Reading: Numbers 14:10-24
Reflection: Today’s reading is a strange one to fit into the way we see the world. Here we find Moses persuading God not to destroy the people of Israel after they failed to believe the report of Joshua and Caleb that they were able to conquer the Promised Land. In their fear, they had considered stoning the two spies who gave a favorable report (while the other ten echoed their fear), and God was angry about their faithlessness and disobedience.
The strange thing about this is that Moses’ argument essentially boils down to “what will people think if you do this?” Remember that the worldview of the time was based in the idea of competing gods, with the most victorious god shown to be the greatest. So, Moses appeals to a perceived need for God to prove God’s greatness to the world in order to show that God truly is the almighty God over all.
In the light of this, Jesus’ willingness to embrace the cross as a way to reveal God’s glory and greatness is a startling and powerful shift in understanding. What does stand out in this whole story, though, is the way it was the fear of the people that kept them from receiving what had been promised. The journey from Egypt to Canaan should have taken about ten days, but because of their fear, it took forty years! In contrast, Jesus’ willingness to die reveals what can happen when we defy our fear and embrace the power of love – resurrection!
In what ways is fear robbing you of life and love today?
Practice for Today: If love is what conquers our fear – and the Bible teaches that it is – the best way to overcome those things that frighten us is to connect more deeply with God through practices that strengthen our relationship with God. One of those is the particular form of praise known as adoration. This is when we express our love for, and commitment to, God, and open ourselves to God’s love for us. Try to allow adoration to overcome your fear today.
Prayer for Today: As I lose myself in love for you, O God, my fear is stilled.
Communion with Christ
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