Verse for the Day, 14 September 2016.

Numbers 34:1-12, “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  (2)  "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders),  (3)  your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom, and your southern border shall run from the end of the Salt Sea on the east.  (4)  And your border shall turn south of the ascent of Akrabbim, and cross to Zin, and its limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass along to Azmon.  (5)  And the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and its limit shall be at the sea.  (6)  "For the western border, you shall have the Great Sea and its coast. This shall be your western border.  (7)  "This shall be your northern border: from the Great Sea you shall draw a line to Mount Hor.  (8)  From Mount Hor you shall draw a line to Lebo-hamath, and the limit of the border shall be at Zedad.  (9)  Then the border shall extend to Ziphron, and its limit shall be at Hazar-enan. This shall be your northern border.  (10)  "You shall draw a line for your eastern border from Hazar-enan to Shepham.  (11)  And the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain. And the border shall go down and reach to the shoulder of the Sea of Chinnereth on the east.  (12)  And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and its limit shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land as defined by its borders all around."”

Here is recorded for us the borders of Israel, not drawn up by men, nor was it negotiated upon by a council. The borders were drawn up by God, this was His people and His land, which the Israelites were called to take possession of the full extent of the land. In addition to taking complete possession of the land, they were also commanded to drive out all the other nations. The borders and the commands were clear; it now came down to a matter of obedience.

If you were to trace out on map the full extent of these God-given boundaries given in Numbers 34 and then compare it to the actual land the Israelites took possession of, there will be a difference. The reality is that Israel never took full possession of the land, and they failed to drive out all the nations, but lived alongside them. Though the borders and commands were clear, they were not obeyed. The Israelite people would soon come to learn the painful truth of God’s warning to them. If they did not drive out the nations, these nations would become a thorn in their side, would lead them astray and into idolatry, thus leading them into the judgment and punishment of God. One could say that they never reached their full potential as they had allowed disobedience, complacency, selfishness, pride and compromise to creep in and do its destructive work. The downfall of Israel began the day they entered into the Promised Land and started with small disobediences that led to greater and greater sin and compromise. Despite their constant disobedience and compromises, the people of Israel still expected to receive the full extent of the Promised Land.

Do you recognise a similar pattern in your own life?

God’s commands and instructions to us are just as clear, if not clearer as we have them recorded in Scripture for us. Yet we can demonstrate the very same slowness to obey and willingness to compromise. It starts small, with things or areas that we regard as being harmless. Like Achan, we think what difference will it make in the grand scheme of things? After all what we are doing, or taking is so small? Yet these small disobediences and compromises give birth to increasing larger ones. Soon we find ourselves deliberately and consciously disobeying God.

It is a telling indicator of our hypocrisy, self-righteousness and pride, when we still think that we should be blessed and prospered by God, despite our disobedience and compromise. We will question God, asking why He has not blessed us, why we are enduring hardship, or the fact that the wheels have come off in our lives and it appears to be falling apart. Yet none of this is God’s doing, it is our own, by virtue of our choices and decisions.

Our falling away from God always starts off small, in an almost innocent fashion, but it quickly gains momentum and we are swept away by it. Thus we need to be on the guard against all sin, all disobedience and all compromise, no matter how small, innocent or harmless it may appear. The evil one is a master at disguising sin and making it appear as less than what it is, thus we need to watch carefully, diligently and pray daily for both God’s protection and the aid of His Spirit.

What is tragic about Israel is that in spite of countless warnings and even stern discipline, they failed to learn and change. The result was that within less than 1000 years, the people of Israel were ousted and their Promised Land lay wasted and in ruins.

This serves as a warning to us, to not tolerate small or big disobediences or compromises. Rather we should seek to walk closely with Christ, so that we might be like Christ who walked in righteousness. Should we find ourselves in the midst of disaster, disaster that has come at the hand of our own choices, then let us go to the God of grace, pleading for rescue, forgiveness and renewed spiritual strength to turn away from sin.

Our merciful, forgiving and patient Father, we thank You for Your patient grace towards us. We thank You that Your ways and commands are always right and best for us, that they will lead us to life, for they lead to You. Forgive us for the times when we have thought that we have known better, or have allowed small disobediences and compromises to creep in. Grant us much forgiveness and grace, and we pray that You would refresh out hearts, renew our zeal and increase our spiritual strength so that we might become imitators of Christ. Amen.

Verse for the Day, 12 September 2016.

Numbers 33:1-9, “These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  (2)  Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the LORD, and these are their stages according to their starting places.  (3)  They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians,  (4)  while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. On their gods also the LORD executed judgments.  (5)  So the people of Israel set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.  (6)  And they set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.  (7)  And they set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which is east of Baal-zephon, and they camped before Migdol.  (8)  And they set out from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and they went a three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.  (9)  And they set out from Marah and came to Elim; at Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.”

This chapter records for us the route taken by the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. But this record is more than just a list of places and events, it is a stunning testimony of God’s faithfulness towards the Israelites.

For forty years God sustained, provided for and protected a nation of well over a million people. What makes this all the more remarkable is that for the vast majority of this time, the people were living in the wilderness, in hostile, barren and dry lands. Yet God kept and even prospered the nation. Now that they are about to reach the end of their journey, Moses reminds them of the journey they have been on. Why take the time to do this? When we reach the end of a long journey, or come through the other side of a great trial, and the destination, the relief is in sight, we can quickly forget all that which took place during the journey or trial. We can forget God’s unfailing faithfulness, we can forget the many ways in which God provided for and protected us, we forget the way in which God lead and guided us through it all. We also forget that during the journey or trial, God was with us every step of the way, we had the comfort of His constant presence, He heard our prayers and He answered them in wisdom and love.

Moses is eager for the nation to remember God’s faithfulness, especially as they enter into an unknown future in the Promised Land. The journey and the trials are by no means over for the people of Israel, for they still need to enter and take possession of the land. This will not be an easy or quick task, and it will require them to continually trust in God and faithfully follow after Him. Should the Israelites keep God before them, and depend, trust in Him, it will stand them in good stead as they enter the land.

Today’s reading is shorter than normal, as I think it is important for us to take time to recount the journey of our lives and to reflect on God’s faithfulness towards us. I would encourage you to spend time now thinking over your life, if you are able, write down a list of the ways in which God has been faithful, what He has brought you through and the many blessings He has bestowed upon you.

Once you have done this, spend time in prayer, thanking God for all that He is and all that He has done! Doing this will not only be of great encouragement to us and lead us to give thanks and praise to God, it will also strengthen our faith and trust in God for the future. Every one of our lives is like this chapter, a record of our lives, the journey we have taken through life, and it is a stunning testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Our faithful, unfailing, Father, we worship You today for You have been with us from the moment of our conception. You have never left or abandoned us, and we have known your faithfulness from our very first breath. Forgive us for so quickly forgetting all that which You have brought us through and blessed us with. Help us today as we reflect on what You have done over the years for us, may it lead us to worship You, and to trust You all the more for the future. Amen.

Verse for the Day, 1 September 2016.

Numbers 32:20-24, “So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the LORD for the war,  (21)  and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him  (22)  and the land is subdued before the LORD; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.  (23)  But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.  (24)  Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do what you have promised."”

The tribes of Reuben and Gad had seen that the land of Jazer and Gilead, was rich grazing land, ideal for farming livestock. Due to the fact that they had large herds of livestock, they wanted to remain in this land rather than go to Canaan. Therefore, they bring their request to Moses and the other tribal leaders.

But this request is far from a straight forward and simple one to grant, there are some important heart issues at stake.

Moses is quick to warn these two tribes against making the same mistake as their fore-fathers, who refused to go into the Promised Land out of fear. By making this request, it would effectively reduce the size of the army, and would mean that none of the men from Reuben and Gad would fight in the conquest of the Promised Land. Moses is seeking to discern what their true motivation is, do they want to avoid having to fight numerous battles, suffer loss and have to make sacrifices for the sake of the nation? Are they just looking out for themselves and looking for an easy way out, are they more concerned about themselves, their wellbeing and wealth, or do the they have the good of the whole nation at heart? Are they putting their trust in what they can see and in themselves, rather than trusting in God?

These are the heart issues:

Do the people of Reuben and Gad actually trust God?

Are they reluctant or unwilling to help conquer the Promised Land?

Who are they concerned for, their own tribes, or for the nation as a whole?

Are their hearts truly in the right place?

The leaders of Reuben and Gad are quick to stress that they will not fail in their duty to the nation and to God. They promise that they will go with the rest of the nation and help to conquer the Promised Land. They swear that they will not return to their own land until the conquest is completed and each tribe has taken possession of their allotted territory.

Having heard their pledge and promise, Moses gives them one final and stern warning. It is easy to make these promises and pledges ahead of time, before you are actually held accountable to them. But when the time comes for the promise to be kept, the opportunity to try and worm their way out of it will be there. The tribes of Rueben and Gad make this promise now, but will they be true to it when the time comes?

Moses warns them that this promise they are making, is not just being made in the presence of the people of Israel, it is also made in the presence of God. Ultimately it will be God who will hold them accountable. If they fail to keep their promises, they may escape the wrath of the rest of their nation. Their failure to keep their promise will not prevent God from enabling the rest of their nation to conquer the land. But that doesn’t mean they will escape lightly, rather as Moses says, “be sure your sin will find you out.” God will justly judge and punish them, for their sin is not just against the nation, it is ultimately against God.

The phrase, “your sin will find you out”, is a well-known one. Strangely, the truth of it doesn’t seem to deter us from engaging in that which we know is sinful. What we need to remind ourselves of constantly is that God is 100% just, 100% of the time. God is ALWAYS displeased by sin, and will NEVER ignore it, or allow it to pass by unnoticed. Our sin never escapes God’s notice. Though we may hide it from each other and escape any human, earthly consequences, we will not be able to hide or escape from God. He sees it, knows it, and will respond with a holy displeasure and with justice. Our sin will find us out, because God will find us out.

Sin will always have consequences and an impact upon our lives. It will disrupt and disturb our relationship with God. As long as that sin remains, it will seek to serve as a wedge trying to drive us and God apart. Yes, we rejoice for God’s grace, love and salvation far exceeds the power of sin. But, the pursuit of the believer should be the glory and honour of God. As believers in Christ, we should not be ashamed of God having a full view and knowledge of our lives, nor should we be reluctant for Him to deal with our sin and refine us. In fact, the Psalmist prays in Psalm 19 and 139 that God would expose his sin, so that he might repent of it. Have you ever prayed such a prayer, “Lord God, please expose all my sin, the darkness of my heart, my unholiness, root out all in me that displeases you, bring it all to the surface, into full view so that it might be dealt with!”

Most of us are too afraid to pray such a prayer, simply because we know how much sin we are hiding, and that we are continuing to indulge in sin. We hide our sin and we don’t want it to find us out. But this has a direct negative impact upon our relationship with God, our experience of our salvation, our usefulness within the Church and our witness to the world.

As children of God, our desire should be, to be holy as our Father is holy. Therefore, as contrary as it may sound to our human nature, we should want God to reveal our sin to us, so that we might walk in joyful holiness and obedience.

Holy, holy, holy Father, as hard as it is for us to pray this, we ask that You would gently show us our sin. Forgive us for trying so hard to hide it and thinking we can escape its consequences, and its impact upon our relationship with You. May our desire for holiness be such that we have the courage to pray this prayer every day, so that we might repent of our sin, stop hiding it, and walk in greater obedience. Thank You, that if we do this, we will continuously know the grace of Your forgiveness, the blessing of fellowship with You, and the joy of holiness. Amen.