Numbers

Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
 
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
    Spirit Divine!
Open my ears that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.
Open my mouth and let me bear
Tidings of mercy everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.
Open my mind that I may read
More of Thy love in word and deed;
What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?
Only for light from Thee I plead.
“Open My Eyes that I Might See” by Clara H. Scott,
 an American composer, hymnwriter and publisher (1841-1897)

Oh Boy!  I think I made a wrong turn…

No one likes a detour or delay in a journey

Whenever we encounter a road under construction or traffic that halts our trip by half an hour, we throw up our hands and say, “Why now?”

ask a group of people to find the answer,
each person will come up his or her own unique way of solving the problem

 

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Prior to entry into the Promised Land, however, the Israelites became convinced they could not oust the current inhabitants of the land, even though God told them they could. Their lack of belief in God’s word and promises brought forth the wrath of God. He cursed them with forty years of wilderness wandering until the unbelieving generation died off, never stepping foot in the Promised Land.

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the Philistines, although it was nearer; for God said, ‘The people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people roundabout, by way of the wilderness at the Red Sea.”  Exodus 13:17-18.

Upon their arrival at the border of the Promised Land twelve spies were sent out to survey the land and its people (Numbers 13:18-25). They returned after forty days of exploration. Ten of the spies had a bad report: “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are…All the people we saw were of great size…We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes” (Numbers 13:31-33). Only Joshua and Caleb dissented (Numbers 14:6-7). Believing the report of the ten doubters, the people lost heart and rebelled. They “raised their voices and wept aloud,” grumbling against Moses and Aaron, saying, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?” (Numbers 14:1-2).

Additionally, the ten men who had given the bad report were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord (Numbers 14:37). Only Joshua and Caleb survived, the two faithful spies who believed God’s promise to give the land over to them.  Because of their obstinance and disobedience and forgetfulness of God’s promises, God delayed their entry into the Promised Land by 40 years.

God had promised them victory.  The land He commanded them to go in and take was already theirs; they simply had to trust and obey, but they didn’t.  God will never lead us where His grace cannot provide for us or His power cannot protect us.  Indeed, the Israelites had seen the powerful hand of God at work during the plagues and miracles of the Exodus. Yet, like many people, they walked by sight and not by faith, and their unbelief displeased God. “Without faith it is impossible to please God”. Hebrews 11:6. Their failure to believe in God’s word kept them from entering the Promised Land. This truth has never changed.

What Numbers wants to teach us is that a determination to trust God and know that even when challenges appear His promises to bless you and keep you and give you peace will always prevail.  “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26.  God’s timeline may not align with ours, he doesn’t keep us in the desert forever.  God doesn’t hold us in limbo forever.

 

We will reach our promised land, “Heaven”.  God doesn’t break covenants, and he won’t keep us suspended in the desert for eternity. Whether our trial lasts four years or 40, we will make it.  Trust and obey and as Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”