Uzziah succeeded Amaziah as king over Judah and he sought God whole heartedly in the early part of his rule. God blessed Uzziah greatly granting him victory in battles spreading his renown. Pride grew in the heart of Uzziah as his renown grew and he no longer set his heart to follow God. How should we respond to God’s blessing in our lives? In humility and thankfulness we need to remember that all that God gives us pours out from the abounding grace he bestows on us.

The lives led by kings of Judah in 2 Chronicles 25 and 26 give us a warning that we need to heed. We cannot live a life apart from God. We cannot love the things of this world more than we love God. We cannot live our life full of pride expecting to do whatever we wish. Do not follow the example of these men but seek out God on a consistent basis and love Him with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

When you consistently take time out of your schedule to read Scripture and meditate on God do you find that you are more likely to run to Him when you face trouble? In seasons of your life where you don’t place as much importance on your time in Scripture do you as easily run to God for help? When Israel, Judah, and Edom join to battle the Moabites it is a critical moment where Jehoram doesn’t seek out help from God when the situation looks dire. Did Jehoram’s lack of consistent relationship with God from day to day cause him to not seek out help from God? Do you think that your life imitates the life of Jehoram? How can we guard ourselves from falling away from God?

The hope in the story of 1 Kings chapter 3 comes from Jehoshaphat the king of Judah when he seeks out God when the future of the battle is unclear. He seeks out Elisha to find out what was happening because he knew the word of the Lord was upon Elisha. When life became unclear or difficult Jehoshaphat knew that help was found in God. Elisha speaks harshly to the the kings of Israel and Edom but respects Jehoshaphat, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.” The relationship that Jehoshaphat had with God was honored and respected by Elisha. Was the relationship that Jehoshaphat had with God developed in this midst of this crisis? Can true dependance on God be developed in any way other than a consistent relationship where you learn of His faithfulness? Start building your faith and trust in God today so that when your moment of crisis comes you can stand firm in your faith and trust that God is more than able to help.

Why did people run to Elisha for help and encouragement when life became difficult in 2 Kings chapter 4. A widow runs to Elisha when her creditors seek to take her children as slaves to fulfill her debt, a Shunammite woman gains a son in return for the kindness shown and then runs to Elisha when the son dies, and food is provided in the midst of a famine. When other people ran to pagan God’s to find hope when difficulties arose in life these people acknowledged that the only true help was found in God. The widow who faced with losing her children was blessed with oil to pay off her debt so she could keep her children. The Shunammite woman was twice blessed with her son once when she was able to conceive him and again when Elisha brought him back to life. Over one hundred men were blessed with food when they sought out Elisha. Will you run to God when you are faced with difficulties in life? Take time to learn to trust God today so that in the difficult moments of life you instinctively seek your help from Him.

In Numbers chapter 11 you can see the worn leader Moses as he laments to God about the headstrong and unbelieving Israelites. He wishes for death instead of being a nursemaid for the people. In weariness it is hard to remember the wondrous power that God has. Moses forgets that God’s power is limitless. When the people complained to God about lacking meat in chapter 11 God provided an abundance of quail. There quail was piled three feet high all around the camp for a days journey in all directions there was quail. That is a lot of meat. I hope and pray that I would have been thankful for the food but the Israelites took the food and ate it with out giving thanks to God. God’s anger was kindled and the camp was struck by severe plague.

Following the story of unbelief in Numbers chapter 11 we are given another account of people complaining against God in Numbers 12. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because they felt that God was not just speaking through Moses by saying, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken though us as well?” Here is what God says in response:

Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, shall make myself known to him in a vision.
I shall speak with him in a dream.
Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household;
With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?

Numbers 11:6-8 NASB

God was angry with Aaron and Miriam. Miriam became leprous after God departed and she had to live outside the camp for 7 days and then she became whole again. I am amazed that in the midst of seeing God’s wonder day after day that humans can still grumble and complain about what God is doing or how He does things.

What does Numbers 11 and 12 have for us to apply in our daily lives? I think it is crucial that we focus on God alone and find our satisfaction in Him. It was all too easy got the Israelites to look back upon their lives and think that their bondage in Egypt was better than living by faith daily with God. I’ll admit that it does take time to seek God daily today just as collecting manna for food took a lot of time. Developing a vibrant relationship with God can take time but what we reap in return is more precious than anything. Why should I choose a life of bondage to a life in sin when true freedom is mine in Christ Jesus? Heed the warning in Numbers and seek out and be thankful for that daily feasting we can have in God.

Can we really appreciate the gravity of what Christ’s death on the cross means without seeing our own inability laid bare? Looking at all of the rules laid down for the people of Israel I find myself fully inadequate. The weight of sin’s burden is felt in the old testament but there is a foreshadowing of one who would lift that burden from us. Jesus Christ is the reason that we can stand under the weight of our sin because he took the entirety of all our sin past, present, and future upon Himself on the cross. That expression of Grace is humbling.

Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

– Matthew 26:31 NASB

Jesus restores! When I look at the disciples they scattered at the most terrifying moment in their relationship with Jesus. He was crucified and they worried about their safety and if they would be next. The disciples went back to what they knew and what they understood. Peter was a fisherman and went fishing. In John 21:4-17 you have a tender and wonderful story of the redemption of Peter. Out on the lake fishing Peter is busy fishing when Jesus speaks and instructs to cast their nets on the right of the boat where they finally caught fish. Peter unrestrained jumps from the boat into the sea to reach Jesus . Jesus feeds Peter and John breakfast and then tenderly Jesus asks Peter to tend the believers!

I am Peter right now! I have walked my own way and followed my own desires through my most recent stressful and difficult time. The more I found my self sitting and waiting for healing I became desperate for anything to occupy my time. I wanted to watch movies, play video games, and read fun books to help me deal with the the time of pain. I felt less compelled to read my Bible and I started to feel dry. God has helped me so much the last few days. I am starting to walk again and I am moving on in my healing. God is restoring me tenderly and there is no guilt. I thank God for the passionate times He gives me because they help me through the times when I have no passion and lack everything.

If you find yourself in a place where you feel like you are lacking passion God will not forget you and will restore you. Rest in Him and wait on Him.