The Congregation Lifted Up Their Voice

Scripture: Numbers 14: 1-4

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Scripture Commentary:

When the chorus of despair lifted up their voice, everyone joined in. Certainly their greatest fears were being realized. Losing their perspective, the people were caught up in the emotion of the moment. They forgot what they knew about God’s character.

What if the people had spent as much energy moving forward as they did moving back?

They could have enjoyed their land. Instead, they never even entered it. When a cry of despair goes up around you, consider the larger perspective before you join in.

God puts us on a path.

We, in our own sinful way, try to leave it. Ask yourself, “If God put me here to follow his Commandments, who am I not to follow Him?”

Finally, God’s path is the only one to righteousness, to glory, to peace, and above all, to everlasting life with Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Numbers Chapter 14

Other Commentary from the Book of Numbers

Do Not Break the Vow You Make to God

Do Not Break the Vow You Make to God

Scripture: Numbers 30: 1-3

And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.  If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.  If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth;

Scripture Commentary: Don’t make a vow to God that you won’t keep

Does this sound familiar … O Lord, if you get me out of this mess, I’ll never do this or anything wrong again!  We ask God for help and we promise Him something in return when He gets us of the situation that we’re in.  Invariably we will break the promise we make to God.

Our promise is our bond!  Would you trust someone who doesn’t keep his word to you?  I would think not!

What we promise God is binding.  He doesn’t ask for your signature; He doesn’t ask you to make a vow if/when you’re in trouble.  The vow He asks of us is to love, obey, and carry out His Word.

Once you make a promise to God, you are to fulfill it.  To break it is to break the trust God has given you.  God has never broken His promise.  He will never forsake you, so why should you forsake Him?

Think the next time you make a promise to God.  The only thing you truly have is your word.  Our God is a loving God who will forgive seven times seven … times seven, times seven.  Why?  Because He loves you!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Numbers Chapter 30