Pastor Bob DuPar
March 10, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Numbers 14:1-15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4.

Observation

How disheartening that the Israelites would want to choose new leadership to lead them back to Egypt. If I were Moses I probably would have said, “You have my blessing! Don’t let the flap of your tent hit you as you leave.” Joshua takes an amazing leadership stand in 14:9 encouraging the people to have faith and trust God for the victory, and they respond by talking about stoning him! Those are the kind of people you want on your team! I love it that God finally appears to all the people at the Tent of Meeting. That’s a great way to silence ignorance and rebelliousness. God’s words to Moses regarding the people are convicting to anyone who has ever doubted the Lord:

“How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?” (14:11)

God’s words to Moses describing His punishment for disobedience in 14:20-24 are a needed reminder that forgiveness for sin does not always take away the consequences of sin. God says, “I have forgiven them… but not one of them will ever see the land I promised to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.” God adds this in 14:34, “…You will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have Me against you.” Wow! That’s something I don’t want to experience!

Finally, Jesus’ words to the high priest about “sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” were seen as blasphemous because only Yahweh rode upon the clouds and no one short of deity is worthy of sitting at God’s right hand.

Application

I tend to forget that sin has consequences though forgiven. Not only should I not sin that grace might abound; I also should not sin because of the consequences and the missed blessings/opportunities. Grace keeps me in good standing with God, but it is not a magic eraser which follows me around “righting” all my wrongs. My sin leaves an impact just as my righteousness (in Christ) makes a difference.

Prayer

“Lord, help me to see more clearly how all of my actions make a difference for good or for bad. Help me to follow You like Caleb with a ‘different Spirit’ and ‘wholeheartedly.”