Scripture: Numbers 32-33.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Numbers 32:13-15 (NLT)

13 “The Lord was angry with Israel and made them wander in the wilderness for forty years until the entire generation that sinned in the Lord’s sight had died.

14 But here you are, a brood of sinners, doing exactly the same thing! You are making the Lord even angrier with Israel.

15 If you turn away from him like this and he abandons them again in the wilderness, you will be responsible for destroying this entire nation!”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I guess it never really clicked, but it wasn’t until reading this passage carefully this morning that God showed me what sin could do to me, to us, our church, our state, our nation and even our world. The Israelites were God’s chosen and His very special people. He rescued them from the bondage they were under in Egypt with a promise that He would take them to a much better area, a land flowing with milk and honey. Along the way He showed them time after time how much He loved them by providing water at one time, and food another time – all from miraculous sources, protection from enemies with much larger armies that they had, a leader that was closely in touch with God and benefited from God’s direction for each and every move of this large mass of people. Yet they griped and complained, worshipped idols, and sinned and lived like the devil. As a result of this, they were left wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. In fact, they were told that no one over 20 years old would any longer qualify to enter the Promised Land because of their disobedience and sin. Why am I repeating this story? Well, I wonder if today we are any better from all that we know about God, from all the blessings that we see Him shower on us, or from all that He has promised us? Our Promised Land is also filled with richness beyond anything we can imagine! To be in the presence of Jesus, the One who created this universe, the One who watches over and protects us each and every day, the One who loves us so much that He was sacrificed on a cruel cross just so that we may have the option of forgiveness of sin. This alone will be glory for me! Regardless of how lush the surroundings may be, or beautiful and free of pollution the place may be, just to be with Jesus and live in a world of praise and adoration 24/7 would be glorious for any of us to experience! Praise be to God, we have a future to look forward to! With this in mind then, let us be diligent about our Christian walk here on planet earth. Let us learn from the mistakes of our ancestors and live a life pleasing to God in every way, so that we may enter the Promised Land He has prepared for us right on time and without delays or hindrances.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, You know better than we do how challenging it gets each day to live a life without sin. Thank You for providing a means for us to see You, to enter heaven’s glorious gates that You have prepared for us. Please give us strength, endurance, and a determination to live our lives worthy of the calling and pleasing to You, so that we may one day soon, enjoy the rewards You have in store for us. Thank you for loving us so much to give up everything so that we may be with You one day. Please help us to live in accordance with Your commands and in line with Your Word.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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