Jan 11, Miracle/Complain
For my own personal devotion time I usually read through the bible every year. I do this at home in my lazy boy early of a morning. My Old Testament reading this morning was Numbers 21 and God really spoke to me.
1. The miracle
The Israelites were traveling and attacked.
Numbers 21:1-3
1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." 3 The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.
After begging God for the safe return of their people God delivers.
2. The complaints
God performs a miracle and the very next verse the people are complaining again.
Numbers 21:4-5
4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"
Remember, the food they detest is the manna God has hand delivered to them each and every day.
3. Consequences of complaining
God does not take complaining about what He has done lightly. I know with my kids I have often said I wished they appreciated all we've done for them a little more. Wonder if God ever feels that way with his children? Finally the complaining upsets God.
Numbers 21:6
6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.
4. God comes through once again
People repent, God comes through again.
Numbers 21:7-9
7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
Why did I share all of this? Because it is the perfect picture of ME! 5 years ago I was one jacked up Pastor when the Colony Theater became a reality. I knew we could reach hundreds of lost people through this building. God hand delivered a miracle. The past four 7ears we've led hundreds to Jesus Christ and seen so many miracles.
But I've seen the Promised Land. I've walked through our new building and can see the potential of reaching thousands. I've seen the space for the Kids. I can actually walk in a parking lot. Have sat in foyer area and seen the space opened up. And since I have seen what can be I have begun complaining about the miracles already experienced.
As I continued reading what happened to the Israelites I literally stopped and asked God to forgive me. Began raising my feet thinking snaked might be down there crawling around. Instead of whinging about what could be I began thanking God for what has happened. And guess what, the negative spirit began to lift.
I will continue to beg God for a miracle. I will continue walking and praying over our new building every day I can. but I won't be negative again. God knows our existing parking lot is under two inches of water. And god knows exactly what we need to get into our new building. I'm going to sit back and enjoy watching God work miracles.
Where have you experienced a miracle but now all your doing is complaining?
* Don't forget I'll be teaching a New Members class tonight.
1. The miracle
The Israelites were traveling and attacked.
Numbers 21:1-3
1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." 3 The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.
After begging God for the safe return of their people God delivers.
2. The complaints
God performs a miracle and the very next verse the people are complaining again.
Numbers 21:4-5
4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"
Remember, the food they detest is the manna God has hand delivered to them each and every day.
3. Consequences of complaining
God does not take complaining about what He has done lightly. I know with my kids I have often said I wished they appreciated all we've done for them a little more. Wonder if God ever feels that way with his children? Finally the complaining upsets God.
Numbers 21:6
6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.
4. God comes through once again
People repent, God comes through again.
Numbers 21:7-9
7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
Why did I share all of this? Because it is the perfect picture of ME! 5 years ago I was one jacked up Pastor when the Colony Theater became a reality. I knew we could reach hundreds of lost people through this building. God hand delivered a miracle. The past four 7ears we've led hundreds to Jesus Christ and seen so many miracles.
But I've seen the Promised Land. I've walked through our new building and can see the potential of reaching thousands. I've seen the space for the Kids. I can actually walk in a parking lot. Have sat in foyer area and seen the space opened up. And since I have seen what can be I have begun complaining about the miracles already experienced.
As I continued reading what happened to the Israelites I literally stopped and asked God to forgive me. Began raising my feet thinking snaked might be down there crawling around. Instead of whinging about what could be I began thanking God for what has happened. And guess what, the negative spirit began to lift.
I will continue to beg God for a miracle. I will continue walking and praying over our new building every day I can. but I won't be negative again. God knows our existing parking lot is under two inches of water. And god knows exactly what we need to get into our new building. I'm going to sit back and enjoy watching God work miracles.
Where have you experienced a miracle but now all your doing is complaining?
* Don't forget I'll be teaching a New Members class tonight.
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