Pastor Carl's Devotional

Numbers 14: 19

Our text this morning is a prayer by Moses. God had told Moses that He was going to destroy the Israelites, because of their unbelief, and disobedience, and He would make Moses a greater nation after they were destroyed. (First, I don’t believe God intended on destroying His people – It was a test for Moses, and he passed..) I will suggest to you a picture of the love of Christ right here – Moses loved the disobedient people more than himself. He could have taken the easy way out – a fresh start with only the obedient ones. Seems like a great deal to me… But he did not. Instead, he prayed to God on their behalf. I would say Moses was not a part-timer, not a hireling, he was the real deal, and he proved it right here… His love for God, and His people was more.

I wonder…. How many of us are the “real deal”? How many of us are “part-timers”? How many of us would have taken the deal? Would I? Would you? Maybe a better question… Have we taken the deal? Have we forsaken those who would stone us? Have we given up on those who need us, but don’t know it? Have we turned our backs on the disobedient, and the lost, in the name of comfort? Have we forgotten who God is, and what He did for us? His steadfast love?

Father… oh how we need you..We need the power of your love to rise up within us.. the power of the love of Christ’s example. Help me and my friends today, to examine our hearts. Make us whole with your Spirit. Forgive us when we take the “deal”. Thank you for Jesus, who refused the deal, and died, so that I could live…

Verse 19 “Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”