God Can Use What Broke You To Bless You

Today's Bible Reading For Saturday 20 February 10:
Numbers 21
Numbers 22


Thought For Today “Change Your Focus”

Numbers 21:1-9

Look carefully at verse four, “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way“.

Isreal had it made in the shade literally because the pillow of cloud followed them by day and the pillow of fire by night. They had Jesus in their view but chose to complain and murmur about God’s provisions for them. We undervalue complaining to and about God because His Agenda doesn’t match ours. Isreal saw God part the Red Sea and then drown Pharoah and armies in the same Sea He allowed them to walk through on dry ground.

They witnessed God wreak havoc on Pharoah by way of ten plagues. They saw first His presence, power, and promise be fulfilled before their very eyes. Herein lies their danger. They became TOO COMFORTABLE with God’s blessings. Isreal was so complacent with the supernatural intervention of God, not appreciating the great mercy and love that prompted His every move in their behalf.

Some had the audacity to say to God that it would’ve been better to return back to Egypt, the place of their slavery, the place of their pain, the place of the plagues. Isreal went forward in body, but their heart was still in Egypt. I submit to you today, that it’s hard looking forward and walking backward at the same time. Luke 9:62.

The record says, much people became DISCOURAGED because of the length of the journey to the Promised Land. An eleven days journey finally filtered out to forty years of wilderness wanderings because their murmuring and complaining to God and His appointed leaders. We must learn to be content with what God provides us with. Like the great FATHER He is, it was time to put His children in “timeout”!

What I’m about to share now is vitally important. The Permissive Will of God allowed fiery serpents to come out of nowhere to chastise Isreal. Remember, heretofore, they hadn’t encountered this type of situation before. Whenever God chastises us, the test will NEVER be something He knows we can’t handle if we would learn from the mistake and develop an obedient spirit. God’s ONLY concern is that we learn the lessons He wants to teach us. God sought to teach the power and value of trust, faith, and contentment in His Power and Provisions for them.

God allowed fiery serpents to bite the children of Isreal due to their disobedience and disrespect to Him and His will. God, knowing in advance what He was doing when He allowed the serpents to come in the first, had His solution ready at the same time He permitted the trial. Please get this, God’s solution for their healing and deliverance had the SAME APPEARANCE as that which killed some. They were asked to “Change Their Focus” to the very thing, the brazen serpent, they saw kill their relatives and friends. Trust me, this was an act of faith in God. You saw with YOUR EYES the damage the serpents did and now you’re suppose to believe in a brazen serpent on a pole for healing? Lord, are you serious?

Here is the lesson the Lord sought to teach Isreal then and us now. God can use what BROKE you to BLESS you! The same set of circumstances that brought you hurt and pain, God will place it on a pole in the form of a cross, use it for His glory and your change. Look and live says the Lord. Change your FOCUS and He will change your FAITH. I know it’s hard to believe that you can BENEFIT from what BROKE you. It’s all about TURNING around and turning away from the pain of your past, to the promises of your future.

Satan wrapped himself in the form of a serpent at the beginning of creation to trap Adam and Eve, leading us into the mess we’re in today, SIN. Jesus said, I will utilize a similar type serpent, but this time it won’t be IN the tree, but ON the Cross made from a tree. This is why most medical institutions have the cross and the serpent as its logo, to represent the healing power of Jesus in this story, look and live.

All God wanted them to do was FACE IT, then He would FIX IT! Are you willing to change you focus from what bit you in the past to what God says will now bless you?