Miriam Rebuked and the People Lack Courage

"Has the Lord only spoken through Moses? Has He not spoken through us too?" Such powerful and selfish words spoken by Miriam and Aaron. Just goes to show once again the weakness of Aaron. I love how God made it very clear to Aaron and Miriam that He speaks to Moses face to face but to others He speaks in visions and dreams. This is how it is still today. He still speaks to us, but through His word (Bible), dreams and visions. As humans though we seem to always want to be better then our neighbor. This is exactly what was happening to Miriam and Aaron. We need to be content with where God has put us in our lives and not always want to be better then the next! I am not saying we can not work towards being better, but not because we want to keep up with the Jones'.

Now 12 spies are sent out to scout out the land of Canaan which they find out it flows with Milk and Honey. However, the people there are strong. The spies come back and complain that they can not overtake the land. Except for Joshua and Caleb. These two men held fast to the Lord and did not follow the crowd. They were rewarded for this. Just think if we could hold fast to the Lord. Just think if our kids who go to school could hold fast to the Lord. No one has to follow the crowd when we have the Lord to follow! We will be rewarded!

Anyway, Now the spies put the thought into the Israelites minds that they can not overtake the land. So God gets a little upset and wants to strike them down for their contempt, but Moses pleas with Him to not do that for fear the Egyptians as well as the land of Canaan will hear about it and not think that the Lord is not strong, not slow to anger and does not have a fairness in discipline. Well, God agrees, but not without punishment to those who are guilty. His decision...Not to allow any of those He actually brought out of Egypt to see this promised land. Only their descendants will see it. So begins the 40 years of wandering. Did they deserve this treatment? Heck ya! Do we deserve harsh punishment for the things we do or don't do? Yup!

Gosh will they ever learn? Moses tells the people about Gods decision and what do they do? They try to go and fight the Canaan people. Do they win? Nope! And rightfully so. God told them not to do it, but once again they did not listen and did things according to Their own will. How many times in my own life do I do that. Just think about all the things that WE try to rule over by ourselves. Money, Marriage, Children, School, Weight, Smoking, Alcohol, Work etc. Just to name a few. Praise God He is so forgiving and does not make us wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

If we would just follow God wholeheartedly it would bring to us such great rewards. I pray daily that He will help me to follow Him more closely. It is hard to always lean on Him, but each day, each week, each month and each year, I get closer and closer to letting go of me and drawing closer to Him. But only with His help!