March 3
Lev 27:14 - Num 1:54 | PS 46:1-11 | Prov 10:23 | Mark 11:1-26
Though the name of the fourth book of the Bible is called Numbers for us, derived from the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the septuagint, from the word "Arithmoi" (you can see the word "Arithmetic" derived from this as well), titled because of the numerical data contained in it's pages, the Hebrew name is "Bemidbar", meaning "In the wilderness". Realize this time in the wilderness should have lasted less than forty days as the Israelites left Mt. Sinai, having received their instructions for life in the Promised Land. Yet, instead their time in the wilderness lasted forty years, due to their unbelief. Rather than simply look at this book as a matter of historical interest, we read in 1 Corinthians 10:6, "Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted." As we read through this book, we all face the same choice that those wandering in the desert did. We can believe in the promises of God, living the victorious life of faith, and enter His rest, even though there will be trials in our life. Or, we can spend our lives in unbelief, griping, complaining, feeling as though life is unfair, always wanting more, literally spending our whole lives walking in circles, never entering into His promised rest.
We read a passage in Hebrews 3:16-4:2, which we would all do well to consider, "For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." We will see that only Joshua and Caleb of the original over 600,000 men of fighting age actually enter the Promised Land. The Promised Land is not a picture of heaven, but a picture of the Spirit filled life. There will be no shortage of battles in the Promised Land, but God will bless those who enter in belief, despite the trials and conflicts.
Where are you? Are you still wandering in the wilderness? Never satisfied. Never experiencing what God has for you, because, whether you want to admit it or not you live life in a spirit of unbelief. Trials will come, and God can and will use these for our benefit, if we only learn to fix our eyes on Him, the "Author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). He offered rest to the Israelites, and He offers it to us. The overwhelming majority of them rejected His offer. The question remains, "How about us?"
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: