Numbers 33:1–2: “These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the LORD. And these are their journeys according to their starting points.”

February 12th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Whenever the Israelites set out, God ordered Moses to keep a journal of all their experiences along the way. We are told in the New Testament:

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Cor. 10:11–12).

The old parental adage goes “learn from my mistakes,” and that is what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians. If we are smart, we will learn from Israel’s mistakes. The believers in Corinth were taking all sorts of liberties, like feasting in pagan temples. They thought they were safe because of their relationship with God. Paul wanted to shake their misuse of grace from them, and us.

It makes no difference who you are, how long you’ve known the Lord, or how much you have already successfully experienced by walking with Him; you could fall today. Don’t ever become smug in your firm stand for Christ. Foster self-distrust in your life and don’t presume on the grace of God. Many believers follow the example of Moses and keep a daily prayer journal of everything they’ve prayed for and the answers to those prayers. It gives them a way to be constantly reminded of God’s blessings and the personal wildernesses He’s brought them through.

When we begin to feel we are responsible for God’s blessings on our lives or the sweetness of our fellowship with Him, then our standing becomes shaky. But if we come daily to the feet of Jesus, and remember that it’s only by His shed blood we are saved and by His righteous right hand that we remain upright, then our feet remain firm because He is our foundation.

“LORD, You are faithful to us every day, every time we set out on a new day. Keep us in the center of Your will this day we pray.”