Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Wednesday February 17, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Numbers, chapters 10-11. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-17

Title: Bible Study: Hear The Trumpet Blowing
After nearly a year at Mt. Sinai, the Israelite's were about to embark on their journey to the promised land of Canaan. Before their journey, God commanded Moses to make two silver trumpets. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation........And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.” - Numbers 10:1-3,8-10. The two silver trumpets represent the truth of God's Word and remind us that both the Old and the New Testaments are each a part of the whole Word of God. Whenever the people heard the sound of a trumpet they knew that God was near. Whether it was to hear Him speak, to get ready to move, or to be prepared for war, the trumpets signified God and that He wanted to get all of the peoples attention. Today, the blowing of the trumpets still exist, but this time it is Jesus Christ, our high priest, blowing them, and He is trying to tell us that God wants our attention. You may not hear an actual trumpet, but you will hear Him in other ways, for example, a person who needs to get saved may receive a knock on the door or pass by someone who hands them a Bible tract, not a watch tower, but God's True Word showing a person how they can know for sure they are going to heaven, JW's do not believe in heaven. A person who is mourning or feeling sad and alone may hear a still small voice telling them it is going to be okay. You may see a sign with Jesus' name on it or even surfing the internet you may see His name. These are all examples of Jesus blowing His trumpet to get your attention. Just as the priests were the mediator between the Israelite's and God, Jesus is the mediator between us and God.

There is something so uplifting and amazing when we receive an answered prayer, we get the sense that God does love me and is really listening to my pleas. Yet, some prayers seem to go unanswered for a while and no matter how many blessings we received we can not help, but dwell on the one thing that God has not done for us. The Israelite's were now ready to heading toward the promised land, “And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.”- Numbers 10:33-36. It was not doubt that God was with them, He was leading them afar into the promised land, but shortly into their journey they began complaining. They had already forgotten all the blessings that they had gotten all because they were worried that they were not going to be fed. Actually, they were being fed, God sent manna to them every morning, but they were getting tired of eating it. “And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.” - Numbers 11:4-9. They were so distracted by their desires that they had forgotten the blessings that God was already giving them. We too can become so distracted by the things we desire that we forget that God blesses us every day.

We need to take some serious thought into what we are asking of God, yes, He wants to bless us with the things we need and desire, but if we are not careful or grateful of what we already have He will let some of those prayers be answered to the point that we will learn to regret what we have asked Him for. This came true for the Israelite's, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.…....And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” - Numbers 11:16,18-20. The Israelite's complained so much that God said, I will give you the flesh you desire to eat, but by the time you get all you want you will be sick of it. You see, it was not their praying for the food that bothered God, it was the way they asked Him. Ever get around someone who is constantly mooching off you? They want everything, but not a hint of gratitude when they get it and sometimes even complain about what they get. Well, that is how God feels when we constantly ask Him for things with no gratitude after we receive them and especially when we complain because He did not give us the exact thing we want. God does love us and He wants us to have the best life we can have and He wants to give it all to us, but He would like some appreciation once in a while. Besides, if we really listened to God when He wants our attention, then we will realize just how blessed we are and that the things He gives us, although they may not always be what we expect, are given for our own good and His glory. Instead of asking things of your own will, listen for the trumpet blowing and learn God's Will. He will let you know whether or not you truly need what you are asking Him for.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation


Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com