The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 11:1,
"Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused."
The NIV Quest Study Bible makes an interesting observation about the unhappiness of the Israelites that we read of here. First was that the hard life of slavery in Egypt must have looked more attractive to the Israelites than the unknown represented in their wilderness wandering and deprivations they felt.
However, and more importantly, the Israelites were impatient and shortsighted. They were focusing on their hardships of the day rather than on the promises of God - the promise of rest in their own land, "a land flowing with milk and honey".
I think this second point is a poignant reminder for our day. We, as believers in Jesus Christ, have been given the promise of eternal life, a lavish inheritance he has bestowed on us that we view from yet at a distance. An eternity of joy and divine pleasures at his right hand, Psalm 16:11.
However, between here and there, we face hardships. The Lord is well aware of them just as he was aware of the hardships Israel faced (and brought upon themselves!) in the wilderness. In both cases the promise of blessing from the Lord awaits a period of trouble and hardship.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Some erroneously claim the Lord will not allow the church to suffer in terrible times to come. This is not the case. "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Timothy 3:12-13.
"Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused."
The NIV Quest Study Bible makes an interesting observation about the unhappiness of the Israelites that we read of here. First was that the hard life of slavery in Egypt must have looked more attractive to the Israelites than the unknown represented in their wilderness wandering and deprivations they felt.
However, and more importantly, the Israelites were impatient and shortsighted. They were focusing on their hardships of the day rather than on the promises of God - the promise of rest in their own land, "a land flowing with milk and honey".
I think this second point is a poignant reminder for our day. We, as believers in Jesus Christ, have been given the promise of eternal life, a lavish inheritance he has bestowed on us that we view from yet at a distance. An eternity of joy and divine pleasures at his right hand, Psalm 16:11.
However, between here and there, we face hardships. The Lord is well aware of them just as he was aware of the hardships Israel faced (and brought upon themselves!) in the wilderness. In both cases the promise of blessing from the Lord awaits a period of trouble and hardship.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Some erroneously claim the Lord will not allow the church to suffer in terrible times to come. This is not the case. "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Timothy 3:12-13.
We need to "gird our loins", we need to prepare for times of suffering. We will struggle, but do so in the face of the wonderful promises of God.
The question is, will we be like the Israelites who focused on their hardships of the day rather than on the promises of God? Will we please God or disappoint him?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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