The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States “'Don’t rebel against the LORD'—but they did" for Saturday, 24 September 2-16
Numbers 14:1 At this all the people of Isra’el cried out in dismay and wept all night long. 2 Moreover, all the people of Isra’el began grumbling against Moshe and Aharon; the whole community told them, “We wish we had died in the land of Egypt! or that we had died here in the desert! 3 Why is Adonai bringing us to this land, where we will die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be taken as booty! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “Let’s appoint a leader and return to Egypt!”
5 Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the entire assembled community of the people of Isra’el. 6 Y’hoshua the son of Nun and Kalev the son of Y’funeh, from the detachment that had reconnoitered the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the whole community of Isra’el, “The land we passed through in order to spy it out is an outstandingly good land! (iii) 8 If Adonai is pleased with us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us — a land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Just don’t rebel against Adonai. And don’t be afraid of the people living in the land — we’ll eat them up! Their defense has been taken away from them, and Adonai is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
10 But just as the whole community were saying they should be stoned to death, the glory of Adonai appeared in the tent of meeting to all the people of Isra’el.
20 Adonai answered, “I have forgiven, as you have asked. 21 But as sure as I live, and that the whole earth is filled with the glory of Adonai, 22 none of the people who saw my glory and the signs I did in Egypt and in the desert, yet tested me these ten times and did not listen to my voice, 23 will see the land I swore to their ancestors! None of those who treated me with contempt will see it. 24 But my servant Kalev, because he had a different Spirit with him and has fully followed me — him I will bring into the land he entered, and it will belong to his descendants.
25 “Now, since the ‘Amaleki and the Kena‘ani are living in the valley, tomorrow turn around and get yourselves into the desert along the way to the Sea of Suf.”
-------
Reflection Questions:
The Israelites, panicked by the negative report of ten of the twelve men who’d “spied out” the Promised Land, were ready to mutiny. Two of the spies—Caleb and Joshua—begged Israel to trust God, and not refuse to go into the Promised Land. But the people were ready to stone them (and Moses) to death, and choose another leader to take them back to Egypt—until God’s glory intervened. Fear would not win out to that absurd extent. But God did honor their negative choice. Except for Caleb and Joshua, God said, Israel would stay in the wilderness until all of those who didn’t want to go into the Promised Land reached the end of their lives.
• Read verses 6-9 again, aloud if you can. Feel the pathos, the desperation, in Caleb and Joshua’s plead to the people. Imagine their feelings the next day as they packed up their tents and marched, not toward the “exceptionally good land” they had seen briefly on their scouting trip, but away from it, into the desolate Sinai landscape. God offers you an exceptionally good life, full of purpose, challenge and meaning, leading to eternity in a world made new with all the good things God has always intended for human life. Yet it can be scary to choose that life. How can you keep fear from making you turn your back on God’s exceptionally good life? How can you set your life’s course firmly in the direction of God’s promised land?
Prayer: O God, lead me ever onward. Guard my heart and mind from the lure of nostalgia for
the “Egypt” from which you have set me free. Keep my path steady all the way to an eternity with you. Amen.
Family Activity: In all families, we can say words that give courage and strength, or words that tear down and discourage. Read Ephesians 4:29[Ephesians 4:29 Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them.]. Create a family jar of encouragement and faith. Cut out 30-40 slips of paper. On each slip, write a word or phrase of love, support, care or hope. Think about what words lift you up and include those as a blessing to others. Place all of the slips in a jar. Any time a family member has spoken words that hurt, he or she can then pull out a slip of paper, apologize, then (from the heart) say something encouraging. Better yet, work toward not speaking hurtful words at all. When you need help, go to the jar for ideas and inspiration! Ask God to help you use your words for good.
-------
Insights from Cathy Bien
Cathy Bien serves as the Director of Communications at Resurrection. She and her husband Rick have been members of the church for 22 years and have four adult children.
Today’s GPS reflection asks the question “How can you keep fear from making you turn your back on God’s exceptionally good life?”
I’m afraid it’s going to be too hard. Following Jesus isn’t always easy. Sometimes we’re called to do things that we don’t want to do, to step out of our comfort zones. Our fear of the unknown can be paralyzing. It’s kind of like standing at the edge of the high dive. This is when we have to hold on to Jesus’ promise that he will always be with us and take that first step. (And like going off that diving board, it can be exhilarating!)
-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Scott Bayles and family on the death of his mother Glady Bayles, 9/10
• Meredith Bell and family on the death of her grandmother Glady Bayles, 9/10
• Jon Bevan and family on the death of his mother Sally Bevan, 9/9
• Loretta Graham and family on the death of her mother Evangeline Sins, 9/9
•BJ Martin and family on the death of her mother Marcie Osborn, 9/8
•Brian Wilson and family on the death of his stepfather Gene Schwulst, 9/2
5 Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the entire assembled community of the people of Isra’el. 6 Y’hoshua the son of Nun and Kalev the son of Y’funeh, from the detachment that had reconnoitered the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the whole community of Isra’el, “The land we passed through in order to spy it out is an outstandingly good land! (iii) 8 If Adonai is pleased with us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us — a land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Just don’t rebel against Adonai. And don’t be afraid of the people living in the land — we’ll eat them up! Their defense has been taken away from them, and Adonai is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
10 But just as the whole community were saying they should be stoned to death, the glory of Adonai appeared in the tent of meeting to all the people of Isra’el.
20 Adonai answered, “I have forgiven, as you have asked. 21 But as sure as I live, and that the whole earth is filled with the glory of Adonai, 22 none of the people who saw my glory and the signs I did in Egypt and in the desert, yet tested me these ten times and did not listen to my voice, 23 will see the land I swore to their ancestors! None of those who treated me with contempt will see it. 24 But my servant Kalev, because he had a different Spirit with him and has fully followed me — him I will bring into the land he entered, and it will belong to his descendants.
25 “Now, since the ‘Amaleki and the Kena‘ani are living in the valley, tomorrow turn around and get yourselves into the desert along the way to the Sea of Suf.”
-------
Reflection Questions:
The Israelites, panicked by the negative report of ten of the twelve men who’d “spied out” the Promised Land, were ready to mutiny. Two of the spies—Caleb and Joshua—begged Israel to trust God, and not refuse to go into the Promised Land. But the people were ready to stone them (and Moses) to death, and choose another leader to take them back to Egypt—until God’s glory intervened. Fear would not win out to that absurd extent. But God did honor their negative choice. Except for Caleb and Joshua, God said, Israel would stay in the wilderness until all of those who didn’t want to go into the Promised Land reached the end of their lives.
• Read verses 6-9 again, aloud if you can. Feel the pathos, the desperation, in Caleb and Joshua’s plead to the people. Imagine their feelings the next day as they packed up their tents and marched, not toward the “exceptionally good land” they had seen briefly on their scouting trip, but away from it, into the desolate Sinai landscape. God offers you an exceptionally good life, full of purpose, challenge and meaning, leading to eternity in a world made new with all the good things God has always intended for human life. Yet it can be scary to choose that life. How can you keep fear from making you turn your back on God’s exceptionally good life? How can you set your life’s course firmly in the direction of God’s promised land?
Prayer: O God, lead me ever onward. Guard my heart and mind from the lure of nostalgia for
the “Egypt” from which you have set me free. Keep my path steady all the way to an eternity with you. Amen.
Family Activity: In all families, we can say words that give courage and strength, or words that tear down and discourage. Read Ephesians 4:29[Ephesians 4:29 Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them.]. Create a family jar of encouragement and faith. Cut out 30-40 slips of paper. On each slip, write a word or phrase of love, support, care or hope. Think about what words lift you up and include those as a blessing to others. Place all of the slips in a jar. Any time a family member has spoken words that hurt, he or she can then pull out a slip of paper, apologize, then (from the heart) say something encouraging. Better yet, work toward not speaking hurtful words at all. When you need help, go to the jar for ideas and inspiration! Ask God to help you use your words for good.
-------
Insights from Cathy Bien
Cathy Bien serves as the Director of Communications at Resurrection. She and her husband Rick have been members of the church for 22 years and have four adult children.Today’s GPS reflection asks the question “How can you keep fear from making you turn your back on God’s exceptionally good life?”
“God’s exceptionally good life” – I want that!
But I’m not there yet, so I have to ask myself, “How is fear holding me back?” I’ve committed my life to following and serving God, but I’ll admit, there are those moments when I, like the Israelites give in to my fears. So, what am I afraid of?I’m afraid it’s going to be too hard. Following Jesus isn’t always easy. Sometimes we’re called to do things that we don’t want to do, to step out of our comfort zones. Our fear of the unknown can be paralyzing. It’s kind of like standing at the edge of the high dive. This is when we have to hold on to Jesus’ promise that he will always be with us and take that first step. (And like going off that diving board, it can be exhilarating!)
(Jesus said) I am with you always, to the very end of the age.[Matthew 28:20]
I’m afraid it’s going to hurt. The Israelites were afraid of physical pain and death. I’m grateful that I don’t face a physical threat because I follow Jesus. My fear of being hurt is more emotional. Relationships are challenging. When we open our hearts to another person, we risk being disappointed. When we let ourselves become vulnerable, we risk rejection. This loving your neighbor thing is hard. What if I put myself out there and the other person doesn’t reciprocate? What if I create something and people hate it? That very well might happen, but it’s okay, because we can count on the promise that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.[Romans 8:38-39]
I’m afraid I’ll have to give up control. Here’s the big one that gets me every time. I like to be in control. In my human arrogance and stubbornness, it’s easy to think that I know best. Truly opening myself up to God’s will feels a lot like falling without a net. But, I am learning that when I step out in faith and trust in God, I have nothing to fear. It’s humbling to look back and wonder how I could possibly have thought that I could do life on my own.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your ways straight.[Proverbs 3:5-6]
We all have fears. Yours may be different from mine, but whatever we fear, God can release us from it. The lesson from the Exodus is that God doesn’t give up on us. Instead he promises to walk through our fears with us and bless us with an “exceptionally good life.” All we have to do is accept this great gift of love.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.[1 John 4:18a]
Lord, help me to be fearless, to trust and follow you. Amen-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Scott Bayles and family on the death of his mother Glady Bayles, 9/10
• Meredith Bell and family on the death of her grandmother Glady Bayles, 9/10
• Jon Bevan and family on the death of his mother Sally Bevan, 9/9
• Loretta Graham and family on the death of her mother Evangeline Sins, 9/9
•BJ Martin and family on the death of her mother Marcie Osborn, 9/8
•Brian Wilson and family on the death of his stepfather Gene Schwulst, 9/2
-------
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment