Careful What You Ask for, You Might Just Get It

Isn’t that the point. Asking for something and expect to receive it. I would think so. But, what if I received and was not really as happy about it as I thought I would be.

This is what happened to the Israelite people with the LORD. You see, God provided manna for them to each when they were in need. They were satisfied from a consumption of sustenance perspective. They had even gotten to the point of not just consuming it, but they were making bread cakes with the manna to mix it up as opposed to just eating what was provided. But, as is the case even today, they developed a lack of contentment and began complaining about not having meat to eat.

Aren’t we that way as well. We have what is needed, a house, a car, food, work. And yet, even with all of that, we still want, a bigger/better house, a newer/more expensive car, elegant food, high paying job. We lose our contentment as we desire for things that are “better”. We had found a way to make due with what we had and yet, we continue asking for more.

Well, God heard the people and decided to give them what they ask for.

“¹⁸And say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat.’” – Numbers 11:18 (ESV)

And just like that, the people would have what they were asking. The LORD was providing for them as they had requested. And doesn’t that happen for us as well. We ask the LORD and He provides, even to the tune of what we want.

But, the LORD was teaching them a lesson at the same time.

“¹⁹You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, ²⁰but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, ‘Why did we come out of Egypt?’” “33While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.– Numbers 11:19-20 & 33 (ESV)

And there it is. The LORD provides in so much bounty that it would consume them entirely. The people got what they wanted and even more. The more was not expected, but they got it anyway. The LORD provided the meat for them and in true human nature they consumed it to the point of gluttony.

Aren’t we very much the same today. We ask for things from the LORD and He provides and we simply consume without the appreciation for it. We only become gluttonous. We cannot get enough of what we ask and turn away from the LORD in the process.

I have to remember that it is not what I have that makes me who I am. It is being content that what I have is enough. It is okay and encouraged to ask for things from the LORD. He wants us to ask and even tells us to do so. But it is the why we are asking that is important to remember, not the what we are asking. I have to remember that it is about needs and not wants. I have to remember to be content in the provision of the LORD. I have to be careful asking, as I may just get it.

What are you asking for from the LORD? Are you asking out of want and find yourself gluttonous? What if you kept you asks to your needs and when provided, were thankful and generous to others with what you receive?

Repent and the LORD Remembers

The LORD will act accordingly when we spurn Him. When I walk contrary to Him, He will walk contrary to me. After all, that is me not wanting or seeing the value in Him, so why should He want or see the value in me. But, what happens when I repent and come back to Him?

“⁴⁰But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, ⁴¹so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, ⁴²then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.” – Leviticus 26:40-42 (ESV)

I will spurn the LORD and walk contrary to Him. And He will walk contrary to me in discipline to me. I deserve it all. But, He is waiting on my to turn back to Him. He is waiting for me to humble myself in the heart and “make amends” to where I hurt Him. When I do, He remembers the covenant He has in place with those who came before me.

This passage is of course well before the coming of Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection for my sins. It does though demonstrate that the LORD is waiting on me to come back to Him. He, even in my contrary walk with Him, is still with me. He is there to ensure that the discipline I face is for the turning away from Him, but He is still there waiting.

“¹³For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” – Romans 10:13 (ESV)

When I call on His name, He remembers and turns back to me to protect, comfort, and love me.

What is your view of turning back to God? Are you aware that He is just waiting for you? What if you were to repent and turn back to Him, call on Him and bask in His remembrance of the love He has for you?

Spurn the LORD and…

“¹⁴But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, ¹⁵if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, ¹⁶then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.” – Leviticus 26:14-16 (ESV)

And what you see in the above verses is just the tip of the wrath of God. It is up to me to follow the LORD and obey His commandments and statutes. When I am in concert with the LORD, I will receive His bounty in my life. And when I am contrary to Him, I get the opposite.

The LORD is a jealousy God and is deserving of my worship and love. When I turn from Him, He will not provide for my pleasure. The LORD will work contrary to me when I am contrary to Him.

“²¹Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins.” and “²⁷But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me, ²⁸then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins.” – Leviticus 26:21 & 17-28 (ESV)

There are consequences to actions. When we are obedient to the LORD, the consequences are bounty provided. When we are contrary to the LORD, He will discipline us accordingly. I have to remember this as I proceed through this life here in this world. I have a choice to be obedient, but when I spurn the LORD, I will be held to account.

What does your obedience look like with the LORD? Are you spurning Him? What if you understood that there are consequences, even with the LORD for your actions?

The LORD Provides Bounty

Bounty: 1: something that is given generously, 2: liberality in giving: generosity 3: yield especially of a crop – Merriam-Webster Online

This morning I continue my study on the word “will” and find myself in Leviticus. I know, riveting words written about the law. But, that is it when you really study the different laws and their impact.

I am in chapter 26 in the passage, as titled in my bible, “Blessings for Obedience”. Here the LORD has given instruction on how to approach the worship of Him. He then provides the condition:

“³If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them,” — Leviticus 26:3 (ESV)

The LORD says, do this and if you do… He identifies the actions required and then the reward for doing so. Isn’t that how it should always be, and isn’t that how the LORD has always been with His instruction. He tells us what we shall do and then what the reward is for doing so. He did it in the garden with the man and woman, He did with Noah, and here He is with the Israelite people. Follow my commands and you will be rewarded.

“⁴Then I will give you…” — Leviticus 26:4 (ESV)

And the reward is great and wonderful and more than we could imagine. As we continue to read in the passage, the LORD provides, rain for the crops, crops of wheat until time for grapes, and grapes until time for planting. And He provides peace and power to overcome. And all of this in generous supply.

What a reminder to me about following and giving glory to God, He will reward for the work done and that reward will be great. His provision will be generous and I will not need anything beyond His reward. I am to do His will and reap the bounty in return.

What is your approach to the LORD? Are you looking for reward from Him? What if you obeyed Him knowing that He will provide bounty?

Careful, You May Be Drawn In

I am reading this morning and I see a warning from the LORD. It is one that we should be aware, yet it is something that we often allow ourselves to believe we have under control. We will get drawn into sin even when we know better and have the LORD on our side.

“¹⁵Do not make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land, or else when they prostitute themselves with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. ¹⁶Then you will take some of their daughters as brides for your sons. Their daughters will prostitute themselves with their gods and cause your sons to prostitute themselves with their gods.” – Exodus 34:15-16 (CSB)

The LORD had conquered the people in this land for the Israelites. Some of them remained in the land and lived among the Israelites. Where we are to love others, we are also responsible for bringing the LORD to them. If you remember, Jesus ate with tax collectors to bring the gospel to them. The difference is that Jesus would not be drawn into their lifestyle and beliefs. Jesus even warned His apostles to not get drawn in.

“¹⁴And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” – Matthew 10:14 (ESV)

The LORD provided guidance to the people that they have to take care not to be drawn into the lifestyle of the former inhabitants of the land. It would be a subtle, slow, draw that would seem completely innocent in the beginning. And, the people would have the attitude and thoughts that they would be able to resist. Maybe they could for a minute, but would soon find themselves in the midst of turning from God and turning to gods.

We find this in our time today. We “accept” and tolerate others and their beliefs, only to find that acceptance to overtake our own beliefs and slowly get drawn in and turn away from God and turn to their gods. Our approach should be that of Jesus to bring the gospel to them. If and when they reject us, we are to shake the dust off our feet and move on to the next to avoid being drawn in.

What is your approach to others? Are you accepting and tolerant to coexist with others? What if you were to be careful of being drawn in and when they exhibit a lack of acceptance of you, you move on to the next?

The LORD of Second Chances

How often do we get a second chance? Well with the LORD, it seems as though I am getting them all the time. And the second chances continue beyond the second. Even in beginning, the LORD demonstrated His forgiveness and offered up the second chance.

“¹The Lord said to Moses, ‘Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.’” – Exodus 34:1 (ESV)

Notice the words that are used in the above verse by God, “Cut for yourself…like the first…which you broke”. Moses was given the second chance to present the word of God, the Ten Commandments, to the Israelites. Moses had broken them and the LORD was redoing them.

I know that I find myself irritated at having to do things over and over again because someone did not appreciate it in the first place, and/or there was no appreciation for the work in the first place and therefore no responsibility was taken. With Moses, he spent time with the LORD, the LORD created the writing on the tablets, and Moses threw them down and broke them.

Now, Moses was angry and pointing out to the people the error in their ways. I believe that the people would not have appreciated the Word of God, the Ten Commandments at the time. But, God knew they needed His Word, the Ten Commandments and despite the actions of Moses firstly, He went through the process once again. The LORD had granted the second chance.

I have made mistakes and as a sinner will continue to make mistakes. No matter the time I spend in the Word of God, I will still wander away and sin. I need a second chance. Thankfully, the LORD provides those second chances that come with my repentance. The Israelite people were the chosen people of God and He afforded them the second chances. I am a child of God and He affords me second chances as well.

What is your thought on second chances? Are you of the thoughts that we get one chance and then we move on? What if you repented and accepted the second chance that the LORD affords for you as a child of His?

God Goes with Even the Obstinate

“³Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” – Exodus 33:3 (ESV)

The LORD led the people to the land He had promised them through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But, here he is telling them to go on ahead and He will hang back, because they are difficult to lead, obstinate.

As I read the words of the LORD, I see myself and the leading of my family. I have a plan to get somewhere and yet they are resistant to my plan and feel as though they know better where we are headed and how to get there and what it will look like along the way. Now, I am not saying that I have all the answers like the LORD, but in these instances, I have planned things out and, as the head of the family, should be trusted to get us there. So, I tell them to go ahead without me and I will meet them there as I am not interested in arguing with them any longer and will allow them to do it for themselves if that is what they want. The result is that they come back to me to “fix” things as they did not quite turn out the way they thought they would.

The LORD had everything planned out for the Israelite people to get to the place where he promised them. The people thought they knew better and took things into their own hands. Then they failed miserably and would come back to the LORD for Him to “fix” it. In this instance, the LORD told them to go ahead and do things their way as He was not interested in arguing with them and would simply meet them there. The LORD was not going to work with the obstinate people at this time.

But, Moses knew that they needed the LORD to go with them and protect them on their journey. So he interceded for them with the LORD. Moses asked the LORD to go with them to show them that they were indeed the chosen people and that they had found the favor of the LORD. And He did.

So, where are we landing here. Well, the LORD does love each of us on our journey to do His will. He wants us to succeed and bring glory to Him in the process. When we are resistant to His will, He will allow us to go it alone and suffer the consequences of our self action. But, as He loves us, when interceded for, He will always turn back to us and go with us. We may not know He is there, but He will go with us.

It is important for each of us to intercede for others. We are to pray to the LORD for ourselves and for others. The journey they may be taking is due to their obstinate approach to the LORD. They may be resistant to Him yet need Him for protection along the way. The LORD will be there at the request of the righteous thanks to His love for all.

“⁷Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 (ESV)

What is your approach to being lead by the LORD? Are you one of those obstinate folks, or know those that believe you know better and can get it done on your own? What if you relied on the LORD or interceded for the obstinate, the LORD will go with you when asked?

Believe, have Faith, Trust the LORD

I wonder on the regular, what am I doing and where is the LORD in it all. I am sure that situations and circumstances have come up that are very difficult to see to the other side on. There is a lack of understanding as to the path forward and frankly if deliverance will be achieved.

The LORD has a plan and as I have noted on many occasions in my writing, that plan is way more that I can understand or fathom. Everything is in His design and has an outcome that may be far from known or seen by us. The Israelite escape from Egypt is an example.

The LORD had delivered the Israelites from the rule of Pharaoh. Then, He had them turn back slightly at the edge of the Red Sea. Yes, they turned back when they could have just kept going and felt as though they were getting away for good. I don’t know about you, but given the choice to keep running and escape or turn back and wait, I would keep going. The LORD told Moses that He was going to conquer the Egyptians. And, Moses being Moses led the people back and as expected, they were concerned.

“¹¹They said to Moses, ‘Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? ¹²Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: “Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians”? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.’” – Exodus 14:11-12 (ESV)

The people expressed their lack of belief, faith, and trust in the LORD in this moment of fear. But, the LORD again had plans that the people were not able to see.

“⁴And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.” – Exodus 14:4 (ESV)

Now, we know the rest of the story that the people made it across the Red Sea on dry ground and Pharaoh and his army perished in the sea. So, the LORD did as He said and fully delivered the people from the Egyptians.

Here is where I was going with things this morning. We see the story of this escape as the great escape, and it was. But it is not without its drama. What I see is the lack of belief, faith, and trust in the LORD by those same Israelites that had already been delivered from the immediate rule of Egypt. And yet they did not believe the LORD would continue to do so even just a few days later.

I find myself in this exact situation all the time. I will ask the LORD for deliverance and then take things into my own hands because I am not getting the result I think I should be getting. I know that the LORD will deliver me, as He has done so many times before and will continue to do so. But I continue the trying to do things on my own thanks to my lack of belief, faith, and trust in Him. And, you know what, the LORD knows I will, and He continues His work despite my doubt.

My pastor indicates that doubt is okay, because is generates questions to generate understanding, leading to belief. Therefor, I will continue to question to gain belief. I will have faith, and trust that the LORD will do His work despite of me as He wants nothing but the best for me.

Where is your belief, faith, and trust in the LORD? Are you in a position where you are lacking in any or all of them? What if instead of not believing or having faith or trusting in Him, you questioned to understand and know that He will deliver?

Sometimes Action of the LORD is No Action

I find myself in prayer asking for the LORD to take action and deliver me. I find myself in circumstances that are weighing me down and in need of resolution and deliverance from those circumstances. I also find myself asking for things from the LORD and waiting on Him to do provide those things.

“¹²For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. ¹³The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” – Exodus 12:12-13 (ESV)

Reading this morning of the Passover, I am reminded that sometimes it is the no action of the LORD that is the action He intends. You see, the people placed blood on the doorposts and lintel so that the LORD would pass over their houses and not deliver the plague of death to their home. The LORD would pass by and move on to the next house as He was delivering action to the land of Egypt.

Remember that time that you were late to work only to find that there was an accident that happened about two minutes ahead of you on the road. Or that time that you missed out on going to an event to find out later that the event was not what you expected it to be. Or that time when you were delayed and not able to make a purchase to find that the exact funds for the purchase were able to cover a debt completely.

The LORD provides in many ways for us. We may ask for things and expect that He will deliver those things in our idea of how they should be delivered, when in fact He delivers without taking action. The Israelite people were spared in the Passover thanks to their obedience to the LORD. He did not take action and delivered them from the circumstance befalling on Egypt.

I have to remember that I should continue to ask the LORD to deliver me. But I also have to remember that His deliverance may just be that He is taking no action.

What is your expectation of deliverance? Are you finding yourself seeking to be delivered in just they way you imagine? What if you simply asked for deliverance and opened yourself to the LORD and His deliverance, even when He takes no action?

When Will You Learn

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is a phrase attributed to many different people and/or organizations. It does not matter from where it came, it is true today as it was in biblical times.

Pharaoh continued to resit the LORD’s demand to let the Israelite people go out of bondage. As I am reading this morning’s passage, seven plagues on Egypt have already occurred and Pharaoh is still not getting it. Moses and Aaron, at the direction of the LORD are now asking Pharaoh, when will you learn.

“³So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.”’” – Exodus 10:3 (ESV)

Those in the direct council of Pharaoh were even asking him when will you learn.

“⁷Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, ‘How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?’” – Exodus 10:7 (ESV)

Pharaoh continued to resist and do the same thing over and over again, expecting that the LORD would relent, or that the plagues were all a coincidence and that the LORD did not have a hand in any of it. Either way, Pharaoh was determined that at some point his strategy would work. He was convicted to keep the people in bondage and the cost did not matter to him.

I look at this example and work to see how it applies to me. I know that I have gone through times of doing the same things over and over again expecting different results. When Lori and I married, I decided that I “needed” Sunday’s for me and did not attend church, to play golf or some other personal indulgence. Things were okay, but once I came back to the LORD, things were better. I resisted tithing to the LORD because I “needed” the money to survive, and I was doing that, surviving, but could not get ahead. I finally began to tithe and things were better. Many more examples abound from my life. All ending in better once I did something else.

When are we going to learn? The LORD wants nothing but the best for us. It is up to me to follow Him every step of the way. When I do, I will be granted peace in the circumstance that was not there as I resisted. It may not be in that exact moment, remember that God’s timing is perfect and not aligned with mine, but I will find peace. I have to do things differently in order to get the different result.

What is your approach? Are you continuing to do the same things over and over again expecting a different result? What if you relented and listened to learn from the LORD?