Thursday, June 10 – Numbers 14 – Bob Zanett

The Promised Land, God’s opportunity to take the land. However, that night the body did not see clearly, after the spies’ reports poured in. The mountain to overcome grew before them, the wind and waves of life roared around them and the night closed in. How it is hard to see clearly and to continue to follow. It would be so easy to quit, to turnaround or just simply stay put. But God doesn’t allow His plan to fail or stagnate. 

Sometimes He reshapes His plan to account for another 40 years to help purify trust and strengthen faith and do some weeding. It may also mean that the faithful must walk the same path as the faithless. But the journey’s end is never the same for the faithful. The path may be but the end is drastically different. In Psalm 73, the writer sees that he and the faithless are on the same path. But the faithless seem to have it all – water to drink, manna to eat, sandals that do not wear out – until verse 17 and everything becomes clear (You will have to read it for the rest of the story). Even though, the promised land’s entrance is postponed for 40 years – the attitude of the faithful is amazing. No complaints, no rumors, no gossip, no thoughts of turning back – Joshua son of Nun and Caleb zealously follow – whether that is into the promised land or 40 years in the desert. The path or surroundings are of little consequence, when one’s heart is tuned to follow, one’s eyes are set on Christ, one’s ears are tuned to the Word.

Lord – Your ways are not our ways. Nor your thoughts, our thoughts. Open your Word to our minds and join us on our road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13). Help us to see clearly because in that our path, our life, our journey will have your perspective. But more importantly, we will know you. Amen.