DEVOTIONAL
“Thus Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.”
Numbers 20:21 NASBS
The Lord, the God of Israel, is worthy to be praised. He is clothed with majesty and splendor, righteousness and justice are the foundations of His throne. Fire goes before Him consuming His enemies, and He will be glorified. He is a supreme God whose all seeing eyes search the hearts of each individual, judging them with equity, according to His eternal knowledge. There’s nothing that He has not seen, nor is there anything He doesn’t know. Let all of the inhabitants upon the earth be silent before Him, for the Lord reigns in His holy temple. Though feeble man tries to rival His majestic power, He sees through the hypocrisy hidden in their hearts, and He will not let the wicked go unpunished.
God’s chosen people, Israel, were brought to the very edge of the promised land that was promised to the descendants of Abraham. They were commanded by Moses to send 12 spies into the land to see all that the Lord was about to give them. So after 40 days of observing the land flowing with milk and honey, the spies brought the report back to the camp. Thus, they told them, “We went into the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large.” After the report fear entered into the camp. The people, other than Joshua and Caleb, did not believe that the Lord, Who brought them out of Egypt, could give them the land He had promised them. So the Lord turned them into the wilderness to wander for 40 years.
During the wilderness wanderings, God was faithful to His people. He provided them with the necessities of life, meeting their needs. But many of the people remained wicked, worshiping the false gods of the land. So as they come near to the end of their wilderness wanderings, anticipating once again the promise land, they had to cross the land of Edom. But, Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through the territory; so Israel turned away. The providence of God set this course of events in motion, for there were still many wicked people who had hypocrisy concealed in their hearts. They longed for the promise land and to drink of the fruits of its vineyard, but did not long for the governance of God. They sought to have their fleshly pleasure and idolatry, and still be named amongst the chosen of God. So, The Lord allowed venomous vipers to purge the camp of this wickedness. This brought many to repentance and to a clear understanding that nothing is hidden from the sight of the Lord.
Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, to all who have made a solemn profession of faith, may the fear of the Lord be kindled in our hearts as we prepare to stand before Him at the end of this age. For that will be a day of the great separation. When the mask of religion will be unveiled and all who have played the harlot will be exposed. Yes, the pretenders, those who sit in the pews on Sundays under the proclamation of the gospel, who love this world as Judas Iscariot of old, will be cast into the sepulcher of the unrighteous for eternity, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Reader, do not be mistaken, God’s justice will be vindicated on all who reject Christ. Let those who have ears, hear.