SCRIPTURE: Numbers 33
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” [Matthew 4:9-10]
Numbers 33, describing their journey through the wilderness to the promised land, finishes with a warning not to be enticed by the culture and religion of the land.
Compromise will be deadly!
This may seem harsh, but only if we underestimate the poisonous corruption and cruelty of the Canaanite culture and religion.
It’s sensuous practices were enticing, but deadly; they promised pleasure but ultimately brought pain.
This is the constant challenge for Jesus-followers.
As we journey through the wilderness of this world, we are enticed by deadly delights and painful pleasures.
How many Jesus-followers have succumbed to the devil’s lies and shipwrecked their faith?
Like Jesus we will be tempted by the devil towards deadly pleasures.
They sing their beautiful love songs like the deadly sirens in Greek mythology, but the end result is misery and death.
They will become barbs in our eyes and thorns in our sides, giving us trouble in life.
Think of people who have been wooed by sexual infidelity, easy money, the high of drugs or alcohol, etc.
Where does this path lead?
Like Jesus, we must resist and put to death the temptations that lure us away from God and from good.
This is no laughing matter.
It’s because Christians do not take this threat seriously enough that so many of us lose our way and crash.
God is no killjoy, He is protecting us from the joy-killers.
Compare Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness with Jesus’ 40 days.
Jesus resisted the devil’s lies, they did not.
We experience ‘wilderness’ when we compromise our faith and convictions and morality.
PRAYER:
Lord, today I say with determination, ‘away from me Satan!’ Come close to me, Lord, and help me to stand firm.
The stages of Israel’s journey is described here starting with the exit from Egypt when the Lord God brought judgement upon the Egyptian gods. The next major event described was Aaron’s death – the 40th year out of the land of Egypt. Then finally the divisions of the land.
Once again the people were reminded to do the Word of the Lord. He had been their Guardian during all these travels – times of obedience and disobedience. Now once again – serve Me and destroy the idols of the land.
If we do not drive our sins out, our sins will drive us out. Serve the Lord your God with heart soul, mind and strength. God is first and if not the sin will be the death of us/me as it was for the people of Israel.
Once again I am reminded – Do this and Live. Walk in my SonShine!
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.