Stop! Wait! Listen? Numbers 9-12

There are certain people you can trust when they give their opinion of something.   I don't know them personally, but I assume their are some.  The rest of us ought to be careful how we answer a question or inquiry for counsel.   Moses, the great Israelite leader, would be one of those leaders we could ask a question and expect a good answer ... right off the top of his head.   Yet, Moses, did not do that. When asked to solve a problem he did not use his authority or power to wax eloquent.   I need to learn this principle.  Look at what Moses does when he is asked to resolve an issue about men who missed the passover due to touching a dead body.   Moses doesn't make something up, give his own opinion, tell us what they did in the old days, or ignore it.  Here is his response: 

Numbers 9:8

Moses therefore said to them, “ Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you.”

Wow!!   Wait?   Listen?   Two phrases we ought to piggy back on for the rest of our lives.    And what is he "waiting" and "listening" to?  The "command" of the Lord!   Late one night, late in the evening I was sent an email by a client who wanted my thoughts on an email he had received.   Before I knew what I was going to say I was typing a response.  I didn't stop to "wait" and "listen" to my own thoughts.   I just started typing a response and hit send.  The next morning I sent him another response ... "in addition to" the other response.   I never thought of saying to him, "wait" as I go "listen" to what the Lord has to say about this thing.   I am extroverted and tend to think with my mouth and, I think, Moses was more of the introverted type.  Yet, the lesson of waiting and listening and seeking God's commands about something FIRST should be a practice for either type and preference.   Today, when you are asked to give a response to something, repeat Moses' practice ... Wait and listen and seek the command of the Lord.