MARCH 4

Israel was defeated because they rejected the voice of God and followed their own carnal thinking. Instead of going forward to take possession of the land as God had commanded, they listened to negative reports which created doubt and resulted in disobedience. They chose their will above God’s will. They rejected Him as the supreme authority of their lives. They actually wanted to return to slavery in Egypt rather than obey God and advance at His command.

Moses and Aaron recognized the ramifications of their rebellion and fell on their faces in fear before God. Joshua and Caleb, in great anguish, tore their clothes and pleaded with them not to rebel. But the children of Israel refused to listen. Once they made the choice to go their own way, nothing anyone could say or do could alter their decision.

The people were actually ready to stone Caleb and Joshua! They wanted to ease their consciences by silencing those who represented God’s will and spoke His Word. As they were getting ready to do this, the glory of God appeared before the people at the Tent of Meeting. God was ready to destroy the entire congregation! Moses interceded for them and God graciously forgave their rebellion, but He did not let them go unpunished. He told Moses that all those who were twenty years of age and older would not enter the Promised Land, but would die in the wilderness.

God told Moses to “…turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea” (Numbers 14:25, NIV). The next morning the people came to Moses saying, “We have sinned, they said. We will go up to the place the Lord Promised” (Numbers 14:40, NIV). Once again they were rejecting the Word of God by choosing their own way. When God had told them to go forward, they refused. Now that He commanded them to turn back, they decided they wanted to go forward. Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed!” And it didn’t (Numbers 14:41-43).

If you are to fulfill your divine destiny, you must learn to agree with what God says and act upon it. In Jeremiah chapter 1, God reveals Jeremiah’s divine destiny. God declared, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah’s response was “…Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” God answer was, “…Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 1:5-7).

When God declares something, agree with it and act in faith upon it. Do not substitute your own thoughts, fears, or plans. If you disobey God’s commands, you will not succeed. You will fail.

Guaranteed. If you obey His Word, you will succeed in all you do. Believe what God says–not what the voice of man dictates. Watch what your own mouth says. Make sure your words agree with God.