Caleb and Joshua are the only two spies whose faith is up to the task set by God. They trust Him. The other 10 see only an unscaleable mountain before Israel. Israel came to the road to the Promised Land and wouldn’t take it! Jesus said: if you find the road that leads to life – take it. Don’t let your fears overcome your faith! Matthew 7:13,14

* God Above, You are gracious and righteous, You are merciful, You have delivered our soul from death. We praise You Lord!

“But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness.”

One a litany of errors, broken decision-making … Sin.

The other a weight of righteousness and steadfast love, faithfulness and preparing for Jesus.

Surely a million people can’t be wrong right?

While the ten spies were lacking in courage, they let their fear rule them – They couldn’t start fire without embers. The people had been grumbling for a fair while now, and they suffered the consequences for their unbelief.

This is a major tipping point in the Old Testament.

For us, we know that the kingdom is now (we have been told to pray that God’s kingdom would come), but we look forward to it fully realised in the new heavens and earth when Jesus returns.

But back to the tipping point – The crux, turning point: An entire generation, a the bulk of a million people, can never enter the promised land.

What a terrible and mighty word from the Lord.

Our sin mars us. It marks us in our unrighteousness, and we stand condemned. Fully deserving of “no entry” into the promised land of life after this life.

Jesus changes everything. A deeper and fuller, more beautiful, saving work than Moses could do.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

In Jesus we do not perish and fall in the wilderness. Just as with Moses on the mount of transfiguration, Jesus brings (saves) us into the promised land.

Thank You for Jesus, through whom we are saved and rest assured in Your promises of life after this life.

Please help us to tell people of this wonderful news.

May 3, Reading 1 – Numbers 14

Verses 10 and 11 are good ones for those in local or state government. Generosity (v24,25) is different from a foolish beggaring of yourself. Generosity counts the cost and still gives! It is witting and blessed as Jesus said of the widow and her mite.

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.”

“The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.”

Solomon turns to examine RIGHTEOUSNESS and the UPRIGHT person against the WICKED and TREACHEROUS person.

Solomon tells us that people of righteousness are _good_ for society!

“When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.”

So then, an important question needs to be asked – Who is righteous?

When we think about these proverbs, what righteousness is, we must turn to Jesus.

Firstly – These things are absolutely TRUE of Jesus! He is the RIGHT MAN. Society was and is BLESSED through and by Him!

Jesus is the single point of truth for a righteous life. Nobody else can make and stake that claim.

Secondly – In Jesus, through His salvation work, we His people have His righteousness _and_ we can at accordingly with obedience in that righteousness.

So that it is through US, God’s people, that blessing comes to the world around us.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”

As Jesus called us, so too Solomon echoes His call – To be fishers of men, to be spiritually fruitful!

Please help us today to go about what You have for us giving You the glory.

Please help us to respond to opportunity to point people to You.

Please help us to be fruitful Lord God, good soil, to bear much fruit.

May 3, Reading 2 – Proverbs 11

While we apply these verses to both sexes, think about their especial relevance to men – young and older. Can you see good reasons for these words to men especially? Paul is not being sexist here, but realistic. What applies to you?

* Dear God, thank You for this Your word to us today.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you; casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

We can often buck under God’s mighty hand. Our pride and self-assurance can rear up and we struggle against the will of the Almighty.

Peter’s word to us here is … To be HUMBLE under God’s will.

But joined along-side that by Peter is something equally as hard – When worries and concerns threaten to overwhelm us, as we often struggle against God’s will – We can forget so quickly this truly amazing mechanic that God has graciously built into our lives for us.

To cast our cares, our concerns and worries, our anxieties, on Him.

Humbling ourselves under God’s will is good for us.

Thank You for all that You have given to us.

Thank You that in humble submission under Your will we find worth and identity.

Thank You that in casting our cares on You will find Your grace and mercy, You love that is real.

Daily Devotion Readings for May 3rd