Read: Numbers 14
S.O.A.P.
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
S:
Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do
not fear them.” Numbers 14:9b
24 But My servant Caleb, because
he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the
land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it. Numbers 14:24
30 Surely you shall not come into
the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and
Joshua the son of Nun. Numbers 14:30
O:
We left Chapter 13 with the Children of Israel feeling small like
grasshoppers. Chapter 14 opens up with
them crying and weeping like little children who are scared to face something
they never have faced before. They
retaliate against their “parents” Aaron and Moshe (Moses). Like little children sometimes do, they said
they wanted “new parents”. They began to
talk about going back to Egypt – to what they have always known.
Then God comes on the scene in verses
11-12 and says this, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people spurn
Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I
have performed in their midst? I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I
will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.’”
God was not angered with the people
when they were crying and fearful. We
all have a choice when fear hits us. We
are human, yes, and we may cry and pitch a fit, but then we need to get up and
cry out to the One who can assail our fears.
We need to take our concerns to God Almighty. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He
cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 and “Cast
your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous
be shaken.” Psalm 55:22
But when they started talking about
going back to Egypt, back into bondage and slavery, God came on the scene and
was ready to make a new people out of Moses.
So Moses interceded for the people.
Note how Moses interceded. Yes it
was for the people, but also to protect God’s character. When we are praying and interceding for
others it must be with the right or godly motives. Sometimes when I have interceded and prayed
for people it has been like a little child tattling on their brother or
sister. The prayer might look something
like this, “Dear LORD, You see the way that person treated me, God You know
that was wrong, please stand up for me.”
At other times I might storm into the throne room of God and just start
listing off everything “that person” is doing that shouldn’t be done. “They did this wrong, and that wrong, ohhhhh
and you know they are this way and things will never change ….” On and on we go like a little child tattling.
This week as I was praying God
reminded me about Moses and Jesus and how they prayed. What did Jesus pray from the cross? “Father forgive them for they do not know
what they do.” Moses as we see here
today prayed for God’s character to be protected. Moses knew the people were wrong, but he
asked to spare them for the sake of God’s name.
At other times Moses prayed like this, “But now, please forgive their
sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." Exodus 32:32
Now I don’t know about you, but how hard would it be to pray, LORD,
please forgive so and so’s sin, and if you don’t then blot me out of the Book
of Life? Let’s be truthful here, even for
the people I love the most it would be difficult for me to be willing to give
up heaven and eternity with Christ for the sin of another person. But God sent His Son to die for the sins of
each one of us. Jesus prayed from the
cross, forgive them. My heart broke when
God reminded me of these things and what the heart of a true intercessor looks
like. He or she literally stands in the
gap for others. They have a “blot me out
too” type of heart and they don’t come tattling, but lifting up and supporting
those who they are bringing to Christ.
They have a heart that wants to protect God’s name and character and
wants God to receive ALL the glory when those prayers are answered.
There is so much in this chapter! This is probably only one of about three or
four things I think the LORD could teach us here today. The other two things I will mention briefly
for the sake of time.
1) Be careful about the words you speak. God judged the people by their own
words. They cried out to Moses and said
they were going to die in the wilderness and that was their judgment. Our words have power! I could go into great detail and give lots of
examples through Scripture of this, but again for the sake of time I will not
do that here today.
2) In the last paragraph the Children of Israel (again like
little children) went against their Papa’s words and did what they wanted to
do. I have a strong willed child. They on occasion after I have said no will go
about trying to do what they want to do and I can promise you that most of the
time it ends badly for them! And most of
the time it is the natural consequences they suffer as a result of their
actions. Here God told the people “No”,
but they refused to listen. They got up
with the intent of taking the Promised Land in their own power and failed
miserably! I, as my mother would assure
you, was also a strong willed child. It
has taken me a llllloooooonnnnngggggg time to get to the place in my life where
I can be at rest and not try to “buck the system” so to speak. Let’s use the wisdom of the LORD and be
patient and follow closely after Him so we do not have to suffer unnecessary
consequences.
A:
So what kind of intercessor are you?
Does this explanation of prayer change the way you will pray for and
intercede for others in the future? Have
you ever seen the power of words in your life?
Are you or do you know others who are strong willed? I’d love to hear your comments on Numbers 14
and what God is teaching you through these readings.
P:
Our Father in Heaven, I ask You to teach us through Your Word and to
grow us up into all Truth. Do not
let our hearts be deceived by the evil one.
Thank You for times when You open up our hearts and minds to truths that
are new to us. I praise You that You are
compassionate and forgiving. God we know
that even though You forgive us there are consequences for our actions. Father I pray that we could limit those
consequences by following close to You and that we would not be tempted to go
astray. Protect us and guide us
today. Through Christ I pray, Amen &
Amen.
I pray we would all go out from here with the Spirit of Moses', Joshua and Caleb!
Be strong and courageous and trusting in the Almighty!
