February 14, Numbers 27:15-23, 32:1-42, Deut 4;41-43, Numbers 33:50-56, Deut 25:17-19, Numbers 34:1-35:8

Numbers 32:1-15

Amplified Bible (AMP)

32 Now the sons of Reuben and of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle, and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead [on the east side of the Jordan], and behold, the place was suitable for cattle.

² So the sons of Gad and of Reuben came and said to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation,

³ [The country around] Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,

⁴ The land the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and your servants have cattle.

⁵ And they said, If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.

⁶ And Moses said to the sons of Gad and of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?

⁷ Why do you discourage the hearts of the Israelites from going over into the land which the Lord has given them?

⁸ Thus your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land!

⁹ For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the hearts of the Israelites from going into the land the Lord had given them.

¹⁰ And the Lord’s anger was kindled on that day and He swore, saying,

¹¹ Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me—

¹² Except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord.

¹³ And the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel and He made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was consumed.

¹⁴ And behold, you are risen up in your fathers’ stead, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel.

¹⁵ For if you turn from following Him, He will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people.

Okay this strikes me as funny! Has anyone out there gotten a similar response after making a simple request? I found myself feeling sorry for the poor Reubenites and Gadites. They made a request and got a big scary lecture about Gods burning anger and then were called a brood of sinful men??? Puhlease!!! It certainly seems as if Moses had found his tongue by now! (being scared to speak in the early days, remember...) Obviously he spoke out of fear. 

Moving on...

Numbers 33:50-56

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵⁰ And the Lord said to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho,

⁵¹ Tell the Israelites, When you have passed over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

⁵² Then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you and destroy all their figured stones and all their molten images and completely demolish all their [idolatrous] high places,

⁵³ And you shall take possession of the land and dwell in it, for to you I have given the land to possess it.

⁵⁴ You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the large tribe you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the small tribe you shall give a smaller inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to any man, that shall be his. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit.

⁵⁵ But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you let remain of them shall be as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they shall vex you in the land in which you dwell.

⁵⁶ And as I thought to do to them, so will I do to you.

Folks, we must completely cleans our lives of ALL sin, even a teeny little sin that doesn't seem so bad. I cant emphasize this enough. Its plain what will happen to us if we allow anything to stay. 

God will do to us what He did to them! He doesn't wink at our sin! His anger will burn against us if we continue in sin after He has, in His great love and mercy, delivered us out of it. 

I'm convinced this is why so many fall away from God. They don't plan to fall away! But they think they can allow small insignificant sin to coexist with purity. 

"I love God so much but I can't forgive that person."

"I love God so much but my wife (or husband) is a real pain and I enjoy flirting with my good friend. She (or he) knows I would never allow it to go any further."

"I love God so much but I really enjoy violent (or slightly inappropriate) movies (or games). I work hard and its what I do to unwind."

I wish I could convince everyone that our walk with God is a series of small seemingly insignificant choices. But every time we choose the very best thing over the easy thing, we get stronger and better and happier!!! 

Satan would convince us that we are exhausted and we need relaxation time. All the time. 

I have found when I run every decision by God, HE provides relaxation time for me! It's amazing how it works! 

After 47 years of selfishly guarding my down time, I was severely depressed. I loved God, and was used by God, but I was selfish. Plain and simple. On April 12, 2008, God miraculously healed me. From that day forward, I have made small moment by moment decisions to sacrificially lay my life down before Him. I ask Him and my husband about every single opportunity for ministry that comes my way. I get their blessing, then I move forward.

Do I get tired? Yes! but its a good, peaceful tired! Most nights I literally fall into bed, exhausted! Am I making a difference? Yes! I know I am! And I'm happier and more fulfilled than I've ever been!!! 

Are you desperately seeking happiness, but finding the more you relax, the worse you feel? Stop trying to unwind, and start pouring your life out in ministry. Do the thing God has been talking to your heart about. Just focus your energy on giving back to God and others, and watch Him work miracles in your own life along the way!

"Dear Jesus, I love You so much. I've been selfish and miserable for a long time. I've been allowing junk in my heart. Please cleanse my heart from all filthiness."

2 Corinthians 7:1

Amplified Bible (AMP)

7 Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.

Ephesians 5:4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁴ Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to God].

"I desire to be like You, Jesus, but I have such a long way to go! I want to live my life sacrificially, but until now I have, many times, made selfish choices that aren't pleasing to You. I feel discouraged sometimes. But I know I can do ALL things through You. Once again I'm asking You to cleanse my heart! I believe You hear and answer EVERY prayer! I believe the work is done, and I give You praise and honor. In the precious name of Jesus and by Your precious blood, I am cleansed. AMEN."

I had to post my one of my favorites again...

I love you all!