Pray:

Lord, may it be said of me, "My servant has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly."

Read:

Numbers 14:1-25

Reflect:

What is Moses' attitude?

The people decide to go back to Egypt after all. When Joshua urges them to go on, they threaten to stone him (10). The time for rational debate seems past. Even God has had enough, asking the key question, "How long will [these people] refuse to believe in me?" (11). The word "believe" here is sometimes translated "trust." Refusal to trust is the turning point of the book.

But the most startling thing in today's passage is Moses' prayer (13-19). It has a robust Jewish logic to it that I always commend to nervous Christians. Basically, Moses says to God: "If your people don't do well, then it won't look good for you!" Strangely, you have to be pretty confident with God in order to confront God like that. There's no suggestion that God doesn't approve, either: "I have forgiven them, as you asked" (20). Moses' prayer averts immediate disaster, but the result of the refusal to trust God here is still that the whole generation will die in the wilderness.

Apply:

Real faith plays out in action. What action is God calling you to? Take it.

Pray:

Jesus, thank You that when I go astray You intercede for me. Help me to be patient and kind and to intercede for others.