SCRIPTURE: Numbers 26
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” [John 21:15]
Todays reading from Numbers speaks of a new beginning.
Forty years have passed, now is the time to prepare to enter the promised land.
This is a new beginning, a new people, God is graciously giving them another chance.
Jesus follows in this grace, by giving Peter another chance to serve Him too, even though he denied Jesus.
God is a God of second (and more) chances.

None of those numbered in Numbers 1 (twenty years and older) is still alive, except Moses, Joshua and Caleb.
And yet they are described as “the Israelites who came out of Egypt” (Numbers 26:4b).
They are Israel, God’s people, and this is a new beginning.
You might say this chapter is God’s way of saying ‘let’s try this again’.
And so the men of the tribes are counted for military purposes, the army of Israel.

Nothing in your past can prevent you (and me) from making a clean start.
Even Peter, who cursed himself, is invited to start afresh.
Don’t let Satan trick you into thinking that God could not forgive you.
With God, the past has been dealt with (on the cross), your mess has been cleaned up, your failures have been acknowledged, forgiven and forgotten.
When He sees us through Jesus, He sees a new creation, a saint (holy one).
And He says, ‘let’s try this again!’
Our God is a God of second chances!
Will you take Him up on the offer?

PRAYER:
Lord, I have had so many chances that I have blown. More than three times. Yet You remind me that I can be forgiven seventy seven times [Matthew 18:22]. Thank You for giving me another chance!