Crushed

Tuesday January 6, 2015

The other day I read two passages in Deuteronomy and Numbers with similar messages. They caused me to recognise more deeply the consequences of disobeying God and failing to heed His warnings. Put succinctly : moving forward without God´s leading, permission or assistance, regardless of how we justify our words or actions, will lead to His judgement.

Let´s take a look at how two accounts in these Old Testament books reveal this truth. But as we do, keep in mind that we´re considering the physical, earthly consequences of our disobedience, not the eternal consequences of sin for which Jesus made salvation possible.

In Deuteronomy 1, Moses recounted how the Israelites have balked at God´s provision and "refused to trust the Lord" (v. 32). Because they disobeyed and would not enter the land when God told them to, He postponed their entry into it for 40 years.

Later, the Israelites had grown tired of wandering in the desert and began complaining. Discontented with God´s timing, they prepared to head to the Promised Land on their own terms. They took things into their own hands and attacked their enemies, though they had been warned by the Lord, "Do not attack, for I am not with you. If you go ahead on your own, you will be crushed by your enemies" (Deuteronomy 1:42). And, indeed, when they attacked they were crushed and defeated. "The Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in those hills came down and attacked them and chased them back as far as Hormah" (v. 45).

When we choose words and actions that go against God´s will and His clear instruction, we reap the consequences. Instead, may we increasingly pray and seek God´s wisdom before we speak or act. - Roxanne Robbins

Read
Deuteronomy 1:42-46
But the Lord said to me, "Tell them, 'Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.' "
So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord´s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you. And so you stayed in Kadesh many days - all the time you spent there.

Luke 11:28
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Question to Ponder
Ready to lash out at someone with your words?
Consider God´s commands, and then choose to do what is right in His eyes. 
What will prevent you from being crushed by willful God-dishonouring decisions today?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue