Under the Cloud

Defensiveness. We all exhibit it at one time or another. When we defend ourselves, it is a struggle to remain calm. We feel attacked and want to strike back.  God says He will avenge us. ( Romans 12:19 ) Today, we will examine the reactions of the leaders of Israel who are threatened with death.  Israel is turning on their leaders and anyone who says something different from them. Can you remember your life before knowing Jesus? I know mine was not exemplary. Because I had religion and some spiritual foundation, my life had a lot of ups and downs and I did not quickly realize my need for a Savior once I saw the difference relationship can make. The Israelites also th ought  they  we re able to live without God in their lives  and continu ally  reject His leadership and provision. In Numbers 14, the very sad turn of events continues from chapter 13.  In fact, things go from bad to worse.  The Israelites not only rejected the Promised Land, now they reject Moses and Aaron. 

Twelve spies were sent to check out the Promised Land for Israel. Ten out of twelve spies g ave  a bad report.  They were telling the Israelites that they couldn't attack the people of Canaan.  God was giving the land to them.  He had prepared and organized the people to do battle and conquer the land.  But it only took ten men to turn the public opinion.  Caleb silenced the people and told them they could certainly go up and take the land.  However, the ten naysayers continued to talk negatively, even saying the land itself devours people. It is never easy to go against the majority.  Speaking out in defense of God and His Word when others are against it is never easy. However, great is our reward in heaven when men speak against us because of our stand for righteousness. (Matthew 5:10) Many other places in the Bible God commends us for standing up for Him. In fact, He says if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us. ( Mark 8:38 ) We can be people of great inf

God  told Moses to send one man from each tribe  to explore the land of Canaan .   “Deuteronomy 1:22-23 describes the idea of the scouts as originating from the people.  The two accounts are not mutually exclusive.  Undoubtedly Moses would have approached the Lord for approval regarding such undertaking if members of the community sugg ested it.” (NIV Appl. p . 598)   God allowed them to go explore, but they should not have needed physical evidence to trust that the cloud would lead them to a good land.  In fact, a step of faith often involves stepping into an illogical situation.  When we trust God, we sometimes have to explain ourselves to many others.   Have you ever taken an “illogical” step of faith?     When I  had my second son, I quit a good, full-time job to be with my kids.  I went back to work as a waitress  a few evenings when my husband could be with the kids .  I can remember a conversation with a coworker in which I mentioned that I had an MBA.  She was so s

I had four siblings growing up.  There were always undertones of competition.  Whether it is subtle or obvious, there is often a power struggle among siblings. Moses had a brother and a sister.  His brother Aaron was three years older than Moses and was apparently born before Pharaoh started making the Israelites throw their infants in the Nile River. Moses was saved out of the water by Pharaoh's daughter and Miriam was obviously the oldest because she was old enough to call out to Pharaoh's daughter when she drew Moses out of the water, asking her if she needed an Israelite woman to care for the baby. (By the way, this led to Moses' mother being paid to nurse her own son!! God has the greatest sense of humor!) ( Exodus 2 ) In the desert, Moses and Aaron were often ministering together and speaking to the people together.  But it was Moses who met with God face to face and Aaron who was made the high priest (even though he let the people into idolatry with the golden ca