So maybe you’ve heard it said, ‘read your bible’ so you tried the one year plan. You were faithful with the reading plan and then you came to Leviticus. You tried to read it but every time you picked up The Book it got heavier and heavier until you stopped picking it up. You gave yourself an out - not enough time, new schedule, lack of clarity in what you read and even an admission that this book didn’t seem all that helpful in your spiritual walk. All of which are understandable if this was an assignment from your High School English class to read Shakespeare But this is God’s Word curated over centuries detailing His nature, His will, the meaning of life and humanity’s historical interactions with Him. Seriously, the Bible details the hidden keys to the Kingdom. Hence, the reason we are reviewing a new book each week.
This week we move to Numbers. The book helps us to understand the struggle many have with obedience to the unseen. In other words, Faith.
Moses wrote the book around 1400 before Christ. The book describes a time in which the Israelites are waiting to move to the promised land. It’s a book with powerful stories that graphically illustrate when people disobey God, He is willing to show mercy to those who ask. Numbers also helps us understand that as we transition from lives built by our own strength (Physical and Mental), there will be trials on the road to complete obedience to God.
Just as Leviticus teaches us God longs for a relationship with you that is free from sin and all its consequences. Number's highlight God’s desire for us to be entirely reliant on Him. Obedience is a declaration against the complacency of the flesh and a commitment to a faith in the unseen.
As you read the book this week, try not to judge the Israelites grumbling and disobedience but look inwardly to your cycle of rebellion and God’s merciful response,
Today, I’d like to focus on a contrast between two ideas: A blessing and the consequence for unfaithfulness for disobedience. The blessing to all of God’s chosen people comes from Numbers 6:22-27
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
No sooner has God reminded His people of the blessing, do the majority reject His power and love. They have arrived close to the promise land, the spy’s go out to check what’s in front of them and they return with ominous news. The people on the other side are bigger physically and maybe well armed. All but two of the spy’s are fearful - Joshua and Caleb. The nation is so afraid but Josh and Caleb stand up. This is from Numbers 14:5-7:
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
Over the next eight chapters His chosen people grumble and complain. Finally God has had enough. Just like a parent struggling with a rebellious teenager, God decides on a just punishment and the first parental 'time out' in history becomes a reality. A timeout for 40 years. One year for every day they explored the promised land with scouts and rejected His promise. The consequences comes in chapter 14:20-24
The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.
Now, Moses was exempt for a while as God’s emissary but then came His moment of failure. A moment many of us can relate to. The moment we put ourselves on the same platform as God. Take a listen to Moses moment from Chapter 20:9-12
So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
Did you catch it? Do you see it? In the middle of verse ten, a small word, that seals Moses' fate. The word is “we”. As in, “God and I”. That’s right. In that word, He elevated himself as an equal to God. It might seem unfair in view of what all the Israelites said and did. However, it serves as a warning to all who are chosen to lead. Never forget your role, who you serve and why. We are but obedient servants.
The general concept of obedience both in the Old and New Testament relates to listening to a higher authority and then following through. The Greek terms for obedience in the Bible convey the idea of positioning oneself under someone by submitting to their authority and command. In addition, the Greek word for obey in the New Testament means "to trust." Hence, the biblical idea of obedience to God means to hear, trust, submit and surrender to God. Personally, I like how Holman's Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines obedience as "hearing God's Word and acting accordingly."
So if Moses can overstep his authority, is there any hope for us? The answer is: yes.
With Jesus as our perfect model and the Holy Spirit as our strength, we can choose to pursue lives of both passive and active obedience (Acts 1:8). It takes both to fulfill commands such as this: “As far as it is up to you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Passive obedience overlooks wrongs and leaves judgment with God. Active obedience seeks ways to do good and avoid evil. When we live this way, we glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
The Bible never uses the terms active obedience or passive obedience, however, once you have committed your life to be Christ follower, you are given the power to remain in obedience to God by walking in the Spirit. It means staying sensitive to His leading and responding in the way He wants us to (Galatians 5:16, 25). When hardships come, we endure (James 1:2). We live in the knowledge that God will work everything together for our good (Romans 8:28), so we need not pursue vengeance (Romans 12:19). We know that God is at work in our lives, and we give Him free rein to accomplish what He wants (Galatians 6:9; Philippians 2:13).
However, passive obedience is only half of the responsibility of the Christian. Active obedience means understanding that as his disciples, we follow Christ’s example as well as his commands. Our motivation for obedience is centered around the summation of the ten commands to love God and others. As Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 ).
In being obedient, our actions become an act of worship. As Paul says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (Romans 12:1, NLT)
In this Spirit, we see God accepts our obedience as a form of worship and rewards us.
When Abraham was obedient God blessed him. God’s angel said after his test with Isaac,
“And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:18, NLT)
Noah was a righteous person who followed God and obeyed Him in a world where everyone else was being disobedient. Noah was able to stand for righteousness in a wicked, corrupt culture and was rewarded with life for himself and his family.
Jesus confirms the blessing of obedience, after healing in the town square and hearing the thoughts of those who thought he must be demon possessed, he said, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:28)
Obedience is an act of worship, of faith, of our love and our commitment to different ways of living. A lifestyle centered on living as missionaries to our families, neighborhood, community and even our country.
To walk with God, we must obey Him. Otherwise, we depart from His path for our lives.
Will you choose to obey God in whatever He has called you to do? Will you follow Him instead of following and conforming to the world’s standards? (Note: being counter cultural may cause you to live differently from the church subculture, also.)
References: Quest Bible Overviews,
https://exploringthetruth.org/walking-in-obedience/
https://www.gotquestions.org/active-passive-obedience.html
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