How is it We do not Understand? - Numbers 25-27 and Mark 8:1-21
I took the title for these notes from Jesus' question to His disciples in Mark 8:21. I believe that if all of us would be honest with God and with ourselves, we would have to admit that we often misunderstand what God wants us to do, so that we end up doing the wrong thing. How does that happen? I do not think it is ever God's fault. He is very good about making things clear in His Word and about answering our specific prayers for wisdom. I believe the reasons for the misunderstanding are within us. Take some time to think about this as you read these passages. I believe God will speak to all of us about this important subject.
How did the Israelites fall into harlotry and idolatry in Moab? Numbers 25 recounts the incident and God's anger against His people. God had made it clear in the 10 Commandments that idolatry of all kinds was wrong. He had also made it clear that adultery was a sin. There was nothing unclear about those commandments, yet His people turned from Him to the worship idols that involved sex. What caused this sin? The people were taken by lust. They were not thinking, but they were going by feelings. Feelings will fool you, especially the feelings and desires of the flesh. We always sin when we listen to the flesh and go against the direct command of God for any reason. However, many people, even many believers, do this all the time. We must repent of this sin and follow God's commands, instead of justifying sin, because of how it feels.
The census in Numbers 26 reminds us that an entire generation died in the wilderness, because of such a sin. Was it not evident that God was giving them the Promised Land? Did He not assure them of victory? Yes, God was very clear, but the people became afraid, because they went by human reasoning when the saw the cities and the people of the Land. Therefore, they missed God's will, and they died in the wilderness. How many people are wandering in the wilderness of life today, because they failed to trust God years ago, and they won't repent? If they had only done what Moses did in Numbers 27, they would have been fine. He stopped to pray and to ask God what to do. That is what we should all do when we don't understand or we are not sure. He will show us in His Word or He will speak to our hearts about His way.
Then, in Mark 8 Jesus feeds 4,000 people this time. He had already fed 5,000 people. However, His disciples did not understand what was happening. They thought about their physical need for bread, instead of hearing what Jesus was saying about the Pharisees. They saw Jesus feeding people, but they still did not understand His power, because their hearts were hard. They were not opening their hearts to see all that He was saying. They were skeptical of His miracles. They were observing, but not trusting. I believe this happens to many people, too. We see and hear the things of God, but we don't trust Him and act on them. We are simply a spectator to His Word. We must move beyond that to fully understand. We must experience Him by acting in faith. Then, we will see clearly what He is saying to us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 28-30 and Mark 8:22-38.
How did the Israelites fall into harlotry and idolatry in Moab? Numbers 25 recounts the incident and God's anger against His people. God had made it clear in the 10 Commandments that idolatry of all kinds was wrong. He had also made it clear that adultery was a sin. There was nothing unclear about those commandments, yet His people turned from Him to the worship idols that involved sex. What caused this sin? The people were taken by lust. They were not thinking, but they were going by feelings. Feelings will fool you, especially the feelings and desires of the flesh. We always sin when we listen to the flesh and go against the direct command of God for any reason. However, many people, even many believers, do this all the time. We must repent of this sin and follow God's commands, instead of justifying sin, because of how it feels.
The census in Numbers 26 reminds us that an entire generation died in the wilderness, because of such a sin. Was it not evident that God was giving them the Promised Land? Did He not assure them of victory? Yes, God was very clear, but the people became afraid, because they went by human reasoning when the saw the cities and the people of the Land. Therefore, they missed God's will, and they died in the wilderness. How many people are wandering in the wilderness of life today, because they failed to trust God years ago, and they won't repent? If they had only done what Moses did in Numbers 27, they would have been fine. He stopped to pray and to ask God what to do. That is what we should all do when we don't understand or we are not sure. He will show us in His Word or He will speak to our hearts about His way.
Then, in Mark 8 Jesus feeds 4,000 people this time. He had already fed 5,000 people. However, His disciples did not understand what was happening. They thought about their physical need for bread, instead of hearing what Jesus was saying about the Pharisees. They saw Jesus feeding people, but they still did not understand His power, because their hearts were hard. They were not opening their hearts to see all that He was saying. They were skeptical of His miracles. They were observing, but not trusting. I believe this happens to many people, too. We see and hear the things of God, but we don't trust Him and act on them. We are simply a spectator to His Word. We must move beyond that to fully understand. We must experience Him by acting in faith. Then, we will see clearly what He is saying to us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 28-30 and Mark 8:22-38.