Trending News This Week:
- Hungarian, riot police have fired tear gas and water cannon to force back migrants from the Serbia-Hungary border.
- A blazing wildfire in northern California has grown to 104 square miles, with nearly 600 homes destroyed.
- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said in an interview for Russian TV he will not quit office under foreign pressure.
Current news headlines reflect the turmoil and devastation happening every day around us. But, if you keep your eye on God, who has already defeated the work of the enemy at the cross, and continue to learn to walk in righteousness, then His blessings, victory, peace, and protection will surround you.
It’s easy enough to get overwhelmed as you hear about these severe trials and tribulations. You may even find yourself murmuring against authorities – and perhaps even God.
But remember, murmuring is an outward sign of unbelief and it will keep you living in defeat. Just as murmuring led the Israelites further into rebellion against God, it will lead you into rebellion and disobedience. When Satan tempts you to murmur about your circumstances, recognize it as one of his strategies to defeat you. Instead of murmuring, begin to praise and thank God for His faithfulness toward you. Release your faith and trust God to meet your needs.
Because of the Israelites unbelief:
- They refused to hear the voice of God.
- They rejected His Word.
- They refused to act in faith on what He had promised.
- They refused to obey.
God had told the Israelites to go and take possession of the land He had provided them. The land was rich, and fertile with green valleys. It was a land where God promised to bless and multiply them above the nations of the Earth. It was a land where God had promised to give them health and prosperity, yet, because of their unbelief, they turned back.
They said:
Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt? And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Numbers 14:3-4, NIV
To take possession of their inheritance, it would be necessary for Israel to face the giants, to fight against their enemies, and drive them out of the land. However, because of their unbelief, they feared their enemies more than they feared God. Instead of going into battle and taking dominion over their enemies, they chose to go back to their bondage and slavery in Egypt. They were on the verge of victory, yet Israel retreated in fear. They chose to satisfy the carnal desires of their flesh instead of pressing forward in faith and taking possession of their Promised Land and inheritance.
Beloved, be encouraged that you don’t need to be defeated and conquered by fear. You can put your hope in God and He will give you the desires of your heart. Stay obedient to God’s will for your life and believe Him for victorious outcomes over whatever giants you are facing. He has already won your battle!
Say this faith declaration out loud: “I will hear God’s voice. I will receive His Word. I will act in faith upon what God has promised and obey.”
Scripture Reading:
And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
Numbers 14:17-19