10/15/2020
“But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, ‘O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assemble when only one man sins’” (Numbers 16:22)
Moses and Aaron pleaded with God on behalf of the entire assembly that He not hold all of them accountable for the sin of one person. A recurring theme throughout the Bible is that of individual accountability for sin. Since God created persons as responsible moral agents, we are each accountable for not our own choice in this matter, we are each accountable for our own choices in this matter. We are not guilty of someone else’s sin, nor can we someone else for our own sin.
Moses’ prayer is the opposite of Abraham’s appeal (Genesis 18:23-32). Abraham prayed that God would spare the city for the sake of a few righteous. Moses prayed that God would not punish the entire the many for the sins of a few. God responds in justice and mercy to the prayers of faithful people.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY:
Precious Abba, Abraham was pleading for the city of Sodom, that if only 10 were righteous, you would not destroy it. With Moses and Aaron, they prayed for the entire community of Israelites to be spared if only one was found with sin. The covenant God made with us, was for individual accountability. No one can go on behalf of us to have You forgive our sins, for we are the ones who sinned. Today, each of us are accepting this covenant once again, that in our own lives, we will approach You, humbly seeking Your forgiveness for our sins. Others will see us and know that we have been forgiven, for You will restore us and our relationship with You will be fully restored. Thank You, Abba.. Amen
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
“There is no such thing as a self-made Christian.”
KNOWING GOD:
“Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel. About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the band of he Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me.” (1st Samuel 9:16)
God revealed to prophets both words to preach and specific acts to do to carry out His will. Samuel received instruction from God to meet His chosen leader and anoint him the first king of Israel. God revealed His compassion for His oppressed children by answering their cry for help.
The cry of the people for a king was second best and willful on their part. God Himself had always delivered them, but they demanded a deliverer in permanent office. God responded in mercy to the cry of His oppressed people.
I AM:
“Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pastureland’s. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago. As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders. Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their power. They will lay their hands on their mouths and their ears will become deaf. They will lick dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling out of their dens; they will turn in fear to the Lord our God and will be afraid of you. Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? Yo do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledges on oath to our fathers in days long ago.” (Micah7:14-20)
In essence these two verses represent a teaching lesson for the people, when they sin, even if they didn’t even know it, they are held accountable and there is a prescribed method to attain forgiveness.
There were so many laws, that it was hard to keep up with them all, but someone might witness something that has taken place and told that person it was a sin. The priest would then decide if a sin had taken place and if so, the prescribe procedure for the one who sinned, to obtain forgiveness. So, even then you could not say you didn’t know and get away with anything.
Second Thought of the Day:
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1st Peter 5:7)
Love is the most basic word we have concerning what God is like. Because He loves, we can trust Him with anything that worries us
We are not ever along, beloved. We matter to God, and he can bear our anxieties with more insight than we. Once the worries we deposited with God, we leave them there and as we walk, the load we tried to carry is no longer on us, at all.
Daily Meditation by Rev. Jerry 