Reading for today
Old Testament: Numbers 19, 20 ,21
New Testament: Luke 2
Thoughts from today’s reading
Numbers 20:7-12. Moses was instructed to speak to the rock so that water would come out of the rock for the Israelites who complained. Moses lost his temper with the people for their stubbornness and lack of faith in God. This made him strike the rock twice instead of speaking to it. God told Moses he would not get into the promised land due to this error. This punishment seems harsh, but God always holds the leaders to a greater judgement than others because they see more and know more.
Spending time in Gods presence does not absolve us of the personal responsibility of putting our emotions in subjection. We should not let anger, frustration, temptation or any other thing get in the way of obeying God’s commands,
Numbers 21:4-9. With the other plagues caused by the complaints of the Israelites, Moses would pray and the Lord would heal the people. This time when Moses prayed, the Lord put the responsibility on the people to look to the bronze serpent to get their healing. He did His part by providing a cure, but the people needed to do their part by focussing on His solution rather than on their problems.
Luke 2. In this chapter we see that the birth of Jesus is announced by angels and then the prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna also testify of who He is and what He will accomplish.
When God gives a word, He also sends several confirmations and witnesses to that word, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word will be established.
Prayer
1. Lord I pray for the grace to keep my emotions in check and as your word says to cut off those parts of my life that would cause me to sin. I also put to death the deeds of my flesh. Help me to remember that I cannot use the wrong attitude to fight the right cause, that it is You who fights for us and we do not fight for You. May your commands always be glorified through my obedient action.
2. Father, you confirm your word with many witnesses. As I walk in obedience to the promises and instructions you have given me, I open my ears to hear the witnesses you have sent my way to confirm this word. Thank you that you sent your Holy Spirit to lead me so that I would never be without a clear direction for my life.