Adventure Day 17 - 3/10/09

In today's 50 Day Spiritual Adventure passage, [read Numbers 14:1-25] we see how the people responded to the report given by the majority of the spies who surveyed the Land of Canaan. How would you characterize their response? I'd say they lacked faith in God, were fearful, and as a whole felt rather sorry for themselves, wouldn't you? They wanted to choose a new leader, pack up and go back to Egypt. Imagine that! After experiencing God's miraculous deliverance first hand, they so quickly forgot and became faith-less, ready to stone Moses, Caleb and Joshua to death and follow about anyone who was willing to lead them back into slavery in Egypt.

Were you surprised by God's initial response to their complaining and rebellion? I was. God seems both deeply angered and deeply hurt when he says to Moses, "How long will this people despise me?And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? (v. 11)."

Think about this....When might the Lord see us as complainers or people who are unappreciative of all He has done for us? When might he see us unwilling to believe his promises?

Consider this wonderful prayer of confession: "Please pardon the iniquity of your people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people...until now. (v. 19)"

Such confession is a first step toward revival.

God's peace,

Pastor Paul