Stop Asking?!

God told Moses, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them (Numbers 20:12).” When they neared the land, Moses pleaded with the Lord, “Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan (from Deuteronomy 3:23-25).”

The Lord said, “Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again (Deuteronomy 3:26).

Stop asking when you know God’s answer.

A Salvation Story

They spoke against God and Moses. Their consequence was death. Those still living confessed, “We have sinned; we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray for us.” So Moses prayed and God told him how to help (from Numbers 21:5-9).

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:14-15).

Sin, consequence and confession are part of every salvation story.

A Perfect Sacrifice

Before Jesus offered himself for us, there was “the law of the burnt offering, grain offering, sin offering, guilt offering, ordination offering, and peace offering (Leviticus 7:37).”

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. . . . By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:12-14).”

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:12).”

A Pleasing Aroma of Prayer

Before Jesus died for our sins, burnt offerings made by God’s people were “a pleasing aroma to the Lord (Leviticus 1:13,17; 2:2).”

After Jesus died for our sins, it is the prayers of God’s people that fill “golden bowls full of incense (see Revelation 5:8).”

May these prayers be a pleasing aroma to our Lord.