Tues.’s Devo - God’s Way is Narrow -

Read: Numbers 14:1-15:16; Mark 14:53-72; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 11:4 The people had just heard the report of the ten spies who thought it would be suicide to fight the giants in the land. So, the people cried out against Moses and Aaron and some wanted to choose a leader and go back to Egypt. *** Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the people and Joshua stood up and reminded them that the Lord was with them and would help them defeat the giants. The people wanted to stone all three of them but God intervened. His glory came down to the tent of meeting. *** God told Moses that he was tired of working with these stubborn people and would make a nation from Moses’ offspring. He wanted to kill them and disinherit the grumblers. Moses interceded for the people and told the Lord that it would hurt his reputation on the earth if he did that. He reminded God of his promise that he was slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and he promised to forgive their iniquity and transgressions. *** The Lord answered on the promise that one day the whole earth would be filled with his glory. (We are living in expectation of this promise.) He swore that none of the people who had seen all his miracles and doubted would enter into the land. But, their children who they said would be prey to the giants, would enter and inherit the land. Only Joshua and Caleb would live to enter the land of their generation. *** When Moses told this to the people, they realized they had really messed up and some of them decided to go into the land and fight the giants. Moses told them not to go because God would not be with them and they would not succeed. They went anyway and were not successful. *** God was already preparing for the day they would go in. He told Moses exactly how much their offering would be when they entered into the land. It would be the same for them and the stranger with them. *** In Mark, Jesus was then taken to the home of the high priest. Peter stayed in the courtyard with the guards. He listened as false witnesses brought their charges against Jesus. None of them were strong enough until one of them quoted Jesus saying he would destroy the temple made with hands and in three days, build another not made with hands. That is not what Jesus said, but they liked it and Jesus had no rebuttal. When the high priest asked Jesus if he was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus answered, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his robe and called it blasphemy. The council agreed and condemned him to death. They spit on him and covered his face to strike him. They mocked him, telling him to prophesy. *** Peter was recognized by one of the servant first of the high priest but he denied being one of his disciples. The rooster crowed. He denied knowing Jesus two more times and the rooster crowed again. He remembered what Jesus had said and broke into tears. *** Lord, Thank you that we have the Holy Spirit to give us strength when we are weak and afraid. Thank you that your promises can be trusted and one day the whole earth will be filled with your glory.