Monday, October 29, 2018

Pushing The Limits


Moses had asked the Edomites to allow them to cross their land, thinking that because they were related they would allow them to go through if assured they would not cause trouble.  The Edomites refused. Amd because of their relationship. Moses led the people through the wilderness around the southern and eastern border of Edom, as Numbers 21:4 tells us.  “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.” 

It was really frustrating to have to go so much out of their way to get past Edom and most of the way was just dessert where almost nothing grew.  They began to complain, and when people begin to complain, they soon reach a point where nothing satisfies them.  They began to blame God and Moses for their problems and repeat the same complaints they had made in the past. about the lack of water and the food, especially the manna.  They ignored the times God had produced water miraculously, and the fact that he provided them manna every morning and quail every night, and that they could prepare it any way they chose.  Numbers 21:describes ther complaints.  “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”

It wasn’t like they had no food to eat of water to drink, they just didn’t have everything they wanted.  If you’ve ever been around people who complain about everything, even when they have gotten what they asked for, you understand the frustration it causes.  God had had enough of their complaining.  Numbers 21:6 tells us, “And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.”  God is a patient and loving God, but there are limits to his patience.  He’d had enough. 

When people started dying of the snake bites, they suddenly realized they were making God angry.  Numbers 21:17 tells us, “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”   They admitted they were in the wrong for blaming Moses and God, and asked forgiveness. 

God is a loving God, willing to forgive repeatedly, as I John 1:9 tells us.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  He made arrangements so that anyone who was willing to listen could be healed, In Numbers 21:8-9.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”  It was up to each individual whether they would die or be forgiven and healed.  It is still up to the individual whether they will die in their sin or be saved. 

2 comments:

  1. Hi Donald,
    One of our daily devotions this morning was on this same topic. Thank you for the great reminder to have a thankful spirit, for God blesses us so richly and daily in so many ways. His greatest blessing is forgiveness of sins allowing us to Heaven by the atoning sacrifice of His Son.

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    1. Thanks, Laurie. When we get to complaining, we forget about the blessings. If salvation was the only one, we would have nothing to complain about, but he gives so much more.

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