“You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins.” The descendants of Korah knew of God’s grace and mercy. They knew of His unfailing love. Had God not shown great grace and mercy, they wouldn’t be alive! Their ancestor had incited rebellion against Moses, thus against God, and suffered the instant consequences of it.
In Psalms 85, the descendants are recalling how God had forgiven the guilt of His people and covered all their sins, and later ask Him to do it again.
Oh, this grace! Oh, how beautiful that God doesn’t just rescue us once! He is willing to open the gates of Heaven to bless us who have sinned, provided we turn to Him in confession and repentance.
God’s grace doesn’t run out. He doesn’t get tired. He is forever strong and forever faithful. His desire is that we follow Him and move in His plans for us. When we don’t, he still loves us, but He often must use discipline to move us back into the plan.
Just like when we place the toddler back in bed when we’ve laid them down for the night. The plan is for their rest. They get up over and over. We love them, and know their needs much more than they, so we place them back in the bed. And they get up again. Because we love them and know their needs, …. get the picture?
How joyful and fulfilled we would be if we stayed within the plan, if we didn’t wander astray, tugging ourselves away into places we shouldn’t be and need rescue from!
How do we do that?
By moving noonday shadow close to the Savior. By listening for the Holy Spirit to tell us our next move. By doing whatever the Spirit says, no matter if it makes sense to us or not.
I have a friend who listened to the Spirit and upended her life in South Carolina to move to New Hampshire. She didn’t have all the details worked out, but she knew the Lord said go, so she did. She is already growing in her new place, making a difference in the lives of others. And her willingness to share about her experiences leads others to listen and trust in the same way.
May we all become like this friend. Listening so closely that we know when He says “turn here” or “stop here” or “move” like He told Abram…. you do know He never gave Abram a destination, just “go until I tell you to stop,” right?
Let’s give it a try today. Let’s ask God where He wants us and what He wants us to do. Then, let’s make space to listen and pay attention to what He says. Then, let’s obey that and ask Him to do it again.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
