RTW March 11

A Heart’s Response to Discipline

So, Moses gave the Israelites this command from the Lord…
Numbers 36:5a

 

 

My Takeaways

Something Old

How do I respond to God’s discipline?

Moses

  • Didn’t get mad.
  • Didn’t turn from God.
  • Didn’t stop leading.
  • Didn’t stop obeying.

And God didn’t stop talking to Moses. Discipline doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us.

Something New

The tribe of Reuben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh didn’t have to fight for their land, while all the others did.

Something to Do

Don’t give God attitude.

 

 

©2019 RTW is a membership Online Bible study. The material is copyrighted and intended for the sole use of RTW members. Materials are not available for reprinting or distribution. All video teachings are intended for the sole use of RTW members. They are not available for copy and distribution on of any kind. Thank you.  All Rights Reserved.

8 Comments

  1. Oh wow. Today’s reading really hit home for me. The section on cities of refuge and specifically 35:30-21 where it talks about if someone hates another person and pushes or hits him and he dies it is murder. And then in verse 33 it says murder pollutes the land. I was convicted Of the hatred that I carry in my heart and how 1 John says anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and does not have eternal life abiding in him.

    Hatred-unresolved anger-leads to so much more it is murder of the spirit of both the person who carries the anger and the person the anger is directed at.

    35:33-murder pollutes the land. Hatred pollutes the heart.

    Lord heal my heart, get into Those places that only You can. I’m so very tired of being me.

    Guziks commentary on cities of refuge was so good – comparing the cities of refuge to Jesus. “the cities of refuge only helped the INNOCENT; the GUILTY can come to Jesus and find refuge”

    He is my refuge. My strong tower. ❤️❤️

    1. I wish I could answer this. To be honest – I wonder sometimes if He has ever disciplined me? And then the enemy takes over and tries to tell me I’m not saved because a good Father always disciplines his children so I must not be a child of God. That’s a big fat lie. But I can’t see where I’m being disciplined either. ?. Unless I look st it as God withholding the desire of my heart for a husband due to the current condition of my heart – and I don’t do relationships well (but I’m getting better). But is that discipline? Or grace?? ?‍♀️

      1. Mary, I felt the same way. I feel like I’m missing something. I don’t know how God disciplines me. I’ve always understood God to correct me in love, but I truly don’t know how He disciplines me. I was hoping we could start a discussion about this because I feel like I need more clarity. I don’t want to be completely blind and ignorant to something, a way, or attitude that I might have. I have asked Him to reveal to me what I need to know. I have never had that kind of feeling of getting an attitude towards God, but I have always believed that His grace is sufficient for me. I believe that Christ is the end of the law. As a believer, I am under grace. There is no condemnation for me under the new covenant. So where does God’s discipline come into play as believers? I guess that is my question.

        1. I looked up the definition of DISCIPLINE to make sure I am thinking right with my answer. It is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior…routine, teaching, instruction, etc. There are so many verses about discipline.
          I have to think simply of how God disciplines me; I don’t know if this is what you are thinking or not. God has disciplined me to be in His word instead of watching tv. He has taken the desire away. He has disciplined (trained) me to obey Him by knowing that I need to spend more time in prayer for myself and my family instead of taking that nap. He has disciplined (instructed) me in His word to tithe. I did not use to tithe; I just gave what I could. It has taken TIME for Him to touch my heart on this matter or tithing.
          He has taught me through the years that a routine is necessary to be able to spend time with Him daily.
          He disciplines us through carrying our burdens as we allow Him. He disciplines us in dealing with grief with His comfort , mercy, and grace.
          Loving His discipline in my life,
          Mema Jeanne

          1. Yes Mema Jeanne. That is what I understood discipline to mean, in other words loving correction. It’s when discipline is spoken of or used as punishment is when I get confused at to what that means if God we’re to discipline (punish) me. Because I am a believer, we are free from God’s punishment. That’s where I was getting confused.
            Discipline is different than punishment.
            When you listed all the loving ways God disciplines I can see that much more clearly.

          2. Oh this helps me as well – i too was thinking of discipline as punishment. Yikes!!

            Thank you. ❤️

  3. I really enjoyed what Guzik had to say about wrapping up the book of numbers. Here’s a quote from his commentary at the end of Num 36…

    “By spiritual analogy, many Christians die in the wilderness because they will not trust God and will not enter into what He has set before them. Many Christians also see the evidence of that lack of faith display itself in a weakness towards the things of the flesh. Sadly, many Christians live more in the wilderness than on the threshold of the Promised Land.”

Comments are closed.