RTW March 3

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1. Numbers 14:39 When Moses reported the Lord’s words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief. 40 Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. “Let’s go,” they said. “We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the Lord has promised us.”
   41 But Moses said, “Why are you now disobeying the Lord’s orders to return to the wilderness? It won’t work. 42 Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the Lord is not with you. 43 When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The Lord will abandon you because you have abandoned the Lord.”

   They got up early, went to the top of the hills, just over the hill was the promise land, so close, “let’s go”, they were ready to enter but they were in disobedience and rebellion against the Lord. They acknowledged their sin “but” they did NOT repent of their sins. “Do not go up now”, how many times we get crushed in battle because we “feel” we are prepared, take shortcuts thinking God will bless us in our disobedience and rebellion, He’s a loving God, right? The enemy, Satan himself, watching from the other side, anxiously awaiting to pounce on our arrogance and pride.

   They took God’s promises for granted! Indeed God is a God of mercy and grace but He is also a JUST God. We must do more than acknowledge our sins, we must repent of our sins!

   1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and “just!! God’s forgiveness!

2. It is such a wonderful land! (Ahead of me) 14:7
   The Lord is with us! (me) 14:9

   I had to pause halfway through today’s reading to reflect on who God really is. I am so incredibly grateful and in awe of Him and this moment called for my worship.
   Magnificent, unfailing love, God Almighty, earth filled with His Glory, great and awesome, glorious presence, miraculous signs.
   It’s really about Him, everything is! Even my 30 day vow is not about me and my health, it’s about Him, all for Him! I know this, but it hit me in a new way this morning!

   The song “Holy is the Lord” – Chris Tomlin
   came to mind. So I stopped reading, stood up and worshiped in my kitchen. Praising Him for all that He is.

   https://youtu.be/FIwMYktdBg8

   1. Don’t you love the fact that our kitchen can become so sacred simply by inviting Him to enter through our praise and worship?

      1. Yes I sure do. I love thinking of it that way ❤️

3. ~Thank God that He is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. Confess my sin as soon as I am aware of it but make a practice of asking God to search my heart each day to be intentional about this. Then repent!
   ~Wendy’s questions about what to ask in the wilderness really hit me today. I have been feeling like I have been in a bit of a wilderness the past few years in the church we are attending. I feel quite sure this is where God wants us to be right now because our pastor’s teaching is so good and so solid, but it has been difficult for me to get to really know people, make friends and find areas to serve. Slowly but surely this is happening and I think it has been because I have been asking “What do you want me to do while I’m here?” and then being patient for God’s timing and taking the focus off me and my feelings. But it hasn’t always been easy!

4. Wendy Pope appreciated your intro today!

   The issue of not being a complainer stood out again for me today. Also, the idea of being quick to repent as soon as I sin or am aware of sin.

   I noted Moses’ cry to God to not destroy the people. This was the second time that Moses cried out to God and God changed his mind. Challenged me to be bold in prayer and make prayer a priority.

   I loved the last section about the tassels on their clothing to remind them to obey. God knows we are prone to wander and disobey. What visual reminders can I put in place to keep me on track with obedience?

   1. I always love the tassels part too.

   2. I wondered that too about the tassels, what I can use to remind myself.

5. Love Wendy’s question, “what do I need to unlearn?” I’m so often focused on learning, that I fail to see what needs correcting.

   (Guzik’s commentary was very helpful for me today. Much of this is from his writing.)

   Something Old
   It was never God’s instruction which sent the spies out. It was the people, lacking in faith, that brought about the expedition. (Deuteronomy 1:19-25). By searching for the size and number of their opponents they were anticipating difficulty and predicting failure. We often search for reasons to not do what it is that we know we should do.

   Something New
   Numbers 14:1. The weeping and crying rose in a great chorus of complaint….they were unhappy and unaccepting of their plight….just as I am. Like so many of us, I do not want the hardness of the situation. I want my God to make it easy for me. It is an inability to believe God …..to believe He has brought us to this place, that he has it in His control, that He will bring us through it, that He has something better for us……..that propels our fear and drives our anxiety.

   Something To Do
   Barely a year out of Egypt, on the threshold of the Promised Land….the people complain and weep. They blame God for their problem. He has prepared them and led them and provided for them. They are fully ready to enter their place of promise. God is inviting them to go and assuring them of success. And they are resisting and rebelling through their continued mourning. Sometimes clinging to the feelings of fear and mourning is plain sin and rebellion. I must stop the mourning and begin the entering.

   1. Thanks for sharing Guzik’s commentary. Discovering that the spies were the Israelites’ idea was very eye opening. Can you please share more details about how to access Guzik’s commentary? Thanks

      1. This is a direct link, but I always access through Blue Letter Bible,
         which has loads of other helps….so I am adding that link as well.

         https://enduringword.com/

         https://www.blueletterbible.org/

         1. Not sure where the “your comment is awaiting moderation” came from….I’m no techie!!!

            Blessings.

      2. His website is enduringword.com and their is also an app called enduring word where you can access his commentary. He has a YouTube channel also

         1. Thanks so much:)

6. Big complainer here! Have been convicted of it while attending a conference this weekend and through the reading the these past couple of days. First – Wendy I love how passionate you are about teaching us God‘s word and I am, and will be, forever grateful for it.

   I am so thankful that God no longer wants to disown me due to my unbelief and disobedience.

   What stood out to me today was how the Lord viewed Caleb and he recognized that Caleb had a different attitude then the others and rewarded him by allowing him to enter the promised land. I’m quite sure Caleb was annoying to the others with his positive attitude-this was how I was viewed for quite some time at my job until I allowed the atmosphere to affect me rather than The light in me affecting the atmosphere at my job. Again more conviction as I am coming off this conference. I want to care more about loyalty to God rather than pleasing man.

   Caleb and Joshua believed God’s promises in spite of what they saw. Lord once again I ask that you help my unbelief. I surrender my unbelief to you.

7. This is on the facing page of my journal today, from Jesus Always (Sarah Young):
   “Because I am infinite and you are finite, the limitations of your mind make it impossible for you to understand much of what happens in your life–and in the world. So it’s vital to make room for mystery in your worldview.” There’s that trust again!

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