Confidence...

When going through the book of Numbers in the Bible we sometimes become a little frustrated. Why do we have to read so much about a survey? What is the purpose of it? Well, it's God's Word so there is a lot of purpose in it. In today's reading I noticed something that piqued my curiosity because it revealed the awesome power of God when one has confidence in our Father.

First let me preface it with a selection from 1 John 3:19-24

¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: ²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹ Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ²² and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. ²³ And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴ The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

You see verse 21, have confidence and we will receive from Him anything we ask (within reason for His Kingdom). Now let's take a look at two passages from Numbers.

Numbers 11:10-15
¹⁰ Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. ¹¹ He asked the LORD, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? ¹² Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? ¹³Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ ¹⁴ I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. ¹⁵ If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

It almost seems like Moses is whining. However if we reference Exodus 33:11 we notice that Moses spoke to God face to face like "one spoke to a friend." Friends have the right to vent or seek their frustrations out right? That's the confidence they have in their friend. Does God get angry with Moses? No, He gets frustrated that the Israelites are losing their faith. He gives them quail later on in chapter 11 not because of their whining, but because of Moses' confidence.

Later on in Numbers chapter 13 we see the difference of two opinions yet again. Caleb is confident in God because he's seen what He can do, yet the others are so afraid because of the size.

Numbers 11:30 ³⁰ Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

Why do we continue to have so little confidence in our Lord when He has done for us than we have ever asked? I find it amazing that He will grant what we ask if we ask in confidence. It's time for me to build that up in His awesome Name.

In His Glory

NG