12 Mar 2008

Numbers 16:41-18:32, Mark 16, Psalm 55, Proverbs 11

The plaguein Numbers 16:49 killed 14,700 people.

Submitting to authority. So simple said, but how many has refused. In the case above, Mosses and Aaron was ordained by God, but the people failed to recognise that and challenge that - why should such previlege go to Aaron and his family and why Mosses who lead them out was with the intention to make himself head over them.

Authority is placed over ask and so many times, we challenge them because we think we can do much better than that person. In the process, and in the case when a younger person is placed above us, we resent.

Besides, we challenge authority is because of pride and ego. As a result, we breed anger and hatred. Lord, I want to submit this to you, remove the anger and the hatred in me and so that I can be liberated in you. Give me the boldness to forgive and to seek forgiveness. I know it is hard and let me have that courage to do so. How can I serve God and walk in integrity while yet harbour resent and anger to my brother? Only by grace and by your spirit. Amen.

In BTW, Pastor Jeff talked about Glory, Order and Judgement.
In order to bring about the glory of God, He need to bring about a specific order. This order at times has to be achieve through the placement of authority and in specific actions. When the order is broken, and for restoration, God need to bring about judgement, to bring back the order and thus bring back the glory.

In Numbers, God has to melt out judgement, so that order can be maintained and so that His glory can dwell among the people.

Judgment put fear, but our God is not a fearful God. The fear help us to prevent judgement and destruction. So active obedience, the fear of the Lord prevents the wrath of God. And in so many times, judgment does not come frequent. We ahve a graceous and meriful God.

The fear of the Lord brings about knowledge. Of this I pray and like what Joseph said, why should I sin against my God (and not my master), that I can walk in integrity of conduct and that I can said what I practice and in all things I can come clean with God. The road I walk is a slippery one and the hook Satan has on me, he will refuse to let me go. I pray that as I journey, I can have a few good man to help each other and spur each other towards the goals God has for each of our lives.