‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’ (Numbers 14:16)Have you ever wondered if God can deliver?
In the true account of the deliverance of God's people into the Promise Land, this statement was uttered to God by Moses. "If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’" (Numbers 14:15-16)
God's reputation, who he says he is, has always been interlaced in all the accounts of His Word. "God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
Can God deliver?
The people had grumbled against God because in their eyes the difficulties of their deliverance was intolerable in comparison to their enslaved lives in Egypt, an enemy now to God's people under the rule of Pharaoh.
Who are we under?
If we serve the Lord, why do we complain of life's difficulties? Is God able to deliver?
In God's mercy, he inclines his ear to his Moses as he pleads for God's hand to be held back. The Israelite's preferred to be enslaved instead of on the road to freedom, the promise of God!
God heard their grumbling hearts and was about to remove them from the face of the earth.
Moses pleads for his mercy to act!
What is it that we think that God can not do? Is he able to save? Can he bring us out of bondage into a place of freedom and liberty? Can he deliver on what he said he would do?
We struggle with doubt, perhaps are uncomfortable as God is moving us into freedom. We at times prefer to stay in chaos, sadness, depression and all sorts of bondage because we are familiar with it. We have become "one" with our infirmities and bondage. We speak death over ourselves like the Israelites, "If only we had died in Egypt! or in this wilderness!" (v2)
Change makes us feel like we are loosing control. We move with hesitation toward uncertainty. We don't want to let go of the past even if it has removed our joy, peace and well-being from us. We trust our bondage and not the road to freedom.
Who is our Master?
Is it "Pharaoh" the representative of bondage, or is it Jesus, "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah" who has come to set the captives free? He came in humility, surrendered to the cross, died but did not remain in the ground! "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
Can he deliver?
God's hand relented as Moses pleaded with his face to the ground. They were kept alive but those 20 years and older died in the wilderness for their disobedience.
"The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. " (v20-23)
He is able to set free! Trust his character! In the difficulties, trust his hand of change and deliverance!
Father, we fall on our face and ask that you forgive us for our rebellion. Help us and guide us Holy Spirit to see your mighty hand and strength as you deliver us from bondage into a place of freedom. Let our confidence in you rise up! May our dependence rest on You, Lord! Let your Kingdom come! We are moving according to your command and your great mercy toward us. Amen
God bless you!~Liz
