25:1-2 - The people have absolutely sold themselves away from God for things like sex and acceptance among the people they come in contact with. They prostitute their souls...selling the relationship with God they have for empty promises and destructive behavior. That doesn't sound familiar at all does it?
25:7-8 - Phinehas could not stand the sight of seeing God's name and reputation run through the mud. Numbers 25 tells us that God is pleased with Phinehas because he is jealous for God's name. He is willing to stand up for the reputation of God no matter what. How about you? Do you defend the honor of God in your life? Do you stand up for His name?
25:17-18 - This sounds really harsh...God instructs the people of Israel to strike the Midianites down because of their evil influence over His people. This drives home the fact that you and I need to be able to make drastic choices to cleanse our own lives of evil influences. While killing is not an option for us under the blood of Jesus Christ, we have to be willing to get crazy about sin removal. Are there any tough choices you need to make to get sinful influences out of your life?
26:64-65 - Every member of the doubting generation of Israelites is now dead except for Caleb and Joshua, the only men who remained faithful. The penalty is always high when we refuse to trust God.
27:7 - This gives us a glimpse at the incredibly compassionate and revolutionary heart of God. In a time period on earth where women were considered possessions to be owned and controlled by men, God commands that they be treated with respect and dignity.
27:14 - God still loves Moses, but we all have to understand that there are consequences for our actions. Just because you are forgiven, does not mean that you will not have to face the fallout of sinful choices you have made. That's why God wants us to stay away from sin - not so that we can save ourselves, but so that we will not have to go through the destruction that is inherent through sin.
27:16-17 - Did you notice that when God says Moses is not going to get to go to the Promised Land, that Moses does not whine or complain! He is an incredible man. He has lives for years to bring the people of Israel to the Promised Land and he is told when they are on the doorstep that he doesn't get to go in...and he accepts God's judgement humbly! In fact, the only thing that he can think about is the people of Israel. His only concern is that they are taken care of and led well. Moses is an incredible leader. He checks his ego at the door...refuses to make leadership about him...and selflessly seeks only to see a better life lived out by the people he leads. Man, I want that kind of focus.
2 comments:
25: it's really hard to stand of for God here in Texas because everyone is a "Christian". Even if you straight up tell someone (including ourselves) that what they are doing is wrong they always say "You're right, i should stop". And then they turn around the very next day and do exactly what they said they wouldn't.
Matt you're back! Good to see you and great comment.
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