Feb 14: Numbers 10:11 – 13:16
Happy
Valentine’s Day. I pray that on this day
you see evidence of God’s love for you in a tangible way.
So, only
seven days after the Israelites celebrated their first anniversary of the Passover
they were instructed to move on. They ‘traveled from place to place’ and
finally came to rest in the Desert of Paran, some 130 miles away.
If it took 25
square miles for the Israelites to make camp, can you imagine how long the
procession was as they moved from place to place?
Oh, the rest
of the text hurts my heart. The Israelites, probably tired from moving
regularly during this time, begin complaining about their food. Moses even
rails against God and his job of dealing with the complainers. I am so
convicted by this text. How often do I stare at a relatively full pantry,
fridge, AND freezer and feel like there is nothing to eat? I get bored with the
same meals that it feels like we make over and over, yet they are much more
varied than that of the Israelites in the desert.
God gives the
people what they ask for – until they can’t stand it anymore. Oh, we must be
careful what we ask! God in his infinite wisdom knows what we need and will
provide it. We must trust him.
Then Miriam
and Aaron begin to gripe about Moses and his wife, seemingly jealous that they
have not been given the same level of authority. God punishes Miriam (but not
Aaron?) and sends her away for a week of pain and suffering to consider her
sin.
Father, help
us remember and obey Philippians 2:14 – 16a, “Do everything without grumbling
or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without
fault in a warped and crooked generation’.”
TOMORROW’S
TEXT: Numbers 13:17 – 15:21
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