Text: Numbers 14:1-10
Memory verse:
“The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.” Numbers 14:29 NKJV
With the advancement of technology, car crashes caused by brake failure are becoming a thing of the past. This is because, some high-end automobiles are now equipped with redundant braking systems, as backups. For example, they may have dual-circuit braking systems, so if one circuit fails, the other remains functional, allowing the driver to stop the vehicle safely.
God also has backups, to keep His plans intact and from failing, in case anyone who is responsible for leading the plan fails. No one can frustrate His purpose. “But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken.” (Psa 33:11 NLT).
His plans to save mankind could not be stopped, even when His people whom He intended to use as His model rejected Him. God simply used His backups (John 1:11-12). Their rejection brought about our selection. Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus! We were called outcasts but He chose us and qualified us His ready replacement. Yes, God qualifies the unqualified! Glory!
Also, God delivered the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt to take them to the promised land. He redeemed them to make them His own special people and to bring salvation to the world through them. In the process, the Lord commanded them to go and possess the land of Canaan, for He had already given it to them. The people with their ten tribal leaders rejected that offer. They cried and complained, saying there were giants in the land. Despite Joshua’s plea and persuasion, they refused God’s ways. “So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.
So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”
(Num 14:1, 4). They cast a vote of no confidence on God’s ability to protect them anymore and to fulfill His promise! This was the climax of their rebellion against God’s ways. So, in order not to frustrate His purpose, God determined to simply replace them. Since the older ones are the rebels, God set them aside and raised up the little ones, from age nineteen downward to replace them (Num 14:29). They had complained that their young ones were weak and would be casualties in the land. Yet, God chose them and equipped them to lead. “But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised.” (Num 14:31).
Has God been calling you to do something which is critical to His purpose and you have continually refused? Have you allowed unbelief or fear to keep holding you down from going to where He has sent you? When you keep disobeying and rebelling against His instructions, you may be positioning yourself for divine replacement very soon. God has better backups to replace you, even from your least expected places.
Friends, remember that backups are there to fill the gap, in case there is a failure. Instead of God’s purpose to fail, God replaces the unyielding with His backups. May you not fail.
Prayer points
1. Father, please, let me never fail nor rebel against Your ways in Jesus name.
2. Father, please, remove hardiness, unbelief and fear from my life and help me to always be quick to obey You in Jesus name.
Today’s declarations
1.Rather than God’s purpose to fail, God will set aside the stumbling blocks.
2. I receive grace to obey God always lest I become rebellious and so, be replaced.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng