May God bless you for joining us as we read Numbers 12-14.
Humility
This passage speaks about the humility of Moses. Remaining modest is an arduous task in today’s society. People will not take you seriously if you are. Society rewards boasting and arrogance in most areas.
In the presence of greatness, humility is effortless. Moses was working directly with the Creator of heaven and earth.
Because of his humbleness, we read people were challenging Moses. His wife was a Midianite and the rest of the Jews did not think he was worthy to lead them any longer.
I’m certain this bothered him, but he pushed those feelings aside.
God, however, was not so willing to turn a deaf ear. It is always great when the Boss has your back, and this was the case here.
Even though Miriam was in the wrong, for which God had stricken her with leprosy, Moses prayed for her. When we pray for our enemies, we show God’s character. Because of Moses’ prayer, God rewarded him, and Miriam’s affliction lasted only a week.
Following the Lord’s command
God then tells Moses to send the Israelites into Canaan to spy out the land. It was just as God had promised a land flowing with milk and honey. Just like us, they were greedy and wanted something better than what they had.
A land flowing with milk has great and healthy herds. This means there were lush pastures for them to graze on. The presence of honey meant bees. Bees pollinate the crops and vineyards. Both are signs of abundance.
But they didn’t want to have to work for it.
When they found the people were enormous, they refused to fight them. Only Caleb and Joshua trusted the Lord was with them.
Doubts linger
How the rest, being aware of what God had already done for them against the Egyptians, could have such doubt is a mystery.
It is one we all struggle with.
I had to shut down a magazine I was publishing, and we were on the brink of bankruptcy, but God delivered us.
I remember the day I applied to my current employer. It was nearly twenty-four years ago. I could not even finish the computer test. I had been using Macintosh computers for so long that the Windows commands were foreign to me.
That night I was at a baseball game with members of our church and a friend asked if I had found a job yet.
“I know one place I won’t be working,” I told him. The words got stuck in my mouth. “Let me rephrase that,” I said. “Unless it is God’s will, I know where I won’t be working.”
The next day, the company called while I was out applying for other jobs. When I arrived home, my wife told me they called. I asked if they were laughing?
“No,” she replied, “I think they want to interview you!”
She was right, and I knew it was God’s will for me to work for them. I have remained there for over two decades.
Still, I see other opportunities in life, and I struggle with doubts. Is it too much to ask for God to deliver me again?
Verse 14:9 tells us not to rebel against the Lord. They were told not to fear the people in the land because God would be with them.
God asks Moses how long the people would treat Him with contempt. (Num 14:11).
We must ask ourselves when we fail to move because of doubts in our abilities. Are we treating the Lord with contempt? If we are doing what God wants us to do, will He not go with us and assure us of success?
