SCRIPTURE: Numbers 14
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I see several important lessons in this reading. I see the poisonous effect of negativity and despair, and how many people are hurt because of it. I see how God holds these poison spreaders accountable (see Luke 17:1-2] I see the consequences of doubting God, missing out on the blessings He wants to share with us. I see the patient grace of God in not giving up on Israel, but allowing their children to still inherit the blessing, despite their own refusal to believe. And I see the folly of trying to do things without God, to move ahead into His mission without Him. Its doomed to fail!
I guess through it all, I see how much I need the Lord in order to experience the blessing I desperately seek. The “fruit” of a blessed life (happiness, joy, peace, prosperity, health) is not attainable apart from God. Everything I need is to be found in/with Him. I’ve got to silence the doubts that Satan (and others) throw at me, I’ve got to trust and obey. Like Joshua and Caleb I’ve got to hang on to the Lord, cling to Him, rely on Him, trust in Him.
Jesus said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” [John 15:4-5]. This is not just about the fruit of good deeds, it is the fruit of life, the blessed life. We cannot take the promised land in our own strength. We cannot find happiness or peace on our own. Only in and with the Lord will we find the blessing we seek.
I believe this theoretically, but often the experiences of life lead me to doubt this. I cling to things, to possessions, to my savings or investments, I trust in the economy or the government or my education or… whatever. Satan, like the 10 spies, makes me dwell on the negative stuff. To doubt, to question, to despair. And the result, when I feed those negative thoughts, I end up wander in despair, hopelessness, disappointment.
Stop believing the lie. Stay as close to Jesus as you can. Rely on Him, trust in Him, speak to Him, imitate Him. Apart from Him we can do NOTHING. Sure, technically, that’s not true, we do lots of things without Him. But know this, we can do nothing of lasting value or meaning. We can’t ultimately succeed or find happiness. All our dreams will one day run out. Apart from Him, our hopes will be dashed. With Him, all our (good) dreams will come true!
PRAYER:
Lord, may I sense Your life, Your power, Your blessing flowing through Your vine into my branches. May I receive the promised blessing in You.
17 “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’
Once again I am reminded that how I live from day to day influences the next generation. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I need to walk with Him each day, and fully rely in Him in all I do and say. Like Caleb and Joshua, I need to live under His protection at all times.
Whom do I like to? Each day I need to see the mercies of the Lord. Each day I need to walk in the light of His counsel. Each day I need to start and finish with Him. Each day I need to walk in the light of His Sonshine. Without Him, I am a dead man walking around doing my self interests and never being satisfied. Woe is me – to live without the Source of Light and Life.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.