December 16, 2022

Passage Read: Numbers 16-19
Meditation Verse: 17:13

Thought

It would be terrifying to see the Lord deal like this with His people today, to call them out for their sin and rebellion in so dramatic a fashion that men die in front of others. And the result would be the same: We would cry. "We're all going to die!" No one stops to think, hey, maybe we should just obey the Lord and let Him run things, then we'll be just fine. God didn't reveal Himself in order to kill everyone, He came to save us from our own sinfulness, which is what condemns us. Why is our first thought not, hey, I should repent, but instead is, we're all going to die! If that's our attitude, then we're right, we're going to die, because we're not listening to what the Lord is actually saying and learning the lesson He has for us. But a simple surrender and submission to the commands of God would set us free from all fear!

Application

When God or anyone else catches me in sin, I need to confess and renounce it, then I'll have forgiveness and no fear of condemnation. If instead I reject the accusation and turn to attack my accusers, I'll be stuck in my sin and liable to judgment! What good does that bring me? Sin brings condemnation; repentance brings forgiveness and salvation. Do I really want to justify myself and be cast into Hell? Wouldn't I rather be forgiven and saved? Isn't salvation worth a little humble pie? I need to trust that the Lord really does love the humble and contrite more than those who refuse to admit guilt.