Concerning Vows – Numbers 30

“² If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. ³ “Or if a woman makes a vow to the Lord, and binds herself by some agreement while in her father’s house in her youth, ⁴ and her father hears her vow and the agreement by which she has bound herself, and her father holds his peace, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement with which she has bound herself shall stand. ⁵ But if her father overrules her on the day that he hears, then none of her vows nor her agreements by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the Lord will release her, because her father overruled her.

⁶ “If indeed she takes a husband, while bound by her vows or by a rash utterance from her lips by which she bound herself, ⁷ and her husband hears it, and makes no response to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her agreements by which she bound herself shall stand. ⁸ But if her husband overrules her on the day that he hears it, he shall make void her vow which she took and what she uttered with her lips, by which she bound herself, and the Lord will release her.   ⁹ “Also any vow of a widow or a divorced woman, by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her.

¹⁰ “If she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound herself by an agreement with an oath,¹¹ and her husband heard it, and made no response to her and did not overrule her, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement by which she bound herself shall stand. ¹² But if her husband truly made them void on the day he heard them, then whatever proceeded from her lips concerning her vows or concerning the agreement binding her, it shall not stand; her husband has made them void, and the Lord will release her. ¹³ Every vow and every binding oath to afflict her soul, her husband may confirm it, or her husband may make it void. ¹⁴ Now if her husband makes no response whatever to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all the agreements that bind her; he confirms them, because he made no response to her on the day that he heard them. ¹⁵ But if he does make them void after he has heard them, then he shall bear her guilt.”

¹⁶ These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter in her youth in her father’s house.”

As testimony I have to confess to you that as a young Christian one of the things that disappointed me the most, was after I volunteer myself to do something that my husband out of sudden didn’t wanted me to do it, or stopped me from going, or maybe out of the sudden decided he needed to do something and I couldn’t use the one car we had or he couldn’t keep the kids. I felt as a grown up woman, if I wanted to do something that I believe I could do, I just commit myself to it, and who could say something about it, right?

It was “shameful” for me than as an adult, (not a child anymore that is submitted to the parents), I couldn’t fulfill my commitment just because my husband or what I felt “my owner” simply didn’t wanted me to! “But it’s a vow! I promised!” “I NEED to fulfill it, or I’ll be guilty!  I’m not disrespectful or unreliable” All of these statement clogged my mind; pushing me more down.  Hurting me, my marriage and of all my loved ones around me.

I wish I could have learned this teaching I’m sharing with you today, in the younger years of my marriage! Because the truth is until then, I lived frustrated!!! How come I didn’t read this before??? That was my question!!!  For this even in Moses time was already happening that’s why this chapter talks about it.

One of the things we can see is that when people talk, we are binding ourselves with our words, and the vows we make, it shall indeed not be broken. Now, this chapter, specifically talks about the woman who makes a vow, because only women have the capacity of having two different seasons in life with two different male authorities over her. What I mean is that when a woman is young and lives at her parents, her father is the authority over her, like “her master”. When a woman gets marry, her husband becomes the authority of the home and therefore, hers too.  Although GOD is always above us, it was GOD Himself who designed the man to be the authority in the home; in case the woman is not married the authority over her belongs to the father or to the husband if she is.

We have to understand that we will not be guilty if out of obedience and in submission to our father (in the case of a single woman) or to our husband (in the case the woman is married), we do not comply with the promise we’ve made.  Because we are under the father/husband submission, our “coverage” protects us against any established punishment for not complying with the vow. In some of those cases, the guilty party IS NOT the woman.  

Let this be a breath of fresh air to you for although this IS NOT a “wild” card, for you to start making commitments to the right or to the left.  IT IS a “Get out of Jail” card for those cases when we oppress ourselves trying to accomplish things are not ours to do; we can be released by the grace of God. 

The next time you want to help in a church activity and your husband says “no!” do not be ashamed! Keep your head on high, and be honest to those who might question your decision. Showing your obedient and submitted character by sharing that “the lord” over you is not too happy about you being a part in such activity, will speak volumes about your love for God, and submission to Him and HIS Word. Avoiding confrontation in a marriage is a must, and when you’ve done what GOD wants you to do, submit to the husband’s will, GOD will pay back to you in LARGE.

I guarantee you, the impact you will have in some women will bring them closer to God, and although the glory is for God, it was your testimony what lead them to obey Him.

I pray next time the Lord says go for it, you go for it, but in the cases you’ve gone too far and the authority over you says no, I pray you swallow the pride, and immediately pray for the authority over you.  I pray for the Lord to help us as women under submission to HIM above all, to give us strength and courage to follow what HE says to do, when HE says to, not when we want to. And I pray the Lord let us realize our children are looking at us, for the behavior they will adopt in the near future, either to be humble and dedicated wives towards our husbands, or disrespectful woman who challenge God’s authority, pushing the man over us to anger and consequently sin in maybe even “greater” ways. I pray for the glory of God in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

The Daughters of Zelophehad - Numbers 27

“One day a petition was presented by the daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their father, Zelophehad, was a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph. ² These women stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the tribal leaders, and the entire community at the entrance of the Tabernacle. ³ “Our father died in the wilderness,” they said. “He was not among Korah’s followers, who rebelled against the Lord; he died because of his own sin. But he had no sons. ⁴ Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives.”  ⁵ So Moses brought their case before the Lord. ⁶ And the Lord replied to Moses, ⁷ “The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their father’s relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father. ⁸ “And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters. ⁹ And if he has no daughter either, transfer his inheritance to his brothers. ¹⁰ If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. ¹¹ But if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. This is a legal requirement for the people of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Thinking this morning about the stand up that The Lord granted us as women and how many so call great shepherds of our congregations can still have issues allowing a woman to have the opportunities that HE said to give us. I’m praying hard!

Back in Moses time, the daughters of a man, five in total, they decided to stand up for themselves after their father died, and go talk to Moses and his crew, about their concern of unfairness treatment they were receiving.  The claim was that after her father had died because he had no boys the inheritance left would be entitled to be given to someone else instead of to them, leaving them outcast, and without land. Since probably this was a first for Moses, the best and right thing to do was ask the Lord, and so he did!  

A few things surprised me including God’s answer:

1.       The women were allowed to stand up for themselves before Moses, and his crew

2.       Also given the opportunity to express their concern

3.       And the opportunity to request a solution for the “problem”

4.       In view of the unknown, Moses chose to pray

5.       God recognizes the validity of the claim

6.       God’s verdict: Law Amendment is necessary

7.       Institution is immediately

Back in that time, the women stay back, the man spoke for them; they had little or no rights, but GOD made the difference! Taking care of the widows and the orphans was part of the church’s responsibilities. Although these women ages are not revealed, it does talk about husband for none of them either, so most likely they were just “orphans”, no matter their age.  But the thing is, a chance to speak was given and they surely took advantage of it; and after all, the Lord ruled on their behalf.

This is a great example for us leader when we get faced with situations that we never had before, especially in ministry because what we do in ministry is spread God’s truth to the world out there.  And because it’s all God’s business what we are dealing with, we want to be not fair before human eyes but righteous at following God’s lead.  

Over, and over, and over, we get testimonies of how when God’s chosen leader when in prayer to seek The Master’s will and how to proceed in determined circumstance, and today this is another testimony about that. So men or woman of God who is reading this right now, when you do not know how to proceed, GO IN PRAYER!!!  God had placed you in your leading position, with a purpose and because HE placed you there to lead, if you lack wisdom, ASK HIM whom anointed you! HE gives it to all liberally and without reproach.[1] I KNOW you believe, because otherwise you wouldn’t follow Him at first, remember that, ask and you will receive!!!

When you seek HIS face, HE will show you the way to go; and His righteousness will be evident thru your actions and judgments; for they will be surprisingly fair, for they aren’t yours but God’s. You will be empowering future leaders to follow Christ, and when they find themselves in another situation maybe similar to the one you’re facing today they’ll remember what you did, and will follow the pattern; God’s established pattern.

Do not fall in the trap of following your veteran’s expertise before you seek God’s face, which will take you to disobedience by following other’s before God.  God always ought to be our first choice for we serve a supernatural God that can supernaturally transform people, situations and things to work for His glory; so no matter your vast experience, when God is in the midst, everything changes, and even the impossible can be possible!

And remember we all are accountable to God, but more as leaders Luke 12:48…

I pray the Lord opens your mind to see that special area where you might be falling short in; for Him to reveal to you what to do. I pray if there’s something so deep in you that you haven’t share with anyone else, that GOD will bring the solution for it; that if there’s someone you need to see placing God’s plan in action, He will bring that person close by, and even ask you to help in some way so you can truly share and experience at first hand the intricacies of the plan. And I pray for the glory of God in JESUS name, AMEN!!! 

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[1] James 1:5

Can you hear The Lord? - Numbers 22

“So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, ⁵ sent messengers to summon Balaam… Balak said:… ⁶ Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me… For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.” ... When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

⁸ “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.”…

¹² But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”

…¹⁵ Then Balak sent other officials …and said: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, ¹⁷ because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.” ¹⁸ But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. ¹⁹ Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”

²⁰ That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”

²¹ Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials.²² But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.

 ²³ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.²⁴ Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides.

 ²⁵ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.²⁶ Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.

 ²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.

 ²⁸ Then THE LORD OPENED THE DONKEY’S MOUTH, and IT said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

Three times this prophet was called in to curse the people of God; with the offer of a big sum of money. One thing he was careful to do was not to get tangle up with his words before inquiring God’s will about it. Because he could have agreed to go immediately; but instead he decided to pray first. But when the Lord, said NO; then he was sure God’s will was; so it was easy for him to dismiss this Moabite King’s servants. For God had chosen for him. The second time, again, he decided to inquire from the Lord, and God chose for him again; only this time God said to go but only to speak what HE would direct him to say.

There are several golden nuggets here… because sometimes we are too quick to talk, and it this can get us in big trouble if we aren’t careful. But this man was convinced, he was determined that in order to do God’s will he would have to inquire from God Himself.  Can I ask you, how determined are you to hear what God’s will for your life is? When was the last time after someone invited you to go fishing, hunting, shopping or perhaps visiting someone at the hospital, you answered, “let me see what God wants me to do and I’ll get back with you?” 

Sometimes when God speaks we aren’t tuned in with Him or the way He is using is kind of unconventional and we “can't” hear Him, then what? We ignore, until the obvious happens, God takes the scales off of our eyes, and he get to realize that there are no impossible for Him. Its just another way for HIM to show us, that even the impossible is possible with God! HE HAVE TO BELIEVE this!!!

And that’s what happened next in Balaam’s life, although Balaam was convinced to hear from God and to do HIS will, this next time wasn’t that easy.  After following God’s direction Balaam goes as God had instructed him; he got on his donkey, and on its way suddenly the donkey bolted off the road into a field, and instead of asking himself what’s all this about, he just beat the donkey to get back on the road. Then a second time the donkey acted “weird”, for it tried to squeeze himself thru a narrow road and crushed Balaam’s foot, against the wall, so he beat the donkey a second time!  Then one more time, the donkey acts up, and Balaam beat the donkey a third time, but then, THE ANIMAL TALKED back!

Can you believe this, an animal talking, what’s this a cartoon? ABSOLUTELY NO! It’s just that we have to understand that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE when it comes from GOD!

So the next time you think you heard from God and an “inconvenience” shows up in your life, please take a minute, and ask God if He is trying to tell you something; do not be surprise if HE chooses an unconventional way to get your attention!

I’m praying for a mighty revelation of God in your life; one that give you the determination of believing the impossible if God is at it; and I pray you enjoy this beautiful day that THE LORD created for us today, to exalt HIS name. For this is the day that THE LORD had made, just rejoice and be glad in it; and I pray in JESUS name and for HIS glory, AMEN!!!

Interceding in Prayer– Numbers 14

“Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. ² Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. ³ “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” ⁴ Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” ⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. ⁶ Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.⁷ They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!⁸ And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. ⁹ Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” ¹⁰ But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle… ¹⁷ “Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said, ¹⁸ ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’¹⁹ In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”

When we are going thru life hardships sometimes we get to the point that we just weep and cry; and it makes no different, whose fault it is, because it just hurts, so we cry. And when we’re hurting, most likely somebody will notice, either by our attitude or because we tell about it. And that’s what happened to the people of Israel.

We see here two different approaches because we have two groups of peoples, and they both were being “oppressed” by each other’s actions.  In Moses group is his brother Aaron, and Joshua and Caleb who were the spies who brought God’s good report about the land; the second group is the people of Israel. Israel’s Approach was to talk about the oppression, which lead them to plot against the very person God had chosen to lead them out of captivity. Then we have Moses Approach, which was to go in prayer mode.  Trying to help Moses, Joshua and Caleb proceeded to encourage the people of Israel to make them reason which wasn’t too good for them for it brought them stones to their backs because they fell to recognize that the prayer mode was the only right thing to do. When Moses prayed, GOD answered, and HE needs no one’s help, GOD IS ENOUGH!

See, when you talk about negative situations, problems or the oppression you’re feeling or going thru, because people are humans just like us, they will react in diverse ways.  Their reactions will depend of the mood they’re in, the past experiences they’ve been thru, and the future things they do not want to go thru again or want to accomplish. So, in other words, most likely they’ll be a negative approach that will perish one way or another; this way is very uncertain, and harmful for the most. Did you realize God’s reaction to their negative talk against God’s anointed? The Lord wanted it to destroy them immediately!

On the other hand, when the oppression was on Moses, instead of going to someone else to talk about what to do, what did he do? He went straight to his source of life and dependency; he went to The Master of his life, and The One who had commanded him to lead the people, GOD! And how did he do it?  I’m glad you asked! Moses chose to go in a Prayer Mode; he immediately engaged in a conversation with God, that’s the prayer mode! He talked and God listened, then God talked and Moses quietly heard and then replied. With Moses was his brother Aaron, and the spies who where God’s chosen instrument to examine the new land they had been commanded to go to, they also decided to tear their clothes and humble before God with Moses and Aaron. Because truly they knew that if someone could do something about the entire mess that was GOD, so they did!  And needless to say, God acted upon that humble attitude on their behalf.

Moses realized God was really angry with the attitude these people of Israel had, so to make the long story short Moses intervene for The Lord not to destroy them all, and God answered Moses’ request.

Now Moses was clear about three things: (1) he was God’s instrument to speak to Israel yet he wasn’t totally in charge; (2) God His Master was the only ONE who could do something about both sides for He was really the ONE in charge; (3) Prayer Mode was the vehicle to be used.

Prayer Mode was, is and will always be the best way to get the victory in anybody’s life or situation. 

The QUESTION is: WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH? Israel’s or Moses’?  

I pray in the name of JESUS that you, like Moses, choose today to recognize God as the only ONE who is really in charge of your life; because no matter what the situation might be, GOD can and will intervene on your behalf if you have chosen HIM as your Master.  I pray that you realize that Moses and this Prayer Mode I’ve been talking about is just another to say that Moses develop a conversation with GOD, where one speaks and the other one listens then vice versa. In a conversation with God is important that you remain quiet after you have said it all, so you can hear what HE’s placing in your mind. 

Moses didn’t have a Bible like we have today, so let’s use it!!!  Sometimes His words might be hard to hear, like Moses heard them.  I suggest you to have your Bible with you because in these cases, you just ask God to give you a Scripture to look for in it that will give you the needed answer.  For this you can ask Him the name of one of the sixty six books in the Bible, and then ask for the chapter number, and then read it.  I pray you try it for yourself, and I pray in JESUS name and for His glory, AMEN!!!

One Tenth of your Income – Numbers 19

 “²⁵ THE LORD also told Moses, ²⁶ “Give these instructions to the Levites: When you receive from the people of Israel the TITHES I HAVE ASSIGNED as your allotment, give a tenth of the tithes you receive—a tithe of the tithe—to the Lord AS A SACRED OFFERING. ²⁷ The Lord will consider this offering to be your harvest offering, as though it were the first grain from your own threshing floor or wine from your own winepress. ²⁸ You must present one-tenth of the tithe received from the Israelites as a sacred offering to the Lord. THIS IS THE LORD’S SACRED PORTION, AND YOU MUST PRESENT IT TO Aaron THE PRIEST. ²⁹ Be sure to give to the Lord THE BEST portions of the gifts given to you.”

As we can see that this “tithes thing” is NOT been implemented by man “to rip-off” or “to live a life” off of the church goers”, NO! It’s been The LORD command! Even the Levites, who worked in the temple’s duties, were to tithe! Did you saw that?! Moses, instructed by God, was to tell the Levites that after the body of believers would paid their tithes to the church, from that collected money which it was the Levites pay, they had to offer a sacred offering meaning a tenth of that collected money belong to God, verse 26.  In other words from their “wages” they offered a gift because THE LORD was who’d given them the resources to EARN those wages. The same is to be today with us.  We ought to give our ten percent NOT only because God says to, but also as a gift to GOD for its been Him who’ve given us the means and resources to earn our wages, and with a grateful heart to Him, is our way to say Thank You, Lord! It also shows Him that we trust that although we gave Him a tenth of our income, He will make the other ninety stretched like it would be one hundred, and if you do not believe me, try it for yourself. The next time you get your paycheck, take a tenth of it, put it in an envelope, bring it to church and at the collecting offering time, offer it to God as a Thank You gift, and tell Him that you trust Him to stretch the other ninety percent, and then be amazed!!!

Sometimes people talk about those in the body of Christ especially if those are leaders, who aren’t doing what God “said to do”, because they’re living in sin, but you just have to pray for those that you see are living in sin, no matter what the sin is.   Sin is to know how to do something right and not doing it.  There are innumerable ways to sin as stars are in the sky, but again we just have to pray for each other. What did Jesus said about those who were accusing the woman caught in adultery? “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”[1] You are not responsible for my sins, and I’m not responsible for yours, every individual will pay for their own individual faults for ultimately we are accountable to the Lord.[2]

Sometimes people chooses to leave the church due to a determined action a leader had taken that isn’t “right” before their eyes, but this is truly not a wise decision.  Unless God is the One who’s making you get out of that church, you shouldn’t move. You might ask, and why not? Because truly, we aren’t there to please a determined leader, are we? We shouldn’t be in a church because you like that leader! You should be in the church that GOD wants you to be at. 

If you ever question yourself if the church you are attending is the right one for you, I pray you get in your knees, and pray! Start by worshiping the Lord, and after that with a humble heart, confess your sins, ask for forgiveness to make sure nothing will hinder the Lord from answering your question; and then ask for Him to reveal to you with a simple “yes or no” if that is the church, He wants you to be at.  The answer HE place in your mind, will be His will.  Do not doubt, because you’ve been in communion with Him, and when you communicate with people, one speaks and the other one hears, then the roles switch, and besides with a clean heart, God will hear you and will answer you. “This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is His name: Call to ME and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”[3]

In addition to, if you ever have questions or doubts about a particular a leader, please PRAY; it might be the Lord’s way to show you HE wants you to intercede for this determined leader. How do you know if because of your faithfulness to GOD that leader will come to repentance? Besides, that leader is human just like you and me! Wouldn’t you like someone to intercede for you in prayer when you’re being tempted to sin, or if you’re in sin, and about to be burnt if you do not come clean? Not to mention that a leader has to feed kids at home, do dishes, clean furniture and cars, and most likely have large bills to pay too, just like us! But unlike us, that leader is accountable at a higher standard, than us, because that leader is responsible for the spiritual health of the congregation he/she leads.[4]

I pray if you ever see me doing something wrong I expect you to pray for the Lord to deal with me or in case He wants you to talk to me, I pray you be obedient and talk to me; because that’s the way I’m praying for you too. And I pray that next time you get your paycheck you remember to get that ten percent, and with a cheerful heart you place it in an envelope and bring it to the church the Lord has placed you at, as your “Thank You offering”; also that you remember to pray for the Lord to multiply that offering for the church’s benefit, and multiply your ninety percent for your benefit, and for HIS glory. I pray you get to share with the world around you how you prayed and the LORD blessed you, for your obedience. And I pray in JESUS name and for HIS glory, AMEN!!!

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[1] John 8:7

[2] Romans 3:19

[3] Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

[4] Ezekiel 34:10 NIV

Dealing with Difficult Authorities – Numbers 11

 “Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and HE sent a fire to rage among them, and HE destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp.² Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the Lord, the fire stopped…. ⁴ Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. ⁵ “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. ⁶ But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”…. ¹⁰ Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and THE LORD became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated. ¹¹ And Moses said to THE LORD, “Why are YOU treating me, YOUR servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? ¹² Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did YOU tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land YOU swore to give their ancestors? ¹³ Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ ¹⁴ I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! ¹⁵ If this is how YOU intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”

As a testimony of His great love and His mercy for me, and for His glory I testify and confess to you that in one occasion where I disobediently started to speak in a harsh way of a gift that I had been given by someone in authority (I felt the gift had been pushed in, not by a heartfelt “thank you”), as I was speaking and frying something, a big splash burned one of my fingers, and I caught that was The Lord telling me “to hush my mouth” but seems like I needed another “Holy touch” because I continued talking about the gift. So, God touched me again, a bigger burn! Then I heard Him really cleared, and I ended the conversation about it, immediately! Praise God, for I really do not wanted to know how far more He could have gotten if I wouldn’t stopped.

I can confidently say that the majority of us in our lives have had to deal with a “boss”, or a person that is in authority over us in some capacity.  I can confidently also say that most likely at least one time we have disagreed with a decision they made, because in our humanity, created to rule, sometimes we do not like to be “ruled” and we choose to disagree.

It’s important to realize that GOD who created all is who gives authority to those in charge, and so clear is been established, Paul (remember under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) writes in Romans 13:1-2 - “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.”

And truly when we complaint about those in charge we are complaining against God who placed them in that position; and the only true and acceptable thing for us to do is pray for those in authority. Paul encouraging Timothy said: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.[1]”

In other words, in regards to those in leadership since we already understand that they are serving God, our duty is to pray, respect and honor them, because doing that we’ll be obeying our heavenly Father said so, thru His servant Paul.[2]

This principle of submitting to authority had been previously established back in the Old Testament, and what we’ll see here is what happened to those who instead of submitting to the authority placed by God, and instead of praying for that leader, complaint about him, is like we are planting “rumor weeds” and it will spread just like weeds do. So, beware! God cannot be mocked[3]; we can’t hide from HIM, EVERYTHING we do, HE SEES, and we will be accountable to Him, for everything we say and do.[4]

If that authority you disagree with is doing something you think is not fair, we’ve been called to pray for them, so PRAY for God Himself to give you understanding about it; for Him to deal with you, with that person; and for Him to transform or remove you and or the authority off from its place. God who sees it all, will speak to you.

The people Moses was leading was already complaining against him, and God dealt with them as a whole but when Moses sister was the one who complaint and planted that “rumor weed” God dealt with her, immediately! And who was listening to her, immediately, had to be taught that what she was doing was wrong and would bring punishment, not in the long future but immediately! So, she developed leprosy. And as a testimony of God’s mercy and power, instead of living it for long time with her, to show REALLY who is in charge, He decided to end the leprosy in only seven days, and so it was.

So for you advantage, next time, you have a disagreement with someone in authority, before you open your mouth to speak, PRAY!!! I pray you do not have to get burnt twice, like me, to hear The Lord.  If you’re discouraged about a “wrong” doing of one of your leaders, get a prayer partner to help you pray for that situation, you do not have to repeat the details of it, and just pray!!! I pray The Lord continue to lead you His way, and for your communion with Him, to grow as you develop your devotional Bible study and prayer, for the glory of God I pray, in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

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[1] 1^st Timothy 2:2

[2] Romans 13:6b-7

[3] Galatians 6:7

[4] Hebrews 4:13

Fatherly Love – Deuteronomy 7

⁷ “The Lord did not set His heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! ⁸ Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and He was keeping the oath He had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. ⁹ Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is The Faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.  ¹⁰ But He does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject Him. ¹¹ Therefore, you must OBEY all these commands, decrees, and regulations I am giving you today.

¹² “If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the Lord your God will keep His covenant of unfailing love with you, as He promised with an oath to your ancestors. ¹³ He will love you and bless you, and He will give you many children. He will give fertility to your land and your animals. When you arrive in the land He swore to give your ancestors, you will have large harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats. ¹⁴ You will be blessed above all the nations of the earth. None of your men or women will be childless, and all your livestock will bear young. ¹⁵ And the Lord will protect you from all sickness. He will not let you suffer from the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but He will inflict them on all your enemies!”

As parents what do we NOT do, in order to help our children from having to walk by the difficulties that we’ve already mastered? We all do or at least try to do “infinity and beyond”, right?! And we have a great example, because all through The Bible our heavenly Father teaches us how to walk in this life He’d given us. 

As God’s children we are expected to learn from Him and His Word, and then pass that teaching onto our children, and unto those that God continues to allow us to share it with whether are people at work, neighbors, and relatives or in ministry. The years that we’re allowed to live on this life ought to be a life of teaching, if you have not realized it just yet, think about it, and start today! 

When you teach someone about God’s Word, you will be planting seeds that will never come back void, even if you do not have a green thumb like someone I know, God’s Word will always grow! “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”[1]

Get in the habit of reading God’s Word, daily! Meditate on it; ask God, first how can you apply this Word to your life? Is what you’re reading something God says not to do and you’re doing it? Then stop doing that thing, confess it as sin, and do it no more! Is what you’re reading praising someone for what they are doing and you could do the same thing but aren’t doing it? Then follow God’s lead and do what God says to. It’s just as simple as that!!! YOU will grow, and those around you will grow too as they FOLLOW you, some immediately, others eventually.    And then, after applying God’s Word to you; then Ask The Lord, who does HE wants you to share it with, and do as He leads you.  So, DO NOT wait another day; start planting TODAY.... tomorrow could be too late! 

I pray your hunger for the Word of God grows inside your heart more and more everyday! And I pray that if you haven’t start studying the Word, you determine to start today. I’m including a Bible Reading plan from one of my favorite resources[2], in case you do not have one, you can start follow it, and start immediately! I pray you start visiting a church on a regular bases, and join a Sunday Bible class; and I pray the Lord surrounds you with mighty men and women of God to support you in this walk, for its for His glory, I pray in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

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[1] Isaiah 55:11

[2] https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/beginning/next