What Way Will We Be Pushed

When we choose a posture of humility, we invite God's presence into our situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m one of the fortunate ones.

I didn’t grow up in a home where I heard, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Maybe my parents learned from Moses and Aaron. This morning I am certainly challenged by the example these two guys set.

Returning from scoping out the Promised Land, the 40 spies come back defeated before the take over could even begin. Allowing fear and ungratefulness to overflow to everyone they come in contact with, the spies spill out every thought in their mind: “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size…We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Numbers 13:32b-33 (NIV 84)

Burning lava spilling from an explosive volcano, the spies’ flippant words vibrate deep in the quivering hearts of the Israelites. All their fears, frustration and fussing begin flowing, burning up their community. Soon, the entire camp is in a rebellious uproar directed straight at their leaders: Moses and Aaron.

As I read this passage today, I didn’t feel contempt for the Israelites. I’ve been the complaining consumer of God’s goodness before. What I felt was awe, seeing the response of Moses and Aaron:

“Then Moses and Aaron fell face down

in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there.” Numbers 14:5 (NIV 84)

Friends, can I just tell you this is not my normal response when someone comes at me! Oh no! I may not be explosive with my words and actions, but my mind immediately begins to build a defense strong enough to head into a court room. I want the person who I feel is attacking me (key word – feel) to know just how wrong they are! All my energy goes to self-preservation.

That is not what I see in Moses and Aaron. I see humility. God responds to these men who do not take up defending themselves and their actions, but instead turn to their God. “…Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites. The Lord said to Moses, …” (Numbers 14:10b-11a)

The result of Moses and Aaron’s posture of humility was the presence of the King.

They could have chosen the natural human route: build a case – put the camp in it’s place.

They chose humility and God chose to defend their leadership.

Today, tomorrow or in the very near future, you and I will be in the pathway of a spill whether through madness, misunderstanding or a mistake of another person. As those words come close to burning us, like Moses and Aaron, we’ll have a choice. We can rise up in anger and self-defense. Let them have what they deserve! We can also choose to humble ourselves and allow God to come to our defense.

One has the immediate benefit of an emotional release; short term we feel better getting our feelings off our chest. Long term, like the Israelites, there will be consequences to pay.

Should we choose humility, we pay the price of self-control up front, but open the way for our God to come to our defense and reap His benefits instead.

Lord, we’re not leading a million people through a desert, but we are leading. In our home, our workplace, our neighborhood and in our churches, we are leading. Holy Spirit, empower us to lead from a place of humility, where You are in control and not our emotions. Open our eyes to see when we, like Moses and Aaron, need to fall face down and get Your heart before we spill out our’s on others. Amen

Lynn

8 Comments

  1. Amen!
    Lord help me be like this!
    Thanks for this Lynn!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Help us all, Lord! Thanks Susan!

  2. Wendy G. Bronson says:

    Lynn, thank you for this devotional. Lately I’m very emotional & my mouth flies all too often. Once I give words to the chaos of emotions, they often get bigger. It starts a spiral. Falling fave down, or even stopping to slow down, and seek God, always has a better outcome both internally & externaly. God bless you.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Thank you, Wendy. Lord help us all to slow down before emotions take over!

  3. This devotional spoke to me, because I have been going through a difficult time, and know that only God is the answer. I have been praying for guidance, or whatever the Lord sends my way, but nothing has dropped from the sky with an answer! However I have been hearing the Lord’s words, in my thoughts! “Be still and know that I am God” has been popping into my head over and over again. Thank you for reinforcing His word in yet another way!! Pam

  4. Kathy Julian says:

    I need to remember to be a good listener– something that I sometimes struggle with, but appreciate so very much in others. Thanks for the reminder!

  5. Number two really speaks to me lynn. My daughter is in recovery and she got the greatest help from her rehab minister /counselor. I talked to her alot but,you know even at 30 yrs old mom doesn’t understand but,someone else can speak the same scripture and it is totally different. Please pray she stays on track she has a 9yr old and a 6yr old that need her. And she has found an awesome job and is really thriving in it.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Lord, continue to use Donna’s counselor to help her in moving forward. May her daughter cling to You Jesus as You heal her and make her whole. We believe for a miracle, Jesus. Amen

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