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In Numbers 20:8, why did the Lord tell Moses to take the staff in his hand if he was to speak to the rock, not strike it again?
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Nehemiah 3 outlines the incredible task of rebuilding the walls. Think about the organization itself! (Not something I’d like to volunteer for…)
It’s interesting to read through and underline the occupations and of the laborers. All classes worked together, and they were able to use their skills wherever they were placed. Notice Malkijah, v.11-- a restored wrongdoer (Ezra 10:31) working near Shallum, a ruler, and his daughters. And don’t you wonder what zealous Baruch was like (v.20)? (I love these descriptions in Scripture). Maybe he sang or told jokes, and kept everyone encouraged; maybe he was a real perfectionist. I guess you had to have been there.
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King David, conscious of his own “palatial” home, wanted to build a permanent house for God. God said no. In His “no” was the promise that He would build a house for David (hence, the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7). Did David get his robe in a knot when Nathan told him he would not have the honor of building the temple? Read on (my favorite part) in v.18: “Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God?” (At that point, I’d probably be pacing before the Lord, instead!). David spends the rest of the chapter humbly sitting and giving honor to the Lord. What an example of how to respond to the His will.
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Amaziah, king of Judah, thought he had a good thing going when he hired 100,000 Israelite mercenaries for 120 ounces of silver (don’t think I’d pay that much for a bunch of sweaty soldiers, even if they were on sale!). Talk about a super-army—he already had 300,000 men to begin with.
A man of God (there’s that faithful unknown servant again) told him that he’d better change his plans: hiring the mercenaries would be making an ungodly alliance with Israel. Since God was not with Israel at this time, He would not be with Judah, either. Amaziah needed to go forth in the Lord’s power, not his own (extra soldiers).
Who wants to go with Amaziah to return the soldiers? Sorry, you can’t —it was a “no refunds/no returns policy "(I’m sure we’ve all been in that position at least once before). The king was not happy about the “no money back” part. (The soldiers were furious—they missed out on all the plunder!).
Whatever we’re depending on or trusting in, whatever we “lose” by doing right, “…The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.” 2Chronicles 25:7-10
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