Taking TOO MUCH for Granted
Taking TOO MUCH for Granted
by Dr. Henry L. Porter
All of the writings of Moses didn't save the children of Israel from the wilderness. The people paid him no mind. They took too much for granted. They heard him often, saw him often and ignored him often. RESULT: the vast majority and percentage of the millions never enjoyed the prosperity of the Promised Land.
Elders, Levites, families, and famous people within the congregation MISSED going into the Promised Land (houses, wealth, good health, land, farms, etc.). There were TWO --- 2 --- yes, two men who believed that the teachings of Moses were relevant and essential for them to enjoy God's promises. Joshua and Caleb lived. They understood that a NOW word means NOW action.
It seems like one of the hardest things to get people to see in terms of HOURS, not days --- NOW, and not tomorrow. It's never important or urgent enough to do AT THIS MOMENT. They forgot the path God had brought them.
Those millions had been FREED from SLAVERY by FANTASTIC MIRACLES. God knows that YOU KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that HE DID SOMETHING AWESOME FOR YOU THAT COULDN'T HAVE COME, WOULDN'T HAVE COME, and DIDN'T COME WITHOUT HIS MIRACULOUS INTERVENTION.
God holds you responsible for that. Num 14:11 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
Their complaint outweighed their appreciation. Never let your complaint outweigh your appreciation for the miracle God worked in your life. The greatest miracle is salvation. God had already saved the children of Israel from the Death of the Firstborn.
God wanted His "FREED PEOPLE" to fulfill the VISION. They "got caught up" with the things that happened ON THEIR JOURNEY TO . . . like so many of us DO. The vast majority put it off, and those over 20 did the same. They ignored Moses. They took too much for granted. They didn't KNOW that it was their last day to "cut up".
They talked to each other, swinging gossip from mouth to ear like wild monkeys jumping through trees. Gossip is a devil dressed up with conversation. They took too much for granted. They treated Moses' word with disdain, even telling him that he took them out of the land flowing with milk and honey to bring them into a wilderness. They refused to come when Moses called them, and made light of his words (Num 16:12-13).
I'll put them in perspective. Abraham had already traveled that distance from Egypt to the Promised Land, about 250 miles (from Sarasota to Jacksonville). If you started walking it wouldn't take you a month. BUT YOU MUST START. You can't complain all the way. God had led Abraham, and Abraham didn't know where he was going. HE FOLLOWED GOD.
Abraham's nephew, Lot, went with him. Oh, I can tell you more about this, but I'm putting it in a book.
Strangely enough, when the people wouldn't obey Moses, it was like the spirit of Lot: HE HESITATED WHILE BEING SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION. The angels had to take him and his family by their hands and pull them out (Gen 19: 16-26). THAT WAS MERCY. Afterwards, the angel told them to RUN FOR THEIR LIVES. Lot told the angel that he couldn't run to the mountains, and asked the angel to save a small city (Zoar). Lot took too much for granted. Abraham took him along on the trip. Lot took too much for granted. Abraham went to battle to deliver Lot after he was captured. Lot took too much for granted. God told Abraham that he was going to destroy the place where Lot lived. Abraham asked God to save the city. Only Lot and his family escaped. Lot took too much for granted.
Gen 19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
My friend, take time to examine YOUR life and to appreciate your blessings. Take nothing for granted. Bishop Porter
Reference:
Gen 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Gen 19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
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