Numbers 14:11 NKJV — Then the LORD said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?
The question the Lord God asked Moses is the same question He is asking us today. How long will it take before we realize that we are being led away from the one true Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. How did we get to this point? How did we go from a world full of life and promise, where God’s presence was all around us, a world with lush gardens and rivers of living waters to a place with no rain in sight?
Drawing a parallel between Moses and the people of Israel in the wilderness with the era in which we live may be far-fetched for the average person of today, but history has a funny way of repeating itself, if not literally then for sure spiritually. We find ourselves living in a world void of guidance from God and kindness to our fellow man. Our leaders promise, but don’t deliver. We never get what we want so, like a spoiled child, we throw a tantrum and shake our fists at God and complain that God is asleep at the wheel. The complaints are reminiscent of the Israelites in the wilderness.
The deliverance from Egypt was dramatic to say the least. The ten plagues, the pillar of fire, parting of the Red Sea and receiving the Ten Commandments at the mountain of God was an extraordinary display of God’s power, but now they were in the wilderness and the journey was beginning to take its toll.
When the Israelites got about halfway to the promised land, Moses sent a few spies into the land to scout it out for the upcoming invasion. Most of the spies came back claiming that the Canaanites were far too powerful for Israel to overcome. This led to a revolt and the Israelites refused to take the land. Because of this rebellion God decreed that the entire generation would die in the wilderness and the land would be taken by their children.
All hope was not lost. God was going to honor the covenant He made with Abraham and Israel, but the complaints continued. The Israelites rebelled against God and Moses several times while they were in the wilderness. They complained about food, water and feared they would be crushed by their enemies. They complained about Moses and even made a few death threats. The miracles and blessings God had provided were not enough. Trusting God and following His Commandments was not what they had desired. They wanted power and riches with their adversaries eliminated. Living for God was not in vogue. A cancel culture was in place.
Romans 1:20-21 NKJV — For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Throughout the ages the Lord has provided for those who have followed God and obeyed His Commandments. We have taken our way of life for granted and have been led to believe that we are the reason for our prosperity. Despite all of mankind’s achievements, they wander around in a spiritual wasteland with no direction on how to get to the Promised Land. We want God to be our ATM and give us material things thinking that will satisfy us. When it doesn’t happen, we get angry and blame God for our misfortune. We claim that He doesn’t love us and that He is blind to our situation. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Mark 11:22-24 NKJV — So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Our faith and trust in the Lord are very important in the world we live in. Putting our trust in politicians, alternative lifestyles, false doctrines and any kind of “ism” that brings people to become oppressed, impoverished and homeless is not only unwise but foolish.
Many people run to Las Vegas or Atlantic City to gamble their hard earned pay for a chance of unimaginable wealth, only to see it evaporate into thin air. Gambling is only profitable when you win, but the odds will always favor the “house.” Gambling with your life is a whole different story. God gave His only begotten Son so that you may have an everlasting life. If you place your “bet” on the promises of this misguided lost world, then you will lose. Don’t listen to these traveling salesmen and women with their fancy words and lies just to take your money and rob you of your happiness. The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans about such people and the fate that awaits them;
Romans 1:22-32 NKJV — Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Do we keep walking in the wilderness or do we turn away from our evil ways and come back to the One who truly loves us? Let God point us in the right direction so that we may find our way home.
John 14:27 NKJV — “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
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