Hey, Gary, no questions or points to ponder? LOL Anyway, here are some interesting points that caught my eye as I was reading this week: Instead of blaming the Israelites for allowing themselves to worship idols, God took it out on the Midianites. I certainly understand the Midianites sin but the Israelites did not have to say "YES" to idol-worshiping. It was absolutely crazy for the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanting to make land not sanctioned by God as their home. God in his perfect wisdom had once again become angered by the gaul of Reuben and Gad and decided that ALL the men from 20 years old and upward would not even see Canaan. He did make an exception of Joshua and Caleb, two men who followed the Lord completely. Imagine that, only two men out of thousands who followed the Lord properly. The Israelites, because of their sin, were destined to wander for FORTY years until everyone died out. Wow!!
"And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God..." (Deut. 1:31-32). The lesson is for us who tend to take God for granted or to see Him as only a theory. One of the most sad stories in the Bible is Moses denied entry in the Promised Land. It goes to show you how important it is to listen to God EXACTLY! Moses was told to speak to the rock to bring forth water and he hit it twice instead. The Bible does not say why, but I can make an educated guess that Moses was frustrated with the Israelites whining and took it out on the rock. But because of that disobedience, he could not go into the new territory. Harsh punishment? Maybe. But it should teach us to listen to God when he gives us specific instruction.
Hey, Gary, no questions or points to ponder? LOL
ReplyDeleteAnyway, here are some interesting points that caught my eye as I was reading this week:
Instead of blaming the Israelites for allowing themselves to worship idols, God took it out on the Midianites. I certainly understand the Midianites sin but the Israelites did not have to say "YES" to idol-worshiping.
It was absolutely crazy for the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanting to make land not sanctioned by God as their home. God in his perfect wisdom had once again become angered by the gaul of Reuben and Gad and decided that ALL the men from 20 years old and upward would not even see Canaan. He did make an exception of Joshua and Caleb, two men who followed the Lord completely. Imagine that, only two men out of thousands who followed the Lord properly. The Israelites, because of their sin, were destined to wander for FORTY years until everyone died out. Wow!!
"And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God..." (Deut. 1:31-32). The lesson is for us who tend to take God for granted or to see Him as only a theory.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most sad stories in the Bible is Moses denied entry in the Promised Land. It goes to show you how important it is to listen to God EXACTLY! Moses was told to speak to the rock to bring forth water and he hit it twice instead. The Bible does not say why, but I can make an educated guess that Moses was frustrated with the Israelites whining and took it out on the rock. But because of that disobedience, he could not go into the new territory. Harsh punishment? Maybe. But it should teach us to listen to God when he gives us specific instruction.