophet of God among you, I make myself known to him in visions; I speak to him in dreams. But I don’t do it that way with my servant Moses; he has the run of my entire house; I speak to him intimately, in person, in plain talk without riddles: He ponders the very form of God. So why did you show no reverence or respect in speaking against my servant, against Moses? – Numbers 12:6-8 (The Message)

Jealousy and pride crept into Miriam’s heart and she began thinking more of herself than she thought of God. Not only did she get called out by God, she was placed in a “time out” of sorts. Miriam was struck with leprosy and made to spend seven days outside the camp by herself – seven days covered with skin as white as snow, time segregated from her family and friends. She had plenty of time to find the humility she was lacking.

Miriam also had time to consider how her actions were impacting others. While Miriam was in her “time out”, the people didn’t move. No progress was made while the Israelites waited for Miriam to learn her lesson. Her bad attitude and jealousy had literally stopped the movement of God’s people. Are there times when our attitude or selfishness is standing in the way of where God is taking His people, His church?

CALLED BY GOD INTO MINISTRY

God made it clear that Moses had “run of the entire house” or as it says in the NLT, “Of all my house, he is the one I trust” (12:7b). The writer of Hebrews also spoke of the faithfulness of Moses and how he was entrusted with God’s entire house (God’s people) because he was a faithful servant. In the same way, Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house for he was faithful to God who appointed him (Hebrews 3:1-6).

And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. – Hebrews 3:6b

So do I tend to be more like Miriam or Moses? Do I worry about receiving glory and credit, fame or attention? Or do I humble myself before God – only concerned that God receives glory? Like Moses, I want to know God intimately and humbly enter His presence. I want to be called by God, not called out by God. I am so thankful this morning for a God who forgives us, even after our most foolish moments.

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him. – Psalm 103:11-17

Today’s Reading: Numbers 1-6 and 10:11-11:35

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24

The nation of Israel went through a time of responding to all the Lord commanded them to do through Moses. They were growing in numbers and God’s blessings were evident. The beginning of Numbers is often avoided but God is generous and can tell us exactly what we need to hear, even in the book of Numbers. So as I hear myself whining and complaining, I read in Numbers about how Abraham’s growing family had a problem with whining and complaining.

NO LONGER ENOUGH

Now 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 – tired of the work of picking up and moving, wandering from place to place. They were tired of the manna God had provided for them to eat and they began to whine and complain. 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.

And Moses said to the Lord, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” – Numbers 11:11-15

“Don’t make me come down there.” This was a common sentence at my house as I was growing up and in this passage we hear God giving the same sort of fatherly warning. He said He would come down and the Israelites would get want they wanted – Oh boy, would they get it! In fact, they were about to get enough meat to start them whining and complaining again.

DISSATISFIED AND BORED

Moses responded – Where am I supposed to get enough meat to feed all these people?!!! Oh Moses, I wish I could not 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 have been blessed by God but have 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!

God answered Moses, “So, do you think I can’t take care of you?” – Numbers 11:23a (The Message). Or the NLT version says, “Has my arm lost its power?” and the NIV says, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?”

Over and over again Moses had witnessed the Lord’s provision and also the Lord’s anger at the people’s complaining and selfishness, yet here he is – the one lacking faith to believe that God could do what He said He would do. I would love to sit here in judgment of Moses and shake my head in unbelief but the truth is that I am no better than Moses. I am the one to whom the Lord needs to ask the question “Is the Lord’s arm too short?” or “So, do you think I can’t take care of you?” or “Has my arm lost its power?”

GOD IS MORE THAN ENOUGH

Over and over again we witness God’s provision. My prayer for us today is that we know with confidence that God can take care of us, that His arm is not too short. I pray that we remain in a state of obedience without questioning God or praying for more than what God is giving us. I pray that God does something within each one of our hearts today, causing us to only desire what He desires for us and to be content with what He has for us. Lord, may these things be true in our lives today. Amen.

God has provided over and over again and I choose to trust Him. I have faith that He is able and He will take care of me. I pray God strengthens your faith today as you trust in Him.

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. – 2 Corinthians 9:10

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 18-27

This is clean; this is unclean. This is permissible; this is unacceptable. You can eat this, but don’t eat that. Chapter after chapter in Leviticus define how God wants us to separate ourselves from sin and from situations that might tempt us to sin. We serve a God who requires holy living, but who also generously equips and supplies us with HIS holiness. Praise God!

So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who MAKES YOU HOLY. – Leviticus 20:7-8

I love this! The Lord God, who requires us to be holy, makes us holy. That’s the kind of gracious God we serve! He clearly lays out his expectations of holy living and what it looks like to obediently follow his commands, but He knows we cannot make ourselves holy. It takes the hand of the Almighty to reach down and do something in our lives as we submit our will to Him. Then God gets the glory for our life of holiness.

HIS HOLINESS IS ON DISPLAY AND NOT OUR OWN EFFORTS TO PERFORM.

You must faithfully keep all my commands by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord. Do not bring shame on my holy name, for I will display my holiness among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who MAKES YOU HOLY.” – Leviticus 22:31-33

The book of Leviticus lays out the requirements of God for the people of Israel – requirements of how to worship, how to make sacrifices and how to life their daily life. God instructed them on how to live in relationship with a holy God and how to live in relationship with others. Just as we learned in Exodus, God’s command is clear – to love God also requires that we love others.

HIS HOLINESS IS ON DISPLAY WHEN HIS LOVE FLOWS THROUGH US.

Act with justice, speaking up for others (5:1). Do not spread slanderous gossip (19:16). Show respect for the elderly (19:32). Love foreigners as you love yourself (19:33-34). Don’t take advantage of one another (25:14). Help those who have fallen into poverty (25:25,35). Be generous towards the poor:

“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 23:22

More than 2000 years later, the apostle Peter reminded the people again of God’s call to holiness. Just as God commanded in the book of Leviticus, Peter taught the same connection between holy living out of love for God and holy living displayed in our love for others.

So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”…For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God….You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. – 1 Peter 1:14-22

The God-required response to our salvation is to love each other. Our salvation is not just about us. We were not saved to live focused on ourselves but we were saved to focus on God in obedience and love. We were called to holy living and that call includes living a life of love and kindness toward others. That is what God required of the people of Israel in Leviticus, that is what God required of the Jewish Christians to whom Peter wrote, and that is what God requires of us today.

…you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” – 1 Peter 2:9-10

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that GOD SUPPLIES. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. – 1 Peter 4:8-11

Our holy God, who calls us to be holy, will make us holy. What He is asking us to do, He will equip us to do. He will give us spiritual gifts and He will supply us with the strength and energy we need to do what He is asking us to do. Why? So that our lives will bring glory to Him. That is my desire this morning – to live a life of obedience, letting God come in and MAKE ME HOLY for His glory and for His purposes. Lord, this is my prayer!

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 1-17; Numbers 7:1-10:10

What is the purpose of the book of Leviticus? It is often tempting to skip over this book full of priestly instructions, but even in this detailed list of rules and how-to’s God makes Himself known to us. We serve a God of details – a very specific God.

By reading through the instructions for the priests of Israel, we better understand the God we serve. We understand that He is a holy God and that He has provided for the atonement of our sins so that we can worship our holy Father and live in a relationship with our holy Creator. Each sacrifice described, each holy day required, teaches us something about the God we serve and what He requires of us.

“For I am the Lord your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy….For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy.” – Leviticus 11:44-45

GOD CREATED A PROCESS FOR THE ATONEMENT OF THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE.

The priests were given specific instructions on how to purify the people from their sins and make them right with the Lord so they could be forgiven of their sins. Even when they sinned unintentionally, God required them to respond at the moment in which they became aware of their sin – to respond with a heart of confession (Lev. 4:35; 5:5,13).

Chapter 16 of Leviticus describes the Day of Atonement – a day in which the sins of God’s people were presented to the Lord in confession and payment for those sins was made in order to make right what was wrong. The blood and life of an animal was presented to God as a substitute for the life of the sinner. As the animal parts were ceremonially presented to God, His anger was appeased and the worship of His people was accepted.

For the life of a creature is in the blood and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. – Leviticus 17:11

IT IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS THAT MAKES ATONEMENT FOR OUR SINS TODAY.

The death of Jesus on the cross makes it possible for us to be in a right relationship with a holy God – a God who requires us to live a holy life.

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. – Ephesians 1:7-8

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. – Colossians 1:20

JESUS NOT ONLY BECAME THE SACRIFICE FOR US, HE ALSO BECAME THE PRIEST.

Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice and mediated a new covenant between God and people. Because of this sacrifice, we are adopted into God’s family and will receive an eternal inheritance.

So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood – not the blood of goats and calves – he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. – Hebrews 9:11-15

Precious Jesus, thank you so much for dying to set us free from our sin. Thank you for living in us through your Spirit, making it possible for us to experience a life of holiness. Cleanse our hearts and purify us from all efforts to be self-righteous and self-centered. Lord, we love you and long to worship you with pure hearts.

“You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” – Leviticus 19:2b

Today’s Reading: Exodus 36-40

IT WAS ALWAYS GOD’S PLAN TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE.

It was always God’s plan to lead His people and to direct them in His ways. They were never alone and never without His leadership. This is evident in His instructions to Moses. He told Moses to build a Tabernacle so that He could live among His people, giving him an exact pattern to follow. There were specific instructions about the Ark of the Covenant in which the stone tablets containing the 10 Commandments would be placed. Moses was given the exact measurements for the table, the lampstand, the framework and curtains for the Tabernacle. There was to be an altar on which to give burnt offerings and a courtyard. Lamps burning pure olive oil were to burn continually.

God set apart Aaron and his descendants as priests to minister in the Tabernacle and again gave specific instructions regarding their role and their garments. On the ephod (apron with front and back pieces joined by shoulder straps) was engraved the names of Jacob’s twelve sons in birth order, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He would carry these names on his shoulders reminding him of who he represented every time he went before the Lord.

IT WAS NEVER GOD’S PLAN FOR AARON TO LEAD GOD’S PEOPLE OF HIS OWN STRENGTH.

The chestpiece was beautifully adorned with twelve stones, again representing the twelve tribes of Israel. It was worn as a constant reminder that it was the priest’s task to bring the people to God and to bring God’s word to the people. He was to wear the chestpiece for seeking decisions from God. Aaron was never meant to lead the people of his own strength, but was to always seek God and follow His lead.

The preparations God asks us to make are different than those He instructed the Israelites and priests to do, but He still desires for us to prepare our hearts to enter into His glorious presence. He longs to live among us and be our God, that we might know that He is the Lord our God!

For we are the Temple of the living God. As God said: “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. – 2 Corinthians 6:16b-7:1

What a privilege to be in God’s presence!
Who am I representing when I come before the Lord?
Whose needs am I lifting to God in prayer?
Am I seeking God for every decision, following His lead?
Is His will the desire of my heart?

IT WAS NEVER GOD’S PLAN FOR MOSES TO LEAD GOD’S PEOPLE HIS OWN WAY.

Moses was never meant to lead the people at his own pace, but was to always seek God and follow His lead – God’s will, God’s way, in God’s time. Sometimes the whirlwind of life pushes us to move at a faster pace, or sometimes it slows us down. God says – Let me lead. Let me set the pace. I know where I am taking you. Trust me.

Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. – Exodus 40:36-37

Lord, cleanse us from everything that can defile us. Create in us a clean spirit and make us a masterpiece of your holiness at work, clothing us in your righteousness. Bring the needs of your people to our hearts this morning so that we can lift their needs to you in prayer. Dwell among us, oh Lord, and lead us on today’s journey. Help us to trust your timing as we relax and let you lead at your pace, taking us where you want us to go. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Exodus 34 – 35; 2 Corinthians 3

Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,
“Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generation.
I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty…” – Exodus 34:5-7a

Yesterday, we talked about the mercy of God. It is important for us to know how much God loves us — that He is a God of compassion and mercy. He is patient with us and slow to anger, forgiving our iniquity, rebellion and sin. But we must also recognize that He is a just God and a holy God. He does not excuse the guilty.

God loves us enough to care whether or not we are choosing to serve Him with our whole hearts. It matters to Him when we choose to not obey His commands or fail to live out our faith. He wants a personal relationship with us and He is jealous when our heart chooses to be more passionate about what this world has to offer than we are about Him.

You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. – Exodus 34:14

When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the new tablets on which God had carved His commands, his face was reflecting the glory of God. He had spent time in God’s presence and it was clearly showing. He had witnessed the anger of God when His people worshipped the golden calf and He had experienced the mercy of God when He agreed not to destroy them for their unfaithfulness. The impact of Moses’ time in God’s presence had made an impact on Moses and a veil was necessary to cover the glory of God reflecting on his face.

When we harden our hearts and are found guilty and unfaithful, a veil covers our minds making it hard to understand God and His ways. God is holy and sin separates us from Him. But when we believe in God, the veil is lifted and we experience the Lord firsthand as He lavishes His unfailing love on us, forgiving us of our iniquity.

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. – 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

Father, we thank you for the freedom we experience when you forgive us of our sins and fill us with your Spirit. As we experience this freedom, we pray that your glory is reflected in our lives so that you can make an impact on those around us. May your Spirit living within us write a new letter on the hearts of those impacted by the ministry to which you have called us. May your reflection to make an impact on others. Amen.

Your lives are a letter written on our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with ink and pen, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. – 2 Corinthians 3:2b-3

Today’s Reading: Exodus 32 – 33

God emphasized over and over again how He is to be the only God and that His people should not bow to any other idol or worship anything else but Him. When he came down from the mountain, Moses found God’s people doing the very thing God had just stressed over and over again not to do – he found them worshipping an idol.

Moses knew how important it was to God that His people not defile themselves in this way and he understood God’s plan to destroy them all and start over. But Moses stood between God and the Israelites and begged God to forgive them, to allow them the opportunity to repent and try again. And so God allowed the Israelites to live.

WHAT A MERCIFUL GOD WE SERVE!

Moses had a big job ahead of him and he knew it. He knew that he was called to lead a stiff-necked people. Moses knew he needed God if he was going to accomplish the task set before him. He knew what it was to be in God’s presence and longed to continue in His presence with God leading him. He boldly asked God for more information.

You tell me, ‘I know you well and you are special to me.’ If I am so special to you, let me in on your plans. That way, I will continue being special to you. Don’t forget, this is your people, your responsibility.”

God said, “My presence will go with you. I’ll see the journey to the end.”

Moses said, “If your presence doesn’t take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you’re with me in this, with me and your people?…”

God said, “I will make my Goodness pass right in front of you…Look, here is a place right beside me. Put yourself on this rock. When my Glory passes by, I’ll put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I’ve passed by. Then I’ll take my hand away and you’ll see my back. But you won’t see my face.” – Exodus 33:12b-23 (The Message)

I don’t know what task God has before you today, but I pray you hear Him say that He will walk this journey with you to the end because He knows you well. You are special to Him, and He knows you by name. May you have the strength and faith needed to put yourself on “this rock” – this place right beside your merciful God. May you feel the protection of God tucking you safely into the cleft of the rock and covering you with His hand. May your heart’s desire always be to remain in God’s presence and allow Him to lead you each step of the way on this journey He has chosen for you.

GOD KNOWS YOU BY NAME.

Just as God cared about Moses and invited Him to experience His presence, He loves us enough to be present – to allow us to feel His presence in the good times and in the hard times. He has a purpose for our lives and He calls us by name (Isaiah 45:3).

Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands… – Isaiah 49:15-16a

I love the thought that God knows everything about me – all my faults and all my fears, all my regrets and all my sins – yet He loves me!

OH, WHAT A MERCIFUL GOD WE SERVE! MY NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND AND SO IS YOURS.

In April, the ministry I have the privilege of working for will hold their 11th healing retreat for individuals who are struggling with the pain of an abortion decision they cannot undo. This weekend allows a woman or man to go “Deeper Still” to find the forgiveness and healing God wants to give them. Will you help me spread the word? There may be someone you know who holds a secret tightly in the depth of their heart and they need to know that God loves them and has written their name on the palm of His hand. For more information about the Deeper Still retreats, go to: http://hopeforafuture.com/Deeper-Still