Impatient On The Way

In this world of instant gratification, it is easy to become impatient. We may even give up on a good thing because we are not patient enough to endure and work through things to get to the victory at the end. We see this impatient mentality all around us today. We see it in relationships, careers, faith and so much more. There was a saying I heard growing up that says,”Anything worth having is worth working for.”

Numbers 21:4-5 “From Mount Hor they (the Israelites) set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became inpatient on the way, and the people spoke against God and against Moses.”

The Israelites complained about the food and water God had provided on their journey to the promise land and even said it would have been better if they had stayed in Egypt as slaves. So, God sent serpents that bit them and many died. (vs.6) This shows you how the Lord feels when we complain! Their journey was hard and long, BUT God had provided for them, sustained them and given them victory in the battles they had faced along the way. Does that sound like your life? Have you gone through or are you going through a difficult time? Has God sustained you and helped you survive? Maybe he hasn’t waved a magic wand and made the journey EASY, but you are still standing.

Numbers 21:7 “The people came to Moses and said, we have sinned, we have spoken against the Lord and against you, “Pray to the Lord that he may take away the serpents from us.“. So Moses prayed for the people.”

In verses 7-9 we learn that God did not remove the serpents, but did offer the opportunity for forgiveness and salvation from them. He told Moses to make a sculpture of a snake and put it on a pole. If they were bitten they could look at the sculpture and be healed.

God didn’t remove the serpents. He just made a way to survive them. By choosing to remember Him and his promise and in obedience and faith, they needed only to look at the sculpture to be saved. How many times have we prayed and asked God to take away our problems instead of asking for the strength and wisdom to survive them?

Sometimes we need the presence of the serpents, to be reminded of the power and faithfulness of the Savior.

Prayer: Lord please help us to keep our eyes on you and our minds on who you are in the midst of our journey. Please strengthen our faith and encourage our hearts and help us to not complain or give up, but push through to the end and see the salvation of the Lord in our lives. Thank you for you love and your faithfulness.

Isaiah 40:23 “He will bring the enemy to nothing and make them as emptiness.”

Isaiah 41:11-13 “All Who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded. Those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you but you will not find them. Those who war against you shall be nothing at all. For I the Lord your God hold your right hand, it is I who say to you, fear not, I am the one who helps you.“

Isaiah 49:23b-25 “Those Who wait for me shall not be put to shame. Can the prey be taken from the mighty or the captives of a tyrant rescued? For thus says the Lord: even the captives of the mighty will be taken back and the prey of the tyrants rescued. For I will contend with those who contend with you and I will save your children.”