Sun.’s Devo - The Devastation of Unbelief

Read: Numbers 14:1-15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4 The people chose to believe the bad report of the ten spies instead of the great report of the two. They rose against Moses and Aaron but their protest was really against God. They plotted to choose a new leader and return to Egypt. How could they choose to go back into bondage? *** Caleb and Joshua tried to tell the people how wonderful the land was and how God would surely bring them safely into the land. The people there were helpless prey to them and had no protection while they had God with them. But, the people refused to listen to them and instead wanted to stone Caleb and Joshua. *** Then God spoke. His presence appeared at he Tabernacle. The Lord was angry with the people for being so rebellious and stubborn. God told Moses he would destroy them with a plague and raise up a new nation through him and give them the land. *** Moses reminded the Lord of what the Egyptians would think of him. They would think he was not powerful enough to bring them into the land he promised to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness. *** Moses told God to prove that his power was as great as he claimed. Prove that his love is unfailing and that he forgives every kind of sin and rebellion even though he does not excuse the guilty. Moses begged God to forgive the people. These were the people that wanted to get rid of him and elect a new leader. We see the steadfast love of the Lord through Moses. *** God chose to pardon them, but he swore that they would not enter or see the land he had for them. They would die in the wilderness and he would bring their children into the land. Their children would enjoy the land that they had despised. *** They were sentenced to wandering for 40 years in the wilderness suffering the consequence for their sins. God would be an enemy to those who rebelled. The ten who brought back the evil report were struck dead with a plague. Joshua and Caleb remained alive. *** When the people heard God’s response they were filled with grief. A few of them decided they would enter the land on their own, Moses warned them they would be crushed by their enemies because God would not be with them. They went anyway and were attacked by the Amalekites and Canaanites and chased back. *** The Lord began speaking to the future generation who would enter the land. God is always speaking into our future. He gave them specific instructions about the sacrifices that would please him. God is a loving God who wants us to succeed and be blessed. *** In Mark, they took Jesus to Caiaphus’ house to be tried. Peter followed and listened from the high priest’s courtyard. He sat with the guards by the fire while inside they were trying to find something to use to warrant killing Jesus. All their false witnesses contradicted one another until finally some man stood up and said that he hear Jesus say that he would destroy this Temple made with human hands and in three days build up another made without human hands. But what Jesus had said was in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will build it up.” He was talking to the Pharisees and telling them when they destroyed the Temple, he would build it up. *** Since they couldn’t get their stories straight, they asked Jesus what he had to say about the accusations against him. They asked him if he was the Messiah. He answered, “I Am and you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” *** The high priest tore his clothes and accused him of blasphemy. They all gave the verdict of guilty and sentenced him to die. *** Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Peter denied Jesus three times and the rooster crowd. He remembered the words of Jesus and broke down and wept. *** Both of our readings today end tragically because sin leads to death, but we know that the end is resurrection and victory. *** Lord, help us not to be lead by fear and bad reports but remember your promises of freedom and victory. You are the resurrection and the life.