Understanding the risk in self consciousness
The length of time spent actively in Kingdom work is not a guarantee that both the service and the servant will continue to enjoy divine approval and support. Yes, a man who has so far given forty years of his life to the vineyard can lose all the promises and privileges he should receive in a second. Well, God’s benevolent Spirit once said to me…
“The characters you find in the Bible are of two categories; The ones that obeyed, and the ones who were punished for their disobedience. Both categories are examples to guide you”
This wisdom has always echoed in my mind. You will be surprised to find, or perhaps really sad to learn, that the ones that began very well missed it all with just one mistake. One error can cut your journey towards fulfilment short. This is the Truth.
Moses, whose ministry we draw our lesson from in this message, gave more than forty years into vineyard service. He was so committed that today we could still project him as a patriarch of our faith. The toughness of his assignment was out of this world. He gave up everything including comfort and his family to lead Israel out from captivity and through the wilderness for forty long and frustrating years. The toughest part of the mandate was leading a people whose whole being and mentality had been moulded overtime by hardship. A people whose rebelliousness is a consequence of the evil they have had to adjust to and accept as normalcy. So to really do his task he gave up much more than any other leader or prophet has ever sacrificed in the course of their duty. This burden brought him closer to God. Deuteronomy 34 vs 10 testifies to this:
“Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face”
But he missed the final lap. When he was almost there his Journey was immediately terminated As I studied on for more insight I felt a wave of sadness for him. How can this be fair, I thought. But as I read further my eyes were opened to see the very reason why it really ended like that. Moses at a point became a Lord in his own Kingdom. Remember he began as just a messenger. But as time passed the huge responsibility got the best of him and he became conscious of the Power he welded as the leader of a people. So he could relay God’s messages his own way. He questioned God’s resolve to forgive and help his people. By so doing he dishonored God and projected himself as their Lord and Savior. Read:
“He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank” – Numbers 20 vs 11
Moses’s offence was so great that Heaven had to put an end to his journey immediately. God’s servant has evolved into a Lord and Savior. So if he could be this while still in the wilderness, he will come all out to challenge God in Canaan land. Perhaps God had seen The Serpent do yet again the very thing he did with Adam and Eve with his servant Moses. But he was proud of him for the work he did that he saved his Soul and buried his body himself so that Satan wouldn’t claim it. Praise God!
Dear Servant of God, remember to ask the Spirit to always break you and to help you stay humble and focused on the calling. The world needs to pray this way for our Enemy Satan is a roaring lion 🦁 running to and fro in search of believers to devour. Keep your gaze on Jesus.
Click here to listen to the audio of this message
