February 28 – Numbers 11-13

Today’s reading comes from Numbers 11-13. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word.

How much faith do you really have in God? Are you willing to trust that what he provides is enough? Are you willing to believe he is strong enough to conquer all that you face in life? Are you willing to really truly make him master of your life? If you call yourself a Christian you have experienced God’s deliverance from sin. You have been rescued from the bondage of slavery this world holds over people. But I wander do we still doubt the power, sovereignty, clout, and muscle of God?

The Israelites did. Over and over again they doubted God. They had experienced him delivering them from the chains of slavery of the Egyptians. Their deliverance was not a run of the mill get up and leave Egypt event. It was witnessing and experiencing the power of God in a huge way. Remember the leprosy covered hand, remember the staff to a snake, remember the water to blood, the ten plagues, the death of the first born, the parting of the Red Sea, bitter water turned good, manna in the mornings, Moses on Mt. Sinai, the construction of the Tabernacle, and the setting apart of Aaron and the Levites. All this and they doubt. And it is not just the average people; Moses brother and sister both have their moments of doubt.

Their doubts cost them severely. God reminds Moses of his power and ability … “Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!” Numbers 11:23 NLT. Those who craved meat lost their lives. Miriam and Aaron are rebuked by God, Miriam even being turned unclean for seven days. For the biggest doubt, not trusting God’s power to help them overtake the land … something he promised to do in Leviticus … their punishment is yet to be read.

Friends, having doubts about God can be ok. When we have honest questions where we have a respect filled dialogue with God, I think that’s ok. But when we doubt by casting blame on God, shrugging off his blessings and guidance as not as good as before our salvation, then I think we have entered an area were we are treading on thin ice. What you think? Feel free to share in the comments below.

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