I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!”. (Numbers 14:12 NLT)

God was intending to destroy all Israel and Moses could have had it all.  The greatest hindrance to God receiving his glory has always been man’s ambition.

The pivotal question all believers in Christ must ask themselves is, am I living for God or myself?  Israel had been whining and complaining and had rebelled against Moses’ authority continually.  Even God had grown weary of their attitudes and actions.   The Lord finally placed a proposition before Moses.  God would get rid of this quarrelsome people and start over with Moses and make a nation far greater than the present one.  Wow, what an opportunity for Moses.  How would you and I have responded to such a suggestion?  Moses countered by dwelling on God’s glory and the welfare of his people and not just his own good (vs. 15-19).  Moses asked God to forgive them, and he did (v. 20).  It would mean more of the same, the complaints of a worrisome people.  Also, it would lead in part to Moses not being able to enter the Promised Land.  True love always has associated consequences.  Love can be defined as willing the highest possible good for all concerned, including God, others, and ourselves.

Moses, the humblest man on earth (Numbers 12:3), first and foremost, sought God’s glory over his own.  It is possible to do all the right things for all the wrong reasons.  One day the righteous judge of the universe will lay bare the thoughts and intentions of my heart. Only then will I know if it was about God’s glory or mine.

I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission.  My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine.  I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University.  [email protected]