Merciful Monday: Stepping out in Faith and Keeping God First

“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
    If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.” Ecclesiastes 11:4

Have you ever had a desire to do something, but been too worried to initiate it? You may have said “it’s too soon” or “I’m not ready yet” or “but I don’t have the money.” Today’s reading shows us that sometimes you just have to stop making excuses and STEP OUT IN FAITH!

Moses knew all about taking a step without seeing the whole staircase. He brought his entire family (the tribe of Israel) out of Egypt and into the wilderness although he had no idea where God was taking them. I believe that he trusted God enough to know that at the end of the day, he was blessed, and that as long as he stepped out in faith God would honor that.

In today’s reading, Moses was being ridiculed by the people because they were basically starving and dehydrated out in the desert. They blamed everything on him saying, “Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!” Numbers 2-:4-5.

 I’m sure that Moses was frustrated by this. He may have even doubted himself and God, and believed that they would be better off dead. But in the midst of a really bad situation, he did something right. He kept God first! Verse 6 says, “Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them.” God commanded him to take his staff and “speak to a rock.” And in the very next verse, it says “So Moses did as he was told.” The Bible doesn't mention him complaining or making any excuses as to why he shouldn't hit a rock with his staff (I’m sure we all can think of a whole lot though!). Moses stepped out on faith and did exactly as God commanded him to do. Because he stepped out and heeded the word of God, the Israelites survived.

Remember: God will always bless SOMETHING above NOTHING. Take a step out in faith to do what God told you to do. Go after your dreams even if you aren’t exactly sure how you will complete them. But most importantly, remember to keep God first because he will see you through.  Ecclesiastes 12:2-3 says, “Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.”

Merciful Mondays: Jael

^“For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.” Deuteronomy 4:31