Inviting Others To Come (Num. 10:29-32)

12/20/2008 8:16 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  Inviting others to come

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Numbers 10:29-32

            Message of the verses:  “29 ¶  Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, "We are setting out to the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you’; come with us and we will do you good, for the LORD has promised good concerning Israel."  30  But he said to him, "I will not come, but rather will go to my own land and relatives."  31  Then he said, "Please do not leave us, inasmuch as you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will be as eyes for us.  32  "So it will be, if you go with us, that whatever good the LORD does for us, we will do for you.’”

            First off there seem to be two names for Jethro who is Moses’ father-in-law, as he is called Reuel in this passage.  It is possible that the name Jethro is his title as the priest of the Midianites and Reuel is his name.  He may have already died as it is his son, Hobab who is with Moses at this time.

            Some say that it was wrong for Moses to invite him to come and to help them along their journey because that was what the Lord was doing.  Here is what Charles Spurgeon had to say about this:  “We ought to learn from this, I think, that while we ever seek the guidance of God in providence, yet we may frequently find direction and guidance in the use of our own common sense, our own discretion with which the Lord has endowed us.”  I will leave it with that statement.

            First of all it was good for Moses to ask his brother-in-law to come with Him because of the blessings of God, and it is possible that he took him up on the offer for there were some of his realities in the land of Israel:  “The descendants of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up from the city of palms with the sons of Judah, to the wilderness of Judah which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people. Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh, (Judges 1:16; 4:11).  One of the reasons that God had called Israel as His nation was to tell others about Him so that they too could have part of His blessings including salvation and that is why Moses invited his family along.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I believe that it is important for me to give out the Gospel to others so that they too can enjoy the blessings of God, especially salvation and I surely need to do a better job at that. 

            Sandy and I do plan to get better acquainted with our neighbors across the street so that perhaps one day the Lord will give us the privilege of telling them about God’s saving grace.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. God will give me the grace to do a good job in cleaning the church building today, for I surely need His wisdom and grace.
2. Continue to pray for the Norris’ for opportunity to be friends with them and to wittiness to them.

12/20/2008 8:37 AM