Readings: Exodus 14, Proverbs 10, Luke 23,
“IF THE LORD DELIGHTS IN US”
There is a climax point in most lives – a cross roads where a decision has to be made as to which path we will take!
We read yesterday in Numbers of the conflicting reports of the twelve who had gone up to spy out the land, a 500 mile journey in 40 days. Today we read of the reaction of the mass of the people to the *discouraging* *reports* of ten of them; we also read of the confident urging of the two who had returned with *positive* *reports*.
It is clear that *these two* have confidence in God, whereas the others *only see* the situation through the *eyes of the flesh*. The latter want to choose a leader to take them back to Egypt – the focus of their thinking is the variety of food available in Egypt- they push out of their minds the memory that they had been slaves. All the experiences of worshipping the LORD, *the wonders at* Sinai and the tabernacle has had *had no lasting impact* on their minds!
*Does the same happen today*? Do human have same order of priorities – even though they may read God’s word from time to time – even quite regularly? We suspect it does.
We now note (and mentally absorb) what the two faithful spies say! “*If the LORD delights in us**, *he will bring us into this land and give it to us … *only do not rebel against the LORD*. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us; do not fear them.” [Ch.14 v.8,9] But the mass of the people want to stone them, to silence such talk!
We have situations today where people try to silence the true message of the Bible. In centuries past some of those who have given the true message have been stoned, even burnt at the stake! “*But the glory of the LORD appeared*” and the situation changes. He declares, “How long will they not believe in me in spite of all the signs I have done among them? I will … disinherit them …” [v.11,12]
*And the same will happen at* the return of Christ when the door is shut on the foolish virgins. (Matthew 25 v.10) *Let us make sure** “the LORD delights in us” *when “the glory of the LORD appear(s)”
D. Caudery
