Tag: Obedience

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Week 5: Day 5- Numbers 22:32-35

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

32  And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33  And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.34  And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.35  And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 

Numbers 22:32-35

Explanation:

God was not angry at Balaam because he went, but because he knew Balaams heart and plans in going. The word “perverse” (v.32) here has the idea of taking something good (here it would be obedience in going with God’s permission) and twisting it into something evil.

Balaam is so scared he is willing to go home. The “angel of the Lord” responds, “No. You’re going. But you will say exactly what I will tell you.” This is what happens.

Balsam was mad at the donkey. He perceived it as dumb, disobedient, and stubborn. Yet the donkey had more vision and sense than Balaam. In taking a beating from Balaam he saved Balaam’s life. One commentator said, “The irony is this lowly donkey had better vision to see the ‘angel of the Lord’ than did Balaam who was known as a ‘seer of the gods’.”

Application:

God deserves and demands total obedience.  Is it possible that the things we are mad at or see as hindrances are God-ordained?  They may very well be.

Response:

Is there anything in your life that you see as good, that you are twisting for your own selfish desires? Ask God to open your eyes to spiritual truth today!

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Week 5: Day 1- Numbers 22:21-22

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(21) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
(22) And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

Numbers 22:21-22

Explanation:
Balaam was a pagan soothsayer. He was a “spiritual” guy but was no treally a follower of God. He would take whichever position suited him at the time. He used “spiritual” means to make a buck.

God had told him not to curse the children of Israel on behalfo of Moab. He responded to them
by refusing to help. Then they came back with a bigger and better offer. God said to Balaam at that time he could go, but to say only what God had told him to say.

When Balaam got p the next day to go, God was incensed. I believe that God was not angry at Balaam because he went. He was angry because He knew Balaam’s heart. Balaam was going with the wrong motive and with disobedient plans. It is clear he was not ready to listen to God on the trip by his actions we’ll see in the next couple of days passages. As we’ll see, his donkey had more sense than he did.

Application:
It is a dangerous thing to be lukewarm. It is dangerous to be “kind of” obedient. It shows foolishness because the problem isn’t ignorance. At least ignorance has a reason for worng actions. Jesus said that he’d rather us be hot or cold. Lukewarmness makes him want to vomit.

Response:
Here is a kind of prayer to pray today- “Lord, help me to be passionately obedient to you today! Amen.”

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Week 4: Day 4- Numbers 21:6-9

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Numbers 21:6-9

Explanation:

In the book of Numbers, the Bible relates a time in the wilderness where the people had been rebellious and disobedient to Him.  God sent judgement for their sin in the form of “fiery serpents”.  These were snakes that were poisonous and deadly.  The  people came to Moses confessing their sin.  Moses then goes and intercedes to God on behalf of behalf of the people.  God responded by providing a means of forgiveness and healing.  He tells Moses to form a snake out of brass and put it on a pole in the midst of the camp.  When the people who are bit are obedient to look to the serpent in faith in God’s Word and the redemption that was made possible, God healed them. 

Jesus uses this as an illustration in John 3:14-15.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:14-15

Application:

We are saved by looking to Jesus for our redemption.  All that we can offer to God is our faith.  When we trust in Christ and allow Him to change us amazing things happen.The Baby born in Bethlehem was born to die. Like the old hymn says, “Look and live!”. 

Response:

1.  Take a few moments today to thank God for the provision that He made in Christ to forgive our sins.

2.  Who is someone you can tell about God’s salvation this Christmas season?

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Week 4: Day 3- Matthew 1:24-25

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
(25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Matthew 1:24-25

Explanation

Joseph stepped out in faith by exhibiting his obedience to the will of God through:

  1. Marrying a pregnant fiance.
  2. Forgoing sex until after she had the child.
  3. Naming the child Jesus, as he was told to do.

The name Jesus means “Jehovah saves” or “Yahweh saves”.

Joseph put his reputation on the line and his life to the task of taking care of the Son of God. By marrying her it made it possible to take Mary to Bethlehem. Christ was born in the city of David, in the line of David, just as the prophets predicted.

Application:

My task as a believer is not really any less clear. God has given me explicit instructions as to who I should be and what I should do. The key is to obey God by putting my faith and trust in Him. I need to be willing to be obedient even in situations when it is risky.

Response:

  1. Is there an area of obedience that may put your reputation on the line or may seem risky? How are you going to respond?
  2. Take some time to thank God for His gift of Jesus for you!