The Value of Choosing and Trusting God

 There’s so much about our world and human nature that our finite minds are not equipped to process. Deuteronomy 29:29 explains: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children.” God revealed himself to Moses and equipped him with wisdom for what seemed like an impossible task.

The older generation of Hebrews who began the journey to the Promised Land died along the way, but the younger generation was ready to possess the land. They had learned the value of choosing God and obeying his rules for living together as a community. God held them accountable to their commitment.

The value of trusting God is that he forgives and heals the wounds of disobedience. Moses suffered the consequences of disobedience, but he endured with peace of mind and a sense of security. He felt safe in God’s forgiveness. You can endure the cost of disobedience by also believing in God’s forgiveness and redemption.  

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All who are oppressed may come to [the Lord]. He is a refuge for them in their times of trouble. All those who know your mercy, Lord, will count on you for help. For you have never yet forsaken those who trust in you.

~Psalm 9:9-10 The Living Bible

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The High Cost of False Assumption

False assumptions build a bridge to disappointments by contributing to unhappiness and failure to reach objectives. False assumption believes something is actually true only to discover a price must be paid for self-deception. We can be thankful when God opens our minds to the truth and gives us courage to change.

Moses must have been tremendously disappointed within himself when all the miracles God performed and all he could do were not enough to change the Hebrew people’s attitudes and sinful choices. Moses assumed he had a free pass to cross over into the Promised Land. He had suffered forty years bringing the Hebrews to the Promised Land.

Moses’ mistake was making it appear that God had to obey him when he became angry with God. God permitted Moses’ anger to be seen as a source of power that caused water to flow out of a rock, but only at great cost. God would forgive Moses and love him although the consequences of his sin had to be acknowledged and experienced.  

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I have sinned and done wrong since the day I was born.

~Psalm 51:5 Contemporary English Version

 

But you are merciful and gentle, Lord, slow in getting angry, full of constant lovingkindness and of truth; so look down in pity and grant strength to your servant and save me.

~Psalm 86:15-16 The Living Bible

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Painful Regret and Heartfelt Thanks

Self-deception has the potential of touching every aspect of life, and it originates in fantasies that inhabit our lives. Many adolescents and adults think drug and alcohol abuse has no adverse consequences along with erroneously believing that sleep deprivation can be made up later.

The older generation of Israelites refused to cross the border and take the Promised Land because they believed winning was impossible. They totally disregarded God’s promise to intervene. Forty years later the younger generation believed God’s promise. Moses, however, was prohibited from crossing over because of his deliberate disobedience.

Can you imagine how Moses felt being left behind after forty years of longing for the Promised Land? Pain related to regret is unavoidable but facing God’s truth and applying it to your life results in heartfelt thanksgiving and peace. Wholehearted, sincere thanksgiving brings you into the presence of God. Be not dismayed by what God will do for you.  

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Be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

~1 Thessalonians 5:18 Good News Bible

 

Be merciful, O Lord, for I am looking up to you in constant hope. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I worship only you. O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.

~Psalm 86:3-5 The Living Bible

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A Defiant Display of Self-deception

Romantic relationships have consistently proven to be fertile fields where self-deception can sprout and grow. Being in love is comforting and exciting, but nerve-wrecking when reality exerts itself for recognition. Self-deception demonstrates itself when conflict is apparent but circumvented. Denial of what is obvious is self-deception.

Self-deception is believing insignificant issues are irrelevant, but trivial issues can evolve into major frustration when reality can no longer be suppressed. Moses grew to believe he could manage the needs of the Hebrew people instead of following God's initiatives. His flawed judgment proved to be extremely costly.

The people needed water so God instructed Moses to speak to a rock and water would flow from it. Defiantly, Moses struck the rock with his staff demonstrating his uncontrollable anger.  Always give anger time to subside before acting. Praise God for loving you and giving you wisdom for managing difficult situations.  

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“Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed. I, the Lord search the minds and test the hearts of people. I treat each of them according to the way they live, according to what they do.”  

~Jeremiah 17:9-10 Good News Bible

 

So let us continue coming with courage to the throne of God’s unmerited favor to obtain his mercy and to find his spiritual strength to help us when we need it.

~Hebrews 4:16 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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Struggling with Self-deception

Self-deception is a major cause of unhappiness and lack of success in reaching obtainable objectives. One reason we cling to self-deception is the belief that transitions should be smooth and without challenge or suffering. Self-deception's message is there should be no difficulties involved when attempting a new beginning.

When the Israelites had an early chance to take possession of the Promised Land, they failed because of being overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. They refused to trust God’s promise to subdue and drive out those who inhabited the land. They chose self-deception because it complied with what they wanted to believe.

Self-deception is grounded in feelings of powerlessness when facing  obstacles. Self-deception is overcome by faith in God’s promise to help when uncertainties abound. Galatians 6:7 warns, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Whatever you sow, this is what you will reap.” Trust and faith are based on God's promise to ensure you achieve your objectives. 

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Do not be deceived anymore; God is not to be scoffed at. A person will reap just what he sows, whatever it is. The person who sows to gratify his lower nature will reap destruction from that lower nature, and the person who sows to gratify his higher nature will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

~Galatians 6:7-8 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

 

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.

~1 John 1:8-9 Good News Bible

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The Miracle of Transformation

 What's the most difficult transition life has demanded you make and accept? For me, it was joining the Air Force immediately after high school graduation. This transition required me to comply with the military code of conduct, which meant following tough rules I had not known growing up as a child and teenager.

All the Hebrews who left Egypt over the age of twenty, with the exception of an identifiable few, never entered the Promised Land. Their resistance and rebellion against God's standards for living kept them out. God identified them as stiff-necked and bent toward evil. Stiff-necked describes a person unwilling to change. This attitude prevented them from entering the Promised Land.

Their lack of trust and faith combined with their self-deception kept them shackled to old ideas and beliefs. Being transformed into God's people actually depends on his grace, which is his unearned favor. Still we must submit to his training, teaching, and discipline with a receptive mind and thankful heart, and doing this will bring us peace and unspeakable joy. 

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Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you…For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.

~2 Chronicles 30:8-9 New International Version 

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The Ties That Bind God's People

 So much of what governs our lives are the social, religious, and legal rules we internalized from childhood. The ties that bind us together as a family and society should be the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses at Mount Sinai. It would take generations of struggle for the Israelites to understand and apply the commandments to their lives.

Although a newborn baby is a treasure from God and a source of joy, rarely is a couple prepared for all the adjustments this new baby will require. As a newborn baby interrupts the status quo of a family system, so the Ten Commandments would change the value system for binding God’s people together.

The commandments reflect God’s love for his people just as rules and boundaries represent a parent’s love. God’s love and mercy are revealed most completely in the gift of Christ Jesus, who became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Thank God for the gift of faith to believe and trust in his kindness and compassion.  

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[Moses told the people of Israel,] “Meditate upon all the laws I have given you today, and pass them on to your children. These laws are not mere words – they are your life!”

~Deuteronomy 32:46-47 The Living Bible

 

God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.  

~Colossians  3:12-14 Contemporary English Version

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Don't Quit – Commit!

Without the presence of obstacles in every endeavor, it can be difficult to value the determination it takes to succeed. A young woman's dream of becoming a medical doctor was threatened by the intense competition and the enormity of information to learn, but quitting was never a consideration. She was committed to finishing what she'd begun.

Every chosen path produces situations that question the wisdom of that choice. Can you imagine Moses struggling with constant hardships trying to get his people to the Promised Land? At Mount Sinai he voiced his concerns to God. "If your presence doesn't accompany us as we go from this place, we may as well stay here."

Moses needed continuous assurance from God, so he gave Moses this encouragement, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you and I will proclaim my name to you, but you cannot see my face." If you ask God, he will give you encouragement for the task he has given you.

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And those whose faith has made them good in God’s sight must live by faith, trusting him in everything. Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them. But we have never turned our backs on God and sealed our fate. No, our faith in him assures our souls’ salvation.  

~Hebrews 10:38-39 The Living Bible

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Courage to Remain and Believe Again

Every new beginning has the potential for unseen problems. Realizing some problems are beyond fixing may generate the impulse to retreat to a familiar comfort zone. However, seeking God’s insight and wisdom will give you courage to remain faithful to his purpose for you.

Moses encountered a stalemate with God’s people at Mount Sinai. He panicked at the thought of God’s withdrawing his protection because of the people’s sin. God had revealed himself to Moses, but still Moses needed assurance to squelch his fear of going forward without God’s presence.

Listen to Moses’ desperation from Exodus 33:12: "You have told me, lead these people, but you have not let me know who will assist me. You  said, `I know you and have found favor with you.` If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I will be assured you favor me." If you’re at a dead end with your faith, ask God for courage to believe again. Prepare yourself spiritually to receive his response.

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So you must never give up your confident courage, for it holds a rich reward for you. Indeed, to carry out the will of God and to receive the blessing he has promised, you need endurance.

~Hebrews 10:35-36 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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Repent – Don't Return and Resume

When a new beginning fails to meet expectations, returning to a previous position or place is often a first choice. Although this option is convenient, it might not be the best choice. For instance, it would be unwise to tell a new Christian to resume a previous lifestyle after failing to live morally perfect. Encouraging that person to start over with repentance and forgiveness is within the bounds of God’s grace and mercy.

When the Hebrew people failed miserably at being God's people, Moses refused to let them self-destruct in shame and disgrace. Instead he pleaded with God to give them a new beginning.

Deliberate sin and disobedience may have long-term consequences, yet God describes himself as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithful to forgive wickedness, rebellion, and sin. If you have fallen short of a new beginning, God will give you a new start and a new attitude along with a new plan of action that he will bless.

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I have sinned against you – only against you – and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me. Close your eyes to my sins and wipe out all my evil. Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. Do not banish me from your presence; do not take your holy spirit away from me. Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

~Psalm 51:4,9-12 Good News Bible

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Blessed by Forgiveness – Blessed to Forgive

 One significant blessing that God extends to us is forgiveness, and yet the most difficult task we experience as human beings is forgiving others who have offended us. We often take seriously the attitude of Heinrich Heine, the sixteenth century German poet, who humorously noted, "You should forgive your enemies, but not before they've been punished or hanged."

A Japanese proverb noted, "Forgiving the unrepentant is like trying to paint a picture on the surface of water." A requirement for receiving forgiveness is letting go of pride and blame so you can be repentant before God and others.

Achieving this goal is possible only as you extend forgiveness to others. Matthew 6:15 warns, "If you refuse to forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins.” As difficult as it is to forgive, it’s the only way to achieve peace and receive God’s promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” 

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And forgive us our debts (sins) as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].

~Matthew 6:12 Amplified Bible 

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Leave Behind Your "Golden Calf"

Whenever a commitment is made to launch a new beginning, some aspect of your previous life has to be left behind. When the Israelites left Egypt for the Promised Land, they would have to forsake the practice of idol worship. The first and second Commandments state: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourselves any graven images.”

At Mount Sinai they willfully put their future at risk by creating and worshipping a golden calf. Recklessness and boredom can be responsible for a lapse in judgment which becomes a prelude to sin. Experiencing these conditions can lead to poor judgement, which in turn produces painful and negative consequences.

Getting severely stressed out tends to generate thoughts that “Life should be better,” and “I deserve more happiness.” The golden calf looked really good to the Hebrew people, and they imagined it could be the answer to their problems. Can you imagine that? While God could not negate the consequences of their sin, he was willing to forgive them as they abandoned the worship of idols. 

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The Lord said to Moses: "Leave this place, [Mount Sinai], you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to their descendants."

~Exodus 33:1 Good News Bible

I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.

~Philippians 3:12-13 Contemporary English Version

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Sin's Bridge of Separation

When God’s people crafted a Golden calf to worship, they committed a sin that would have immediate and long-term consequences. Sin built a bridge that separated them from God’s blessings. The significance of sin is that it demands a shift of loyalty away from God.

Although Moses was extremely angry and disappointed with his brother Aaron and all the others involved in this sin, he was not willing to give up on them or their goals for a new nation in the Promised Land. Moses appealed to God to forgive them of their unfaithfulness. He did for them what they unwilling or unable to do for themselves.

Lack of maturity and faith is responsible for bad judgment which leads to sin. As Moses went before God to make atonement for their sin, Jesus died on the cross so we could be forgiven. As your advocate, Jesus pleads with God to forgive you of the sin you’ve committed. Your response should be continuous praise and thanksgiving. Will you do that? 

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For Christ Himself, once for all, died for our sins, the Innocent for the guilty to bring us to God, being put to death in physical form but made alive in the Spirit.  

~1 Peter 3:18 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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