Deuteronomy 2:1-5 (ESV Strong's)
“Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir. Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
Direction Despite Disobedience
The nation of Israel, just before the above passage is written, has disobeyed God and in their unbelief refused to go into the promise land. Because they feared the giants of the land they shrunk back into unbelief. Yet, despite this, God gives them Divine direction. They are disobeying God and, yet, God, in His grace, is providing them with clear direction in their wandering. God will not give the rest in the promise land, but He is still active in their lives. This is a great picture for our unbelief today. We fail to enter in our rest because of our unbelief, but God still guides and directs us. We might consider Peter, who after denying Christ (three times), Christ still expressed love for him and gave him clear direction for the future.
John 21:15-19 (ESV Strong's)
Jesus and Peter
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Christ works in our lives despite out disobedience and unbelief.
No comments:
Post a Comment