February 24, 2014 (Numbers 14-16; Mark 3)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice.” Numbers 14:22 NLT
Observation: The children of Israel, time and time again, had experienced God move on their behalf in many ways. They witnessed His miraculous works of deliverance and provision both in Egypt and in the wilderness in which they now lived. Yet when they heard the report of the twelve spies that were sent out to inspect the Promised Land they became dejected and lost hope for their future. They focused on what appeared to be an unmovable mountain and forgot all about the miraculous events they had already experienced. Caleb tried to remind them of the great power of God, but they refused to listen. God had spoken to the people through Moses many times and they continually ignored what He had to say. There is a consequence for ignoring the voice of God; in this case the stakes were high and the consequence detrimental.
Application: God speaks to us in many ways. Sometimes He speaks directly to our spirit and other times He speaks to us through others. Maybe a certain event takes place in our life that in reality is God speaking to us. But just because we hear Him that doesn’t mean we actually listen. Many times God speaks to us, but we don’t listen to what He’s saying. We don’t listen to what He’s saying because our ears are closed to His desires. Our own selfish desires often times stop up our ears from hearing and blind our eyes from seeing. We must remember there are serious consequences for not listening to, and obeying, the voice of God. The children of Israel should be an alarming example to us about how to listen, trust, and obey the voice of God. We must be careful to not only hear God’s voice, but listen to it and obey it when we hear it.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I praise You today for who You are! Thank You for Your mercy and grace that are plenteous and constantly flowing from the throne above. Teach me how to hear Your voice and help me listen to Your voice when You speak. Place a desire within me that longs to obey Your will. Protect me from myself, in Jesus name, Amen!