Focus Passage: Numbers and Deuteronomy
The diamondback roller coaster at Kings Island sounded like a great idea. The three high school boys laughed and joked as they waited for a half hour in line. Yet, when the tension bar came down over Ted’s shoulders, he was starting to have second thoughts. The ride started with a jolt and Ted began to wish that he was still in line. Tens of thousands of people rode this ride safely each year. Would he be on the one trip that would miss some turn and dash into the ground? As Israel wanders in the desert, the nation had to follow the Lord to the Promised Land. This story is one about their disbelief and what happens when you and I don’t trust the Lord to lead us, but rather try to tell God what to do.
- Grumble, grumble Num. 10:33 Twelve tribes left Mt. Sinai led with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. As many as a million people walking together from the mountain up to the land that the Lord had promised over six hundred years before. Yet peace lasted only a few days. The Israelites started complaining about food and water. They knew what was better and God should do what they wanted not make them follow Him.
- Turning against God Numb. 14:3 From the edge of the Promised Land, spies are sent to survey the land. The nation rebels against God when the spies give a fearful report that the people of the land will be too hard to overcome. They complain that God has had evil motives and just brought them here to die. Sadly, they are not ready to trust God or truly follow Him. This generation of adults will die in the desert as God takes the next 40 years to teach his children to trust him.
- The leader fails, too Num. 20:12 Forty years of wandering and the people have not stopped complaining. God provides the water the people need when Moses falls facedown before the Lord. Yet, Moses is angry and strikes the rock instead of obeying God. How long will he have to put up with these people and their complaints? The Lord answers that question for Moses. He will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. He has disobeyed the Lord. It will soon be time for another to lead.
- Taking baby steps of trust Num. 21:34 As the people finally march north to the Promised Land, there are still questions. How will we conquer the people of these lands? God’s answer is simple. They need to trust God and believe that He is strong enough to conquer the nations. The enemy is strong, but the Israelites need to see that their God is stronger. Amazingly, the people follow their God and watch as one after another nation falls before God.
It was a matter of trust. None of the Israelites had been outside of Egypt but Moses. They didn’t know where to go, but God did. All they had to do to get to the Promised Land was to follow the Lord. We could ask the same question of ourselves. Do you know where to go in the future or the challenges that you will face? I don’t, but I know that God does and He will lead me there if I listen and follow. God has a special future prepared for you. The Christian faith is not just about getting to heaven. It is also about following God and living with values that will lead to blessings. He will walk beside us and lead all who will listen to the life that He has prepared for us. We would wander by ourselves for a lifetime and never find what He will lead us to. As a Father, He loves you and wants to make your life the best it can be.
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