Numbers 14:13-19 reveals that the incredible strength of God is shown in showing mercy to us, "vessels of wrath." "And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying," Numbers 14:17 The power that Moshe was asking the Lord to reveal was the power to pardon and show mercy and bring His promises to pass in spite of the obstinate disobedient people.
Mercy requires great power, to not give people what they deserve is a high calling.
\Got a revelation on Sunday before going to teach my 3-4 year old class. The lesson was on "Do Not Worry", and I thought to myself, these kids don't even have a concept of "worry." The lesson plan actually recommended that the adult teacher give examples of things to worry about! I'm not the brightest bulb in the box, but that did not seem like a good idea to me. Earlier in the week I had read a blog by Annie Lifsey about allowing our children to teach us about a true relationship with God. Jesus said to look to them and become like them. At a very young age, worry is a foreign concept and trust comes from their heart. My revelation was, stop trying to teach and allow them to teach you. I will be paying closer attention to them in the future.
Another episode in the life of Moses that is recorded by him in Chapter 20 is hard to read. Moses gets frustrated and angry with the incessant whining of the community and goes beyond the instruction of God. He doesn't speak to the rock, he yells at the people and then takes "partial credit" for bringing forth water from the rock and even strikes the rock twice. For this momentary lapse that probably did not take one full minute of his life, he is banned from leading the people into the promised land. The commentaries that I read allowed me to see that Moshe was indeed being held to a higher standard, because after all he had seen God face to face. Also the rock was a picture of Jesus and was only to be "struck" once, years before, after that "crucifixion" there was never again to be a punishment. After that we speak to the rock, we come to the rock by faith, our words put us in touch with the power of God. Ultimately God will be glorified and that is the main thing. God will be glorified by our obedience or by the just punishment we receive for disobedience.
Mercy requires great power, to not give people what they deserve is a high calling.
\Got a revelation on Sunday before going to teach my 3-4 year old class. The lesson was on "Do Not Worry", and I thought to myself, these kids don't even have a concept of "worry." The lesson plan actually recommended that the adult teacher give examples of things to worry about! I'm not the brightest bulb in the box, but that did not seem like a good idea to me. Earlier in the week I had read a blog by Annie Lifsey about allowing our children to teach us about a true relationship with God. Jesus said to look to them and become like them. At a very young age, worry is a foreign concept and trust comes from their heart. My revelation was, stop trying to teach and allow them to teach you. I will be paying closer attention to them in the future.
Another episode in the life of Moses that is recorded by him in Chapter 20 is hard to read. Moses gets frustrated and angry with the incessant whining of the community and goes beyond the instruction of God. He doesn't speak to the rock, he yells at the people and then takes "partial credit" for bringing forth water from the rock and even strikes the rock twice. For this momentary lapse that probably did not take one full minute of his life, he is banned from leading the people into the promised land. The commentaries that I read allowed me to see that Moshe was indeed being held to a higher standard, because after all he had seen God face to face. Also the rock was a picture of Jesus and was only to be "struck" once, years before, after that "crucifixion" there was never again to be a punishment. After that we speak to the rock, we come to the rock by faith, our words put us in touch with the power of God. Ultimately God will be glorified and that is the main thing. God will be glorified by our obedience or by the just punishment we receive for disobedience.
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