Wednesday, February 24, 2010
February 24 ... Numbers 31 - 32 "Second Things"
Numbers 32:32 The families of Gad and Reuben responded: "We will do what God has said. We will cross the Jordan before God, ready and willing to fight. But the land we inherit will be here, to the east of the Jordan." They knew what THEY wanted (second things) yet they did what God said, a "first thing" in their lives...and the "second things" were thrown in. Matthew 6:33 - I have to ask myself the question this day, this place of exhaustion...do I want what God wants more than my own plans to succeed? God is a gentleman and will give us what we want, won't he? But do we want those second things more than we want HIM?
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Several of you know I have just finished reading The Rest of God Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Your Sabbath by Mark Buchanan. We live in such an action based society...Being Still and observing a Sabbath can be a real challenge. During this reading and with the comments on this blog...I am learning to take up only what God (Spirit driven to participate in) vs (Need driven to participate). Yes God blesses both but the richer blessing is to totally focus on Spirit Driven activities ALL the time.
ReplyDeleteI am learning I really only have time and energy for 1st Things...God really does know best for me. I must release my control only to HIM for total direction along with the details He will reveal to me and then focus on just that the first things.
"They weren't interested in following me—their hearts weren't in it."
ReplyDeleteSometimes it feels like I'm just going through the motions. You all really seem different than most people I encounter during my day. Your hearts are SO into it and I appreciate you sharing. Your devotion is contagious. It's easy for me to obsess about "second things" and I love starting my day focusing only on "first things".
1 -4 The families of Reuben and Gad had huge herds of livestock. They saw that the country of Jazer and Gilead was just the place for grazing livestock. And so they came, the families of Gad and of Reuben, and spoke to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the leaders of the congregation, saying, "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon—the country that God laid low before the community of Israel—is a country just right for livestock, and we have livestock." 5 They continued, "If you think we've done a good job so far, give us this country for our inheritance. Don't make us go across the Jordan."
ReplyDeleteGod had a plan for His people which included the Promised Land - the tribe of Reuben had their own plan which did not inlcude crossing the Jordan. They promised to fight for Israel etc, but they were not crossing the Jordan.
How many times have I been to the banks of the Jordan - looked across and not crossed?
There is such temptation to settle for the security of right now and miss the better things God has in store for us. May God help us as we step into the unknown.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that the tribes of Gad and Reuben chose their own plans rather than trusting that the Promised Land was what God had for them. Yes, they agreed to fight with the others, but what did they ultimately miss out on by making their own plans?
ReplyDeleteI wonder the same thing about myself. What do I miss out on with God by insisting on my own way? In what areas of my life am I refusing to 'go there' with God? I'm asking God to show me.
So much you all have given me to ponder this morning: Whole heartedness v/s half-hearted efforts, putting first things first either by mandate or choice (I so hear your heart in this season, Sylvia!), missing out on God's best blessing because of staying and following a detour of our own plan...Looking at the Jordan, and choosing to stay sends a shutter through me because I know how many times I have been in those shoes, Annette. I often choose to just not do something because it eases anxiety for me. I miss a lot. But "your sin will track you down" was Moses' somber warning today.
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought a story about dividing plunder of war would have so much application for our lives? Don't you love God's Word!
You all have given me much food to ponder and chew on. He has me in a place that I am not sure where to go or how to go what to do etc? Feel all out of kilter. Praying He will show me the way out. You all bless my heart, may God bless each one of you today as you step out in whatever He has for you.
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ReplyDeleteLet me try again...I could barely stay awake when I was reading today's reading. Yesterday I accidentally fell asleep midday for almost 4 hours. I am exhausted. whoopsss...Just fell asleep again...anyway...what i want to say is that the Midianites wanted God (first thing) but they wanted to stay in the good land that they could see by sight was really good (second things). Faith by sight. They did what God said (first thing) but what was their motivation---to get what they wanted (second things). I wonder about my own suffering.Do I endure hoping to get what I want? Remember the quote on p. xxv bottom of page starting with "If you focus...---I just read it to my husband again this morning. I just think that my world looks at how we can find our own promised land here on earth on the safe side. Faith by sight which equals = "Reverse" your tragedy if you can. "Endure" your cancer and be an overcomer. "Prevent" at all costs that it ever happens again so make sure you eat right, exercise, and so on. Stay positive. Don't complain. WAIT! What does God want from me? Holiness not better behavior. This story really gets to me cause it looks okay to ask God to change His mind---however, you can't say that you're not willing to go there either. Just seems that so many people feel they need to just endure the hardships of life and get through them to better times---what are we missing?? A larger Story? Oooh...i'm going back to bed...He is a good God to us, no matter what!
ReplyDeleteBev, thanks so much for taking me back to pg. xxv in 66LL. I read the whole chapter again and needed to be reminded of the larger story.
ReplyDeleteWere Reuben and Gad wrong in not wanting to settle across the Jordan? Moses seemed to indicate in Nu.32:22 that they would be blameless before the LORD. It seems to me that their sin would be not joining in the fight against the enemy. This would cause the others to be demoralized and quit...just like their fathers did. Were they settling for less than God's best? I don't know. I'm glad they went to battle for the others.
As for me, I would love to have the heart of Joshua and Caleb. They were caught up in the larger story. They just believed God would give them what He had already promised.
"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
whose heart is set on pilgrimage." Psalm 84:5 NKJV
FG
FG, Your words are very good and thought provoking and I like that. I'm assuming from Moses' harsh words to them that Moses had a concern that they were living by sight. I may be wrong. Is our goal the Promised Land? No. Our goal is to be right where God wants us to be---"with" Him. So, was that permission from God okay? IDK. Did they settle for less like Lot did when he chose the better land? They did ask. IDK. Maybe one of you knows. Maybe we'll see what comes of their obedience to fight yet choose the immediate land which wasn't God's idea. Do any of you all know? They did ask and God did say yes. But, He is a gentleman and will not force His will on us. I don't like calling God a gentleman. I don't know. Except this---if we live for First Things then we won't be caught up in evaluating/hanging on to the second things. Thanks for your good words. All of you are wrestling with very good things that I see coming from very good places inside of you. Oh that we would just want to be with Him and His Love that we'll never lose, no matter what.
ReplyDeleteDo I know you FG? I sure said IDK a lot!
Bev, what you wrote about "am I just enduring my cancer and thinking positive just in order to get what I want" struck a chord in me. Have reconnected with an old high school friend and I am concerned about her eternal soul. I saw her somewhat in what you wrote...it is helping me pray for her and maybe minister to her. No matter what you think, I believe that you are a living testimony to Him and you are seeking to love Him and serve Him. I love you and your heart...Mary Lou
ReplyDeleteSylvia, just loved when you said "I am learning I really only have time and energy for 1st Things...God really does know best for me." So true!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading through these passages and then seeing each comment you all leave about your thoughts from these love letters. I am ALWAYS challenged by what Dr. Crabb reveals to his readers. And I don't want to be comfortable in my faith. I want to be CONFRONTED with my sin. I want to be PASSIONATE about my love affair with GOD's Word. I want to go one step further and actually APPLY what I learn to my own daily grind. My days are hard. Work is impossible right now with so many demands on my time. Brain surgery would be easier some days.
ReplyDelete***Please, if you could spare a prayer, pray for America and those supporting our defense.***
Can you believe how quickly God sends them out to avenge? 1000 from each camp. Who cooked for them? How could they just up and go, ready for battle? These people just amaze me every time I think about the enormity of their camp and their daily needs.
I'm picturing swords and arrows, standing in places where they could easily be grabbed should enemies attack. Ready, willing and able men would be alert and responsive.
Moses is commanded one last thing before he is gathered to his ancestors.
Avenge.
Our meek and humble servant...who fled Egypt, his adoptive royal home, after murdering an Egyptian for his treatment of an Israelite slave...who never wanted to be used by God to lead these people out of captivity...who feared even talking to these people...has his last assignment from God.
Avenge.
That is really hard for me to press in right now.
He orchestrated the completion of the tabernacle raised in the camp. He took care of these people, mercifully standing between them and GOD so many times. He held their babies and watched these fellow sojourners die. He obediently followed God's commands about offerings and sacrifices and wanderings and laws. He lost his temper once and it cost him dearly. And he counted them one by one when God required them to be numbered.
And now he is commanded by God to avenge.
Hidden in the names of those kings who were the cause for this last assignment for Moses, is this character we read about in a few chapters before. His donkey spoke. He offered sacrifices to God. He could curse for a price. But he could not curse God's people. Focus on this:
"What's this! You've let these women live! They're the ones who, under Balaam's direction, seduced the People of Israel away from God in that mess at Peor, causing the plague that hit God's people."
Finally, God reveals Balaam's sin. And God's anger was specific about the "leader" of the pack, Balaam. The women were taken captive. But their evil was so seductive and so threatening to God's people, that He did not allow them to take up with the Israelites. He kept their sin out of the camp. He wanted His people holy. He wants me holy. Even from seductive sin that looks harmless.
It takes a lot of fear...of God...to destroy the enemy to our souls and to stand against sin. Being tenderhearted doesn't always please God.
Being tenderhearted doesn't always please God.
He wants us holy, even if we have to fight to be holy.