Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
“On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, “‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘”When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.'”‘”
– Numbers 33:50-56
Devotion
This text is a record of the solemn charge to the Israelite people in view of their entering the land promised to their ancestors. They were to enter by divine appointment resulting in the manifestation of God’s provision – and of the perfection of His government. Therefore, when they entered the land, every trace of false worship was to be swept away wherever it was found. God gave the people very clear instructions regarding entering the land. Great troubles later came upon Israel for failing to strictly adhere to God’s instructions. As a result of their disobedience, Israel repeatedly turned to idols and away from the Lord who had graciously delivered them from Egypt.
The Big Question
Do you sometimes get lost in the details? Or are you a “big picture” person? It took Israel 40 years of wandering in the desert to finally arrive at the place of God’s blessing for them. Are you wandering in a spiritual desert? If so, what is God revealing about Himself to you, and how is God shaping your character so that you can experience the fullness of His blessings?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.