When authorities in your life instruct you to do something, how does it affect your spirit? Do you obey immediately and eagerly? Even if you obey, is the task done with a begrudging Spirit? How you respond to authority is a direct reflection of your spirit toward God. Even instructions given by ungodly authorities should be obeyed unless their instruction violates God’s word. In this passage we see the principle of “Immediate Obedience” on display. They had responded begrudgingly toward God’s command to take the Promised Land after receiving the bad report from the 10 spies and refused to obey. Once Moses rendered God’s sentence for their disobedience, they finally decided to do what God had commanded. They soon discovered that delayed obedience in the eyes of God is still disobedience.
Num. 14:39-45 “And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.
And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.”
LESSON - We must respond with “Immediate Obedience”
to the authorities God has placed in our lives. Whether it be parents, bosses, civil authorities, coaches, or teachers, we must respond immediately with a willing spirit to do that which is required of us by our authorities. We must realize that God Himself has placed these people in authority over us so when we obey them, we in essence obey Him.
Rom. 13:1-2a “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God”
Heb. 3:8-9, 15 “Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. While it is said, TODAY if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”
**Practice “Immediate Obedience”!!
~Mike
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