Devotional Messages

God Has His Reasons

The story of the Israelite being stoned to death in today's reading from Numbers is a good example of trusting God (or not trusting God in this case). The man was simply gathering wood on the Sabbath day (a day laid down by God to be one of rest), and so God commanded that the man be stoned to death. So the Israelites pelted the man with stones until he died.

Many people, myself included, initially react to a story such as this with revulsion and a feeling that the punishment was a bit harsh. After all, the man only picked up a couple of bits of wood: surely that's not deserving of death? But after consideration, we see that the man didn't just pick up some wood, he disobeyed God.

I think that we are being influenced by worldly standards when we initially act with revulsion to this story; consider it from God's perspective: He created everything for mankind, and He created mankind to be in a relationship with Him. Then mankind disobeyed and ruined the relationship. The Israelite man collecting the wood is an example of this rebellion: he knew the fourth commandment yet ignored it, which God had promised would result in death. So the man was put to death.

From a worldly perspective, it still eludes me as to the full extent of why the Sabbath law was to be so strict and so important. I could reason that the Israelites needed to be taught to fear God, and respect His rules. I could also point out that God Himself observed the Sabbath day in creation, by resting on the seventh day. However, it is purely and simply clear that God instituted the sabbath as a Commandment, as an expression of His will. He has His reasons and His reasons are supposed to be the purpose of our lives - we are supposed to follow His will.

There are other places where God commands what the world would view as irrational or wrong. The world would tell us that marriage is about two people in love - or at least two mutually compatible people willing to "give it a go". But in today's reading from 1 Corinthians we see that marriage is something that should be entered into after considering God's place in our lives, and perhaps marriage could be put aside in favour of serving God to a fuller extent. The Bible has marriage as a union of two people before God, a holy and binding relationship instituted by God, not just an agreement between two people who want to spend their lives together.

In almost every aspect of our lives, the world will tell us contrary to what the Bible says. Sometimes the world will hold up the same value as the Bible, but for different reasons. Other times, values and priorities of the world and the Bible will clearly oppose. In both cases, we must, with the strength God provides, seek His path, His understanding, His way. We must do the right thing for His reasons, trusting that he knows what He is doing, and the He has His reasons.

Pray that in all areas of your life you may see God's will and way of doing things, and pray for God's strength to help you follow His path, seeking to glorify His name by trusting Him.