Numbers 14:1-10

Life is one great lesson in learning. This learning experience is a great adventure in discovering the ways of the Lord that produce happiness, fulfillment, and a great future. When we approach it correctly, learning the ways of the Savior can be great fun.

Sometimes the lessons can be hard, and the consequences are far-reaching. This was especially true of the people of Israel as they made their great journey to freedom, leaving Egypt and heading for Canaan. The lesson we can learn from them is that every person can learn to obey God.

• Research our goals
  • Does my goal honor the Lord?
  • Is my goal God’s plan or mine?
  • Will this goal enhance the work of the Kingdom?

“All Ear”

A missionary translator was endeavoring to find a word for “obedience” in the native language. This was a virtue seldom practiced among the people into whose language he wanted to translate the New Testament. As he returned home from the village one day, he whistled for his dog, and it came running at full speed. An old native, seeing this, said admiringly in the native tongue, “Your dog is all ear.” Immediately, the missionary knew he had his word for obedience. ~ Minister’s Research Service

• Review your resources
  • Be positive in attitude (Numbers 13:30)
  • Be honest about abilities (Numbers 13:33)
    • They had encountered people like this before
  • Always consider your potential in Christ

“Faithful in Menial Task”

W.B. Riley used to tell the story of a man who had walked the streets of Philadelphia searching for employment. One day, he happened to go into the office of a well-known businessman by the name of Girard. When he asked for a job, Mr. Girard answered. “Yes, I can give you work. See that pile of bricks out there? Carry them over to the other end of the yard and stack them up.”

By nightfall, the man reported that the project was completed and received his pay. When asked if there would be more work the next day, his employer said. “Yes, come in tomorrow and carry those same bricks back to where you found them.” The following morning, he came in early and got busy without a word. For more than a week, he was instructed to carry the bricks back and forth until it was evident that he could be trusted to do exactly what he was told.

Then he was given a new and bigger responsibility – to go downtown and bid on a large quantity of sugar. No recognizing him, the people at the auction were surprised by the bid of a total stranger. When it was accepted, the auctioneer asked who would pay the bill. “Mr. Girard,” the man replied. “I am his agent.” He had earned this position by being faithful in a menial task. ~ Our Daily Bread

• Retain faithfulness to God
  • When God speaks, obey (Numbers 14:34-35)
    • When God had said you will not go up into the land, you shall wander for 40 years
      • They were forgiven
      • They still faced the consequences of disobedience
  • Disobedience always brings defeat (Numbers 14:39-45)

“Orders not for Discussion”

General Montgomery, a professed Christian, has often revealed basic principles of obedience which should govern us as people under the great Captain of our salvation. When he came into command in North Africa to rescue the Allied Forces from that dreadful debacle, General Montgomery expected his commands to be carried out. He says, “Orders no longer formed the basis for discussion, but for action…. Previously, orders had generally been queried by subordinates right down the line. I was determined to stop this state of affairs at once.”

General Montgomery uncovered the cause for lost battles in Africa. ~ Prairie Overcomer

Therefore, obedience is a learned trait. This is important both to an individual and it is important to a fellowship of believers. Obedience is a great unifying factor and a great growth factor. We only need to look at the experience of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts to see the consequences of disobedience.

The Lord has said, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” Obedience keeps us in his fellowship; sacrifice is the only way to be reinstated in his fellowship.

“King’s Invitation to be Obeyed”

Sir Leonard Wood once visited the King of France, and the King was so pleased with him that he was invited for dinner the next day.

Sir Leonard went to the palace, and the King, meeting him in one of the halls, said, “Why, Sir Leonard, I did not expect to see you. How is it that you are here?”

“Did not your majesty invite me to dine with you?” said the astonished guest.

“Yes,” replied the King, “but you did not answer my invitation.”

Then it was that Sir Leonard Wood uttered one of the choicest sentences of his life. He replied, “A king’s invitation is never to be answered, but to be obeyed.”