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Thursday, August 20, 2009

Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice

Psalm 95; Numbers 20:1-5

In this week's blog I felt the need to discuss last Sunday's Sunday School's lesson taken from the SSPB Sunday School commentary as it relates to Moses and the children of Israel's disobedience.

In reflecting on the lesson study, several thoughts came to mind, which are: 91) the children of Israel wondered forty years in the wildreness due to their constant disobedience and complaining about what they didn't have or the way God was handling things. Israel wondered forty years in a fifty mile radius. (2) They repeatedly made the statement "God brought us here to die and how they were better off in Egypt (partial paraphrase). Had they forgotten their suffering in Egypt and their cry to God for deliverance? He opened up the Red Sea for them to cross on dry land. It wasn't long ago that God had fed them with manna from heaven and provided them water from a rock. Such short memory!

Another thought that come to mind is that Israel's constant whining and complaining to Moses about things no doubt had pushed Moses to the lomits, but this was no excuse for Moses and Aaron to disobey God's instructions. Moses' sister Miriam, who was a spiritual leader (a prophetess) and her actions resulted in her dying in Zin(v1). Miriam had given in to the people's grumbling and she too rebelled against God and his prevented her from entering the Promised Land. This may have played an important role in Moses' disobedience for his sister to side withe the people. Who knows? Is our grungling keeping us from entering our Promised Land?

Another thought is that regardless how God blessed and provided for them they found every little thing to complain about. this shows a lack of gratitude on the people's part for what God had done for them. Also, this was an indictment against God and His love, care and provision for them.

Nevertheless, Moses was God's chosen leader and regardless of how much or often they grumbled Moses' job was to remain steadfast in God and follow His directions. Moses had trusted God and His instruction up to this point so why stop now as this lesson points out that partial obedience is equal to disobedience as Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to the rock as instructed by God. His disobedience prevented him from entering the Promised Land. What a price to pay for partial obedience?

The lessons learned are:
  1. God is too wise to make a mistake and His provisional care surrounds us. If God brings you to a situation He surely will bring you through the situation. Stop complaining and begin to praise God. "As praises go up blessings come down."
  2. Always have a heart of thankfulness for what God has already done and continues to do in the life of all humanity and especially His children. Are you thankful for what God has done in your life?
  3. Obey God and His leaders in spite of what we as laity thinkor feel how things should be or go.
  4. Disobedience carries negative results.
  5. Leaders are to obey all of God's instructions regardless of how loud or frequent complaints get. Trust God at all times as it give rise to His sovereignty for He is trustworthy.
  6. God speaks to His leaders and His leaders are held to a higher standard of accountability.

Obedience carries positive results--disobedience carries negative results. Which do you chose?

Author's Contact:

wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

white3285@sbcglobal.net

www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Pray For Our Children

Join me in praying for our children as school days are fast approaching and the evil one is on the prowl, and our little ones safety is the reason for this call for unified prayer. At the beginning of each school year there appears to be an increase number of violent incidents with our children; this do not have to be.

It is common knowledge that the prayers of the righteous availeth much and one righteous prayer will put 1000 demons to flight and two or more will put 10,000 to flight; just thing of the number of demons will flee if all Christians prayed for the safety and prtection of our children. Satan you must flee!

With sincere prayer, school and street fights and killings will cease as well as the gang warfare that is raging in our city streets. Christians, we must reclaim our children, schools, our streets and neighborhoods so our children can focus on being children, youth and young adults while they get an education and mature into responsible adults.

While in prayer, let's invite God back into the lives of our children and parents as well as all who interact with our children daily, for God answers prayers.

In addition to our prayers, parents and grandparents let us continue teaching our children as commanded in Deuteronomy 6:7 as well as the Golden Rule of life, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Christians, join me in telling Satan you cannot have my child.

Author's Contact:

wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
white3285@sbcglobal.net
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com