Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Rebellion Has Consequences” – Thursday, 3 July 2014 - Scripture: Numbers 20:14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying:“Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the travail that has happened to us; 15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers. 16 When we cried to Yahweh, he heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the edge of your border.
17 “Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink from the water of the wells. We will go along the king’s highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.”
18 Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you.”
19 The children of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway; and if we drink your water, I and my livestock, then I will give its price. Only let me, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.”
20 He said, “You shall not pass through.” Edom came out against him with many people, and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him.
22 They traveled from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 “Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron shall be taken, and shall die there.”
27 Moses did as Yahweh commanded. They went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
“Rebellion Has Consequences” by Wil Watson
Can you imagine how Aaron felt when he got the news, “You’re not going to the Promised Land”? What a devastating let-down! All those years of wilderness wandering; anticipation of living in a land “flowing with milk and honey,” eating the delectable grapes, figs, pomegranates. Now he was to be stripped of his priestly garments and die within sight of the goal; it seemed so unfair. Still, bad things happen to spiritual rebels.
Aaron wasn’t the only Bible character who suffered for his rebellion. There’s wrong-way Jonah, the prophet who high-tailed himself west when God told him to go east to Nineveh. He became lunch for a mighty big fish. Remember Balaam and the reprimand from his talking donkey? (Numbers 22). His life ended on the wrong end of a sword (Numbers 31:8). And then there’s Saul, king of Israel. Impatient with God’s timing, he rebelled and lost his kingdom as well as his life.
Today's question: What’s my rebellion rating--and yours? The consequences may not be as spectacular, but they’re just as serious. Is there a breakdown in our relationship with God? Is there a loss of respect for the one who has given us so much? Let’s not become spiritual rebels!
Hymn for Today:
“Trust and Obey” by John H. Sammis1. When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2. Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
3. But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
4. Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Thought for Today:
“When God punctuates with a period, do not change it to a question mark.”
Prayer Needs:
Many people in Liberia will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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