Thurs Devo: Venomous Snakes

After mourning Aaron’s death and a victorious deliverance from the Canaanites in Arad (Numbers 21:1-3), the Israelites continued their travels. However, they still haven't learned their lesson about complaining.

Numbers 21:4-7  ⁴ They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; ⁵ they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

⁶ Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. ⁷ The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

The Israelites seem to always be focusing on the negative and not the positive. They didn’t have bread but they did have manna. They were traveling in the wilderness desert that didn’t have much water, but God always provided water for them in miraculous ways. And, I’m guessing God had been protecting them from all the wild desert animals, up until this point! 

Like the Israelites, we don’t see all the ways God provides for us and protects us. Plus, we tend to focus on what we think we lack. We even get upset with God and/or others when things don’t go our way. However, when tragedy strikes, we often do go to God, because we know He’s the only one that can do the impossible.

The Israelites did acknowledge their sin and did turn to God. You and I can do the same. And the next time you and I want to complain about a hardship or get upset with God over it, let’s stop and count 5 other blessings God has provided. As hard as our situation might be, it could always be worse (like venomous snakes)!

Alice

Thurs Devo: Confidence in God

Last week we saw how dramatic and irrational the Israelites were. I probably would have gotten very upset with the Israelites and tried to point out all the miracles they had forgotten about. However, it’s not recorded that Moses and Aaron even tried to reason with them. Moses and Aaron didn’t even answer their questions, but instead, turned first to God. That’s what the Israelites should have known to do by now, too.

Numbers 20:6-9  ⁶ Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. ⁷ The Lord said to Moses,⁸ “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

⁹ So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him.

Moses and Aaron had such faith and confidence in God that they didn’t worry about defending themselves to the Israelites. They humbly went to God before responding or acting. In fact, they didn’t give God suggestions on how to solve the problem. Nor did they assume God would solve their lack of water issue the same way He had in the past.

How much confidence do you and I have in God? Are we quick to defend ourselves or God? Do we give Him suggestions on how to solve our problems? Are we quick to react or move ahead with our own ideas? Or, do we humbly go to Him first before reacting, truly seeking and waiting for His unique solutions?

Alice

Thurs Devo: Why??? Why???

Toddlers can ask lots of “why” questions. After a while, it can become frustrating, especially if you’ve answered the same question time and time again! Well, the Israelites were far worse than the annoying toddler.

Numbers 20:2-5      ² Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. ³ They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! ⁴ Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? ⁵ Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

Why are the Israelites asking “why?” If they stopped to think for a moment, then they could answer their own questions. First, God had provided water in the desert multiple times in the past, so they could trust Him to provide this time, too. Second, God brought them into the wilderness to free them from the oppressive Egyptians AND to give them a bountiful country-land of their very own. Third, traveling through the wilderness was the means by which God would prepare them and bring them to the promised land. Fourth, the fact that they were still in the wilderness was not Moses’ fault, but a result of their own rebellion and distrust of God (see Numbers 14).

If the Israelites had stopped focusing on and dramatizing their immediate circumstances and focused instead on who God is and His faithfulness in the past, then I think their attitude would have been quite different. Instead of complaining, passing the blame, and asking “why” questions, they could have asked how and what questions. How would God address their situation? What did God want them to do to participate in the solution?

Are you and I more like the Israelites and annoying toddlers, asking “why” questions when we already know (or should know) the answer?

Or, do you and I truly know God’s character and trust His faithfulness? If so, our attitude and prayers will reflect this.

Alice

Thurs Devo: Never Enough

Have you ever been around someone who seems to complain about everything? Their job isn’t good enough, they often need more money, their relationships aren’t working out as they wished, their children regularly frustrate them, they want a nicer car or a bigger house and the list goes on. They would be happy if they could just… What are they really saying?

When Korah opposed Moses, Moses pointed out exactly who Korah was really opposing.

Numbers 16:8-11        ⁸ Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! ⁹ Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? ¹⁰ He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. ¹¹ It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?”

Moses pointed out that Korah and his followers were really opposing God, not Moses and Aaron. As we talked about a few weeks ago, Moses and Aaron had not chosen their position for themselves. God had appointed them as the leader and priest of Israel. 

Moses also pointed out all Korah’s and his fellow Levites’ privileges. Korah wasn’t satisfied with his privileged position as a Levite and community leader. He wanted to be priest.

Are you and I like Korah? With what are we not satisfied? Do we have the “never enough” attitude? Or, do we look at what we do have as privileges?

Do others have to point out our privileges to us, like Moses did to Korah? Or, do we regularly think about and list out all the privileges God has blessed us with?

God is Sovereign over each life. He has given each one enough unique blessings and privileges.

Alice

Thurs Devo: Opposition Continues

Not only did Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses, as we saw the last few weeks, but later a fellow Levite led a large opposition.

Numbers 16:1-3 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent ² and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. ³ They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

Had Moses chosen to be their leader? Had he set himself up above them? No. In fact, when God chose Moses for this task, Moses refused (Exodus 4:13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”). God didn’t take no for an answer, but He did give Aaron as Moses’ assistant (see Exodus 4:14-16). So, Moses and Aaron had neither chosen nor earned this huge responsibility.  

Besides, was the whole community really holy? Not at all. Throughout Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers they sinned over and over again. God was with them, but it wasn’t because of their own holiness or the holiness of Moses and Aaron. It was because God made a covenant with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and He would keep His promise. 

From Numbers 16:8-14 it appears Korah and his followers were discontent with their own privileged position and wanted to take over Moses and Aaron’s positions to get what they wanted.

You and I may not have led a rebellion against authority, but I’m guessing we have all criticized or complained against authority. The next time you and I want to complain about someone else in authority, let’s ask ourselves why we want to complain? Is it because we want their position and think we could do a better job? Or are we upset because we aren’t getting what we want when we want it? Or, is it a legitimate concern over injustice?  

In the future, we’ll see some interesting ways Moses and God respond to this opposition! Stay tuned…

Alice