Numbers 15 (Part Two) - Burning out by doing good

This chapter has a very serious warning I think we overlook too easily.

There was a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath. Although work on the Sabbath was prohibited, picking up some sticks hardly seems a serious infraction. And yet, much of the Old Testament is a picture of what God will fulfill in the New Testament through Jesus.

Jesus came to be our Sabbath rest. It is in Him that we are to find ourselves refreshed and revitalized. Because of Jesus death, we no longer have to work to obtain God's favor. We can rest in His work, it is finished. This goes against everything in me that wants to do more, accomplish more, work harder in order to be approved by God. I simply cannot imagine Him loving me for just me. There has to be more that I can do to show Him I am worthy.

So this poor man worked on the Sabbath. He gathered sticks to light a fire. Maybe his family was cold. Maybe his neighbors needed the heat. Maybe he was just being a nice guy, stepping up. Maybe he wanted to be thought of as helpful, someone you could count on.

He ended up being stoned to death.

The fire he sought to light ended up burning him instead. He did not follow the direction of God. He did not rest. He messed up God's picture of being saved through faith, not works. He went out on his own, doing something ostensibly good, and got burned.

There's a lesson in there somewhere...

Numbers 15 (Part One) - God still has a plan

This chapter starts out with, "When ye be come into the land of your habitations..." When. Isn't that a beautiful word - when. God sentenced this complaining, faithless generation to wander the desert for forty years, but He was still going to fulfill His plan.

I know I can delay, mess up, stall God's plan by my own shortcomings, but God is so amazing. He WILL see His plan for my life come to fruition.

Numbers 14 (Part Two) - Giving me something to complain about

The Israelites worst fears and complaints came true. They were destined to die in the desert.

God says He heard their murmuring and says, As ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you.

That's SCARY! God says if I complain, He will give me something to complain about. It certainly makes me want to be VERY careful when I complain, even to my husband. I so want at least one person to whom I can spill all my worries and criticism.

Yet this story certainly gives me pause...

Numbers 14 (Part One) - Standing in the gap

After the people of Israel accepted the report of the ten spies and fell to bemoaning and bewailing their fate, they sought to overthrow Moses and Aaron. God revealed to Moses what they deserved - total annihilation. Yet Moses fell on his face and interceded for the people.

Although it appears that Moses changed God's mind, it was actually God who gave an intercessors heart to Moses. Ezekiel 22:30 describes Moses as the man God chose to stand in the gap. God revealed to Moses what we deserve for our sins, but He also revealed His mercy and grace. Moses, rather than changing God's mind, saw God's heart.

So too, I need to recognize the tug at my heart to intercede for others. It is so much easier to judge and be harsh with others, to point out to God all they are doing wrong. But then God says, You're right, here's what they deserve. And He reveals what I also deserve. I have found this usually leads to me praying for us both!

Thank you God for softening my hard, judgemental heart. Create an intercessors heart in its place.

Numbers 13 - Bless what I am about to do

Moses sends out the 12 spies to go into the Promised Land and report back. This turned out to be a disastrous decision and led to 40 more years wandering in the desert. Yet in verse 1, it appears that God is the one telling Moses to send out the spies... what gives?

Well, the rest of the story is told in Deuteronomy 1:22-24. It seem the people were scared and nervous about entering this new land. They begged Moses to send in the spies first. Moses thought that sounded rights and so assented.

Apparently the people pressured Moses into this decision. Without consulting God, he went ahead and made the decision, and God turns around and says, Fine, if you want to send out spies, go ahead.

How many times do we embark on a path that seems right, and once we are on our way, ask God if this is the right thing to do? We want Him to bless the mess we are creating. We go back to God and say, This is the right thing to do, isn't it. Stop me if it isn't... Yet sometimes, God lets us continue.

I need to develop a mechanism by which I seek God before every decision, because many times, not only will He not "bless my mess" but I may end up with disastrous results.

"Doing", "going" or "being"

Stuff Christians Like has an excellent post today. It mirrors exactly what I have been thinking. I considered putting it here word-for-word, but decided to expound on my own thoughts.

I have been worried a lot lately as I see the church struggle with what I believe is an almost works-based salvation. We are constantly being told we need to "go" and "do". We must go... somewhere... and do... something for God or we are fat, lazy Christians. Get off your butt, people!

But I believe we have it exactly backwards and it hurts my heart everytime I see a fellow Christian exhorting us to "go", "do". What we need are Christians fully committed to Christ, to making Him Lord, to submitting to Him, to trusting Him, to listening to His voice, to worshipping Him, to becoming the person He wants us to be.

He doesn't NEED us to go and do anything. He's GOD! But rather, He invites to help, like a father invites his child to help wash the car. It makes the car messier and it takes longer to get the job done, but in the process, dad is teaching, molding, bonding, modeling, and loving his child. Someday, the child gets better at washing cars, or maybe not, but the relationship and the memories of washing the car with dad are priceless.

Does that mean we aren't supposed to serve? Of course we will oftentimes find ourselves serving God in one way or another, but it will be because He called us and invited us to join Him. He knows exactly what needs to be done and who is the best person to do it. I trust Him to speak to the person He wants to serve, and I trust Him whether that person is me or if He is telling me to wait before jumping in.

Feeling burnt out? I don't believe burn out is inevitable. But it certainly is unavoidable if we are "going" and "doing" without the call and direction of God. Jesus said, "My meat is to do the will of the Father." Pressing into God, hearing His voice, following His path, doing what He says, or just resting in His presense, that is the will of God. It is the only thing that will sustain and nourish our souls, not some big cause or work.