Title: Free But Still Enslaved/Topic: Courage

Today’s Reading: Numbers 14; Numbers 15; Numbers 16; Mark 3

Scripture: Numbers 14:1-4
1 That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" 4 And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt."

Observation/Application: The Israelites are afraid to do what the Lord has told them to do. They fear the people of the land God promised to give them because they are large. So they complain against God and decide to go back to the slavery of Egypt, even though life there was miserable for them. This is an example of how most people prefer the bondage they know to facing unknown challenges. There is security in bondage because we understand the limits of it and we know what to expect, even if it is unpleasant. Faith is essential if we are to go beyond the limitations of our own individual bondages. It is impossible to please God without faith as these people found out. Their constant “slave” mentality and lack of trust in God earned them the fate of dying in the desert without seeing the wonderful promised land. Even the past miraculous deliverances of God were not enough to convince them that God could be counted on to bring them through to victory.

Prayer: Father God, keep me from following my fears as these people did. Help me to be bold and to trust you to help me through any circumstance. I want to step out into new things that I haven't done before and to see you manifest your glory on my behalf. Thank you that you have the power to break every bondage in my life and may I fully trust you to do that.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.