God’s mercies towards the nation of Israel

Welcome, precious children of God, to „Daily Word for Spiritual Edification”! I pray for God’s grace to fill you life on this day.

Yesterday we talked about how when a person realizes the part God and other people play in his life; he isn’t able to live only for himself anymore. Gratitude motivates us to live sacrificially and help others. We also talked the fact that being truly grateful to God will be always confirmed by the work of ministry to God and men.

The history of Israel has been recorded in the Bible so that we could learn how we should and should not treat God:

 « Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as the also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, „The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 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 » (1 Corinthians, 10:1-11).

Here we see God’s grace for the nation of Israel; we see the reaction of an ungrateful heart and what this reaction leads to. Let’s look at the record of God’s mercies towards the nation of Israel.

• Protection under the cloud of God’s glory.

«And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them…» (Exodus, 14:19).

«He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night» (Psalm, 105:39).

• God’s leading in the wilderness during both day and night by the pillar of cloud.

«And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night» (Exodus, 13:21).

«…who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day» (Deuteronomy, 1:33)

«Yet in Your manifold mercies You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them on the road; nor the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way they should go» (Nehemiah, 9:19).

• The miracle of deliverance from enemies through the crossing of the sea where the enemies drowned.

«Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; they did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, but rebelled by the sea – the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; so He led them through the depths as through the wilderness. He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. The waters covered their enemies; there was not one of them left» (Psalm, 106:7-11).

• Marvellous care of their godly and gracious leader Moses who became a mediator between the nation of Israel and God.

«Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt» (Exodus, 3:10).

«He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen» (Psalm, 105:26).

• Supernatural provision in the wilderness: clothing and shoes did not wear out; the water flowed from the rock and the manna came from heaven.

«Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven, had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven. Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; and by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; and He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire» (Psalm, 78:23-29).

«Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel» (Exodus, 17:6).

• Supernatural health (no one of the Israelites were ill).

Aren’t all these things a worthy reason to be grateful to God for life? Tomorrow we will see what the reaction of God’s people was to His care, protection and mercy.

Till tomorrow!

May God abundantly bless you and your loved ones!

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye