Beginnings of life in the wilderness

Numbers 33:5-7 (ESV)
So the people of Israel set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth. [6] And they set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. [7] And they set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which is east of Baal-zephon, and they camped before Migdol. [8] And they set out from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and they went a three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.

People of Israel set out from Ramses and camped at Succoth. What was Succoth? Succoth means 'booths'. It was a place named by Jacob, because at this place Jacob made booths for his cattle:
Genesis 33:17 (KJV)
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
It is to be noted here that Israel left their homes in Egypt and began dwelling in booths, like livestock. Jacob dwelt in a house in Succoth, but it was his cattle that dwelt in booths. And so begins Israel's uncomfortable life in the wilderness which would last forty years. It is likewise with the Christian. Before we were Christian we were at home in this world, with sin and with our flesh. But when we were saved, God moved us from being at ease, to make us dwell in tents. He gave us citizenship in heaven, and gave us the hope of a new home, where righteousness dwells. He gave us the hope of resurrection in a spiritual body, in which we will no longer sin. But while we are still here, He makes us to dwell in tents. We go from here to there, like wanderers. Here we have no permanent city. Foxes have holes to sleep in, and birds nests to dwell in, but we, like Christ did, have nowhere we can call home. Our Home is Jesus Christ, but He is in heaven now. Here we are sojourners, and we live on earth on temporary visas, which will soon expire, and we will need to go back to our home. Paul knew exactly what this meant when he wrote this:
2 Corinthians 5:1-9 (ESV)
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, [3] if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. [4] For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened-not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. [5] He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. [6] So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, [7] for we walk by faith, not by sight. [8] Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. [9] So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

Another reason why God made Israel to dwell in booths was so that Israel may know that God was their Shepherd, and them His sheep:
Leviticus 23:43 (ESV)
that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."
Jacob was a shepherd, and he made his sheep to dwell in booths. Jacob built for himself a house, and made booths for his sheep. God also commanded Moses to build a tabernacle for His holy presence to dwell in, so that He may dwell among His people. Israel was God's sheep.

Being Jesus Christ's obedient sheep is how we live through this wilderness. We were all sheep that have gone astray, but we have now been returned to unto the Shepherd of our souls. When we listen to our Shepherd's callings, and follow Him obediently wherever He goes, we will surely be in safe hands:
Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Our shepherd is with us, always guiding us with His rod and with His staff. They comfort our weary and lost souls when we feel like we don't know where we are going. What a beautiful Saviour we have, who goes through the valleys of the shadow of death with us. How else shall we survive this desert, without our Shepherd to gives us water and food? He is our Manna for our hunger and the Rock from whence comes the water for our thirsty souls. Therefore, since we are His sheep, the bible tells us we are not to harden our hearts when we hear His voice, but to believe and obey Him:
Psalm 95:7-9 (ESV)
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, [9] when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
Soft hearts full of faith is what will take us to the promised land. Let us trust in our Shepherd who has rescued, provided and fought for us all this time in the wilderness, and not put Him to the test as though He has not done so. Let us believe and obey this Shepherd who even laid down His own life for us that we may live. Because He died for us, He is our true Shepherd, and we belong to Him. Hirelings cannot compare to the love that He has shown us.

They set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth. We remember from Exodus why God led Israel to Etham, and then turned them back, to lead them instead through the Red Sea. Firstly, it was to trick Pharoah into thinking that Israel was lost in the wilderness, so that God may destroy him:
Exodus 14:3-4 (ESV)
For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ''They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.'' [4] And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." And they did so.
Likewise did God confuse Satan on the cross of Jesus Christ. Satan thought that he was getting a great victory over Jesus, by scorning Him and nailing Him to the cross. Through the men who crucified Him he spoke and hurled abuse, and made him a laughingstock. He thought, after all this time, he had finally defeated the Son of God. But God had hardened Satan's heart. God was using this evil for His good. Through the spitting, scorning, beating and the cross, He was atoning the sins of His people. Satan was utterly undone by this cross. His plans to damn everyone to hell failed, and the light of immortality broke into the hearts for all who would believe. God could now freely justify all sinners were to believe in Christ. Not that Satan did not know that the cross was bad for him. He tried to stop Christ many times from going to Calvary. But he was so confused by his own sin, so excited over the thought of killing Jesus, that he had lost his mind and actually helped God fulfill His sovereign will. God received great glory over this wicked serpent, as He did over Pharaoh.

Likewise we learn that what may seem like a retreat for us, may result in our victory. We feel like the devil is trampling over us, and that we are all but defeated, and that there is no hope, but we know that the devil is still confused. Christ has already won the war. He died for all our sins, that God's love may be poured out infinitely upon us forever. Nothing will cut His love away from us, because Christ His beloved Son was hated on that cross. God hated Christ on Calvary, and His great love for Christ was poured out upon us instead. We know that we will never be lost, for whom Christ died, but that He will save us in the end, and crush Satan's head before all our sight on that Day of Judgment. We will overcome, and the flood of the Red Sea will come upon Satan and all his servants.

And God will make us to go through the Red Sea instead to make us to go through the impossible. Who would have thought the waters would part and be like walls for Israel so that they may go through dry land? Israel was ready to stone Moses because they saw themselves stuck before the sea, and blamed God for bringing them there. They saw themselves as Pharaoh saw them. And this is also our trouble. We ought to see ourselves as in our situations as GOD sees us. God sees us a righteous, blessed and doing fine no matter where we are. God can part the Red Sea and raise people from the dead. We are blessed if we see that things impossible with man are possible with God. God made a way for us filthy, evil sinners to avoid hell and go to heaven. If He did this thing would seem impossible for such a holy God to do, why are we worried about smaller things? God will make a way through anything, if only we, like Moses, lift up our hands and call out to God in faith.

God also made Israel go through the Red Sea that they may all be baptized together. Christ also makes us to be baptized by the Spirit into Him. We are united with Him through this baptism before we begin this journey in the wilderness. We must first be one with Him before we can do anything. We remember what He said:
John 15:4 (ESV)
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
We must always ask that we be filled with the Holy Spirit, that we may be more fully united with Christ. We can't do anything without Him. For us, everything is impossible without Him, but all things are possible with Jesus Christ. Christ does not just want us to rely on Him in big things like facing the Red Sea, but He wants us to rely on Him even in the smallest things, in every single thing. The just shall live by faith, and we must always be filled with this faith. Let us die with Christ every day, that we may live with Him every day.

It is to be noted here that God led Israel from Etham, back to Pi-hahiroth, through the Sea, and back to the wilderness of Etham. God may also take us to a place, make us to back track and go through another route to come back to where we came from. Did God make us to go in circles? By no means. The place may be the same as when we left off, but we ourselves have changed. We are not the same person as when we first came to this place. Israel after the Red Sea was totally different crowd from before they saw God's glory. They were no longer afraid of Pharaoh, but they were a people who had seen God's salvation and His power.

Jacob likewise was not the same person when he came to Bethel the second time. He was now no longer Jacob, but he was now named Israel. It was the same Bethel, but he himself was a man now who had seen God face to face and saw His glory:
Genesis 35:6-7 (ESV)
And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, [7] and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother.
It doesn't matter if it may look like we are back in the same place we are started, or if it feels like we're going in circles. What matters is, 'Has God revealed Himself to us?' and 'Are we being changed from glory to glory?' It doesn't matter if the world is still the same and it has not become a better place - the Bible says it will only go from bad to worse. But what matters is whether have WE been changed into the likeness of God's Son. And if we have been changed, nothing will be for us just another drudge and routine. If God has revealed His glory to us in the face of His Son, and if we continue beholding Him, then nothing for us will be the same. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, but His mercies are new towards us every day. Eternity will therefore never be boring, for our God will continually reveal something new of Himself for us every day. When will we ever figure our eternal God out? We will forever be in awe with knowing our God and of His love. Our God makes all things new for us, and the old things are ready to fade away before Him, who is always new. Let us live then, having our minds renewed everyday by His Holy Spirit. The challenges, temptations and struggles may all be the same, but we will be able to face them with different hearts and minds every time. Hallelujah to our God.

Worshipping the only image of God, Jesus Christ

Numbers 33:3-4 (KJV)
And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. [4] For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the Lord had smitten among them: upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments.

On the morrow after the Passover. The journey of the Christian begins with the cross of Jesus Christ. Passover was when Jesus Christ the Lamb of God was crucified for the sins of the world. The journey of the Christian begins when he, through the blood of the Lamb, have the wrath of God pass over him, and is set free from the dominion of the devil and the darkness, and is set free from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit. A man cannot claim to be on a journey as a Christian if he has not encountered at the beginning of the journey the Passover Lamb who has been crucified for him. One does not become a Christian because he decides to follow Jesus Christ, but when he beholds the crucified Son of God and begins to believe Him for eternal life. The cross is where the Christian is born. The realization of the death of Jesus Christ is when the Christian begins his life. The life before the Passover is a slave to sin, slave to Satan and slave to condemnation and guilt, but life after the Passover is freedom in Christ. After the Passover we are no longer slaves, but rather, we have become slaves to God, to Christ's love and to righteousness. We have become servants of God. Without this Passover, we would have never been freed from our old lives, and our bondages and burdens would have destroyed us. But after partaking in this Passover, we were released, that we may begin this journey to the promised land.

Apostles of Christ also thought that their journey with Christ began when they met Christ. But their real journey began when they saw Christ crucified and saw Him rise again from the dead, and understood why He came to the world. It was after the Passover they received power to be His true witnesses. Before the cross, they were confused and weak, but it was only after the cross, after understanding that Christ has died for their sins, and after seeing that this Christ did not die, but is living forever and ever - that's when they had the confidence and the peace to go out into the world. Thus all Christians must go through the Passover. All Christians must experience God's Destroyer passing over them because of the blood of Jesus. They must be freed from the dominion of sin by the power of God through faith. Without this experience, how can a person claim to be a true Christian?

Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all Egyptians, for the Egyptians had buried all their firstborn. Egyptians had thrown all Israel's firstborn into the Nile, and therefore God's just retribution came upon them in slaying all the firstborn. It is God's vengeance that gives us the victory over our enemies. Vengeance is the Lord's, not ours. If we leave our vengeance to God and His righteousness, then we are the ones who will go out victorious over our enemies. God remembers the sins of all who have not been covered by the blood of Jesus. God takes record of all the wrongdoing we have ever done against God and our neighbors, and a just retribution will fall upon our heads - unless we repent and stay under the blood of Jesus.

The just God went throughout the land, and struck down all the firstborn of the Egyptians - but notice how He did not pick out the firstborn of the Egyptians, as though it was the ethnicity that condemned them. No. God is not partial in His judgments. He doesn't condemn a person because He is Egyptian, Arabic or Asian. And He doesn't not punish a person because he is a Jew or people from a western country that believes in God. God's scales are just and equal. Like how the symbol for justice has a blindfold over her face while holding the scales, God's justice is blind to ethnicity, family background or social standing. God's rule is always the same for any person of any nationality:
Ezekiel 18:20 (ESV)
The soul who sins shall die.
God shall punish every one who has sinned without partiality. God's destroyer likewise went down to strike ANY firstborn, whether Hebrew or Egyptian, but spared the firstborn who have taken shelter in a house that has been marked by the blood of the lamb. Jesus Christ is the Firstborn of God who was slain for all who should put their trust in Him. Hallelujah for God's righteousness and His provision for salvation.

Upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments. Egyptians had not only sinned against their fellow man, but they have also been for thousands of years sinning against their Creator. Their gods, among many others, were following: Blood, frogs, lice, flies or wild animals, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts and darkness. God executed judgments upon Egypt by making these which they worshipped to come and harm them. The idolator will thus be destroyed by the god he worships. Does a man worship money? Out of money will come trouble and pain upon the man. Does a man worship oneself? Out of his own self will come all the miseries and suffering. Does a person worship relationships or their partners? Out of the relationships will come sorrow, futility and destruction. We must worship the only one Image of God, and this Image is Jesus Christ:
Colossians 1:15 (ESV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
God only has only one image of Himself and He is Christ. His own Son is the one who bears His image. Like Father, like Son. And God has sent this Son, who is His exact image, into the world that we may know God. But what an abomination is it to God the Father, when men think that God is like a fly or a frog or like locusts! This is why God hates idolatry. And what offense is it when men love that which is not God as much as, if not more than, His only Son? God is greatly offended. Any image we worship as God, God absolutely abhors, and through the thing God's judgments shall come. What was the mistake of Satan? He beheld his own image and worshipped his own beauty and his own wisdom:
Ezekiel 28:17 (KJV)
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Let us not commit this sin that the devil committed. It was not that he did something so horrible that he went from being this beautiful angel to this defiled corrupted and evil serpent. He looked away from the image of Jesus Christ, and looked at his own beauty. When we look away from Jesus Christ the perfect beauty, we offend His Father, and we commit sin. Let us behold Jesus Christ, and in His wisdom, His righteousness, His perfection, His holiness and His love. Let us continue gazing at this Image of God, let us worship Him and adore Him and love Him above everything in the world. Why should we adore any other inferior image and thus be destroyed? Worshipping of Jesus Christ is the only religion that God has prescribed for the world. Let us keep ourselves from idols, and only adore Jesus Christ, God's beloved Son.

Our wanderings are not wasted years

Numbers 33:1-2 (KJV)
These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. [2] And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the Lord : and these are their journeys according to their goings out.

And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys. Moses perhaps thought that it was futile to write of this journey, as he considered it Israel's failure. But God still saw the need. It should be a joy for us to know that God does not consider our wanderings and even moments of our failures 'wasted years'. He records them and keeps track of them:
Psalm 56:8 (NASB)
You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle Are they not in Your book?
He uses even wanderings and our tears for His glory, and for our good. They are not wasted, but they are used to build our character, make us to know God, make us to understand God's grace, make us to repent of sins, or help others who are going through like situations:
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Indeed, they were chastised by God for their disobedience through this wandering, but it still worked for Israel's good. It worked in the next generation godly fear and obedience to the Lord. The account of their wanderings was a sample for future generation to not follow. It also showed Israel that they are not righteous, and showed that it was not because of their righteousnesss they are inheriting the kingdom, but that it was only by God's grace. It was to do these things:
Deuteronomy 8:2 (KJV)
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
So the forty years can't simply be said that they were wasted for Israel. It humbled them, most of all. It was for their own good. It showed how weak they were apart from God.

It is likewise with Christians. The moments of disobedience can't simply be classified as failures, though they are. God's sovereignty and providence was working even during those times, that God may prove us, show us our sinfulness and our weaknesses, and our inability to save ourselves. The wilderness sanctifies us, and make us to be cleansed from our own pride and self-trust. Therefore the wilderness years work out to be for our own good in the end. Not that we want to return to the wilderness, but through God's hand it helped us to be more conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. However, see the condition in Romans 8:28: this grace only applies to "them that love God". Though we fail and are sometimes disobedient and are foolish, and thus are thrown into the wilderness, those who are called according to His purpose do not give up loving God. This is not because of some will-power on their part to love God even during those years, but these love God because they realize that God loved them even through those years. These love God because God first loves them. Let us then not despair even when we have failed, but continue to love God, who loved us, and sent His Son to die for us.

Let us also not judge our brothers who are going through the wilderness, as though we know anything about what God is doing in them. It may be that God is doing a sanctification work in them. We must not cease to rebuke them and pray for them, but it is not for us to write them off as unbelievers. We so easily forget about the greatness of God's sovereignty and we write them off as failures. Not that we ought condone their sins, but God may have put them through the particular wildness for a reason. Peter had to go through his wilderness of denying the Lord thrice that God may reveal who He was apart from Christ's grace. Let us not condemn them, but pray for them and commit them to Christ. If God has called them, God will carry them through. They shall be restored.

By the commandment of the Lord. It must be noted that it was God who commanded Moses to record Israel's journeys. It was not Moses' idea to do this thing. As mentioned, Moses most likely saw no need for it. This writing did not originate from the mind of Moses. It is the same with all writings of the scriptures. They are 'God-breathed', meaning they originate from the mind of God, and written by His commandment. It was not written by a committee who sat around and said, 'Okay, let's write something about God'. No. It was written by God's command, out of His will, out of His own mind. As it is written:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Peter 1:20-21 (ESV)
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. [21] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
There is no other writing in the world that was produced by the will of God, and written by the Holy Spirit through men. The Bible was not written based on man's own interpretation or understanding of God. It was written based on God's own interpretation and understanding of Himself. There is no other script that is so alive with the life of God, for it is the only writing in the world that is of God, through God and is for God's glory. Scriptures are therefore some places hard to understand, for to really understand it one must have the mind of God, for it came from His mind. Scriptures therefore cannot be understood with a human mind. To the natural mind the bible appears foolish, for he tries to discern it with his own intellect. It does not work:
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
The bible must be understood by the help of the Holy Spirit, who is the Author of the bible. He who wrote the book understands most about what He meant:
1 Corinthians 2:11-13 (KJV)
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Scriptures cannot be interpreted with human wisdom. It is like an animal trying to understand the things of human beings. Unless the animal is given the spirit of man, it will never understand the deep things of man. But God has given us the Spirit of God, and given us a spiritual mind, that we may understand Him through His word. Moreover, it is the through the scriptures that we understand scriptures. As God wrote no other holy writings, no other writing can be used as a proper reference for interpreting scripture. Spiritual things can only be compared with spiritual. As it is written:
Isaiah 34:16 (KJV)
Seek ye out of the book of the Lord , and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
And as it is also written:
Matthew 18:16 (KJV)
in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
We must only look at God's word through the lens of God's word. It is the word of God which bears witness of the word of God. One witness is not enough to establish a truth, but God has given us not only two or three, but, as it were, a cloud of witnesses that testify of the one Truth of the Bible, Jesus Christ. Not that God needed witnesses, for our Triune God Himself testifies of Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God:
John 8:18 (KJV)
I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
John 15:26 (KJV)
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Let us pray then that God fills us with His own Self and with the Word of God, that we may understand and know Him. All things have come forth from Him, and it must be that through Him alone we must also understand Him. Let us not rely on our own understanding when studying scriptures, but rely on Jesus Christ to be our Guide, for we are blind. Let us have Christ to be our eyes for us, that through Him, through the Word alone, we may read God's word and understand life.

Christ gives us new names

Numbers 32:34-38 (KJV)
And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, [35] And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah, [36] And Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, fenced cities: and folds for sheep. [37] And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim, [38] And Nebo, and Baal-meon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.

Gave other names unto the cities which they builded. Cities like Nebo and Baal-meon were cities dedicated to the idols of the Canaanites, Nebo being the name of a god, and Baal-meon meaning 'habitation of Baal'. But the tribe of Reuben being noble men, decide to change their names for the glory of God.

Nebo was a high mountain, and men probably thought that their god Nebo resided there, or that their god was as high as the mountain. But how different is our God from Nebo? The God who has created the heavens and the earth does not reside on top of mountains. As it is written:
2 Chronicles 6:18 (KJV)
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
It is impossible then that such a great God would reside in mountains. God fills every corner of the whole universe, and more. Neither is the mountain comparable to the height of our God:
Psalm 113:4-6 (KJV)
The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. [5] Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, [6] Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
God's glory is above the heavens and all nations, and He needs to bend lower to behold the heaven itself. Our God is therefore called the Most High God. But how they exchanged such high glory of God, to compare Him to a mere mountain which He made with His own hands!

Nebo was nothing but a picture of the Canaanites' pride. They saw themselves high and mighty as the mountain, and exalted themselves above God. Yet they were brought low to destruction. Why does God hate pride? Because it is looking, exalting and worshiping of oneself, in neglect of God who is higher than all things. It is a stealing of God's glory. God is the one who is due the most praise, worship and glory, for He is higher, bigger and more important than anything in the entire universe. But we steal all the praise and give it to our own selves. It is like living next to the Mount Everest, yet saying to a small hill next to it 'How high, mighty and glorious is this hill?' This is the foolishness of our pride, and it is great offense to God. Nebuchadnezzar thought that he was great, until he lifted up his eyes to heaven and understood that God was in heaven and that he on earth:
Daniel 4:34-37 (KJV)
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: [35] And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? [36] At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. [37] Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Nebuchadnezzar became a man from a beast when he finally understood that God is the Most High. He became honorable again as He honored God. He became excellent again as He began to extol and praise the King of kings. He became something again when he regarded himself and the rest of mankind as nothing. He became glorious again when he realized God's glory in His sovereignty. This is how a high mountain is cut down, and the valley filled:
Luke 3:5-6 (KJV)
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; [6] And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Every Nebos and high mountains will be made low. All who humbles himself shall be exalted, but only to the level of the plain. All places shall be made smooth plains. Why? So that all men shall see the only One who is lifted up. And who is this only exalted one? It is Jesus Christ, the Salvation of God. Read this:
Isaiah 2:2 (KJV)
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
This Mountain is the Church, but it is also Christ Himself. Jesus Christ is the only Mountain that God is pleased to dwell in. Salvation cannot be found in any other mountains for God is not in them. And by the preaching of the Gospel, Christ crucified shall be lifted up above the nations for all mankind can see. As the bronze serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, and all who only saw were healed, all nations shall see Him through the proclamation of the message, and be saved. What idols or gods would be sacrificed instead for their own worshippers? There is no God like this. Other gods or idols demand and force offerings from its people, but our Christ gives us everything we can offer Him. Our God carries us all the way through our journey as a Father, but idols need to be carried by us. They cannot save:
Isaiah 46:1-4 (ESV)
Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock;these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts. [2] They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. [3] "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; [4] even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
Neither can our selves and our pride carry nor save us. We are all wounded with and dead in sin, and we need Another to carry us. It must be Jesus Christ. And trusting in Him means to throw all our weight into His arms, that He may carry us as a baby all the way to His kingdom. Let us stop being proud, become little children, and trust in Him.

Baal-Meon was a city devoted to the worship of Baal. It was probably where the statues and figures were made and sold, or where there was the main temple to which idolators gathered to indulge in their sin. Whatever it was, it had enough reputation as the head quarters of Baalism to be named the Habitation of Baal. Remember when Paul went to Athens:
Acts 17:16 (KJV)
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
A 'city wholly given to idolatry' is also a good description of Baal-meon was like. Thus it was a habitation of demons, which were behind these idols:
Deuteronomy 32:17 (KJV)
They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
Idolatry is not just bowing down to pieces of wood, stone and gold, but is worshipping of Satan who devised these things. There is a real, spiritual and personal power behind idolatry which seduces and draws the idolator to sin. This is why idolatry is not a light sin, and also why people are so drawn and held captive by it. It is hearing, believing, obeying and worshipping Satan instead of God the Creator. But what is it that the Devil is wanting the man to do through idolatry? Devil tempts man to worship and serve one self:
Matthew 4:8-9 (KJV)
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; [9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
To worship self is to worship the devil, and to worship the devil is to worship self. The two can't be divided. The man who lives for himself and lives for his own pleasure is a worshipper of the devil. The selfish and self-centered man is the enemy of God, since he is obeying the one who opposes God. The man who is full of self is the man who is full of unclean, demonic spirits. Man was created to live for God, to think about God, to serve God and to worship God. But the devil's plan is that the world does what he does, and live for self-glory, and so defy God. Therefore the bible says the whole world has become a habitation of devils. The world has a become habitation of self-worship:
Revelation 18:2 (KJV)
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

How does our God save us from being this habitation of self? He saves us firstly by making us to despise ourselves. As it is written:
Luke 14:26 (KJV)
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
How does He make us to hate even our own life? He does this by showing us how wicked, evil and sinful we are. His Holy Spirit comes upon us and convicts us of sin through the word of God. By the word of God we see ourselves as in a mirror, and see how filthy, ugly and deformed we really are. And God's mirror is a clear mirror with no smudges or scratches, and is lightened by the Spirit that we may see our every little defect. Through it we see the hereditary disease of the soul that has been handed down from our Adam, that which has caused this deformity in us. We see that we are criminals before God's judgment throne. We see that we deserve nothing but death, having committed hateful crimes. We begin to hate our own lives, and wish that the mountains would fall on us to cover us from our shame and from the curse of God. We see our nakedness and our own lack and try to cover ourselves with leaves, but how vain are our attempts! We see what a failure you really are in the sight of God. We begin denying any association with self, and desire nothing to do with self-pleasure. This is repentance.

God casts out self from us, and replaces us with Jesus Christ. How much more lovely is Jesus Christ our Lord than our poor selves! We begin to worship Him, realizing that there is Someone so much deserving of it than our own pitiful, filthy selves. What is amazing is this Jesus loves us, who are like filthy rags and broken twigs and broken jars of clay! It is amazing love. And this drives us to not love ourselves more, but to wonder at the heart of God who dared to love us, though we were His enemies. We begin to think about this love of God, and we want to serve Him, and worship Him, because of what He did for us. Our minds are changed to think about things of God, and no longer the things of man. We begin to want to please God and begin to hate flatteries and pleasing of man. Our minds become a spiritual mind, that submits to the will of God.

And this is not our doing, but the Holy Spirit who came to dwell within us forever. We have become the habitation of God, our bodies becoming the temple of God from the temple of Self. We become as Bethel, which means the 'House of God'. What was Bethel? It was place named when Jacob escaped from the presence of his brother Esau to the desert. Jacob was a man only focussed on himself up to this point. He cunningly stole his brother's birthright and blessing for his own gain, and had lived only for himself. But at Bethel, Jacob met God for the first time:
Genesis 28:13-19 (KJV)
And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; [14] And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. [15] And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. [16] And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. [17] And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. [18] And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. [19] And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
God's Spirit came to him and was with him from that moment, and never left him. Jacob had himself become Bethel, the house of God. He began to think about not only his own self, but about the Almighty God of his fathers. He began to serve and live for Him and His glory.

Jacob's name itself changed to Israel, from a name of sin to the name for the glory of God. Saul the Christian killer become Paul. Simon become Peter. What does the changing of the names signify? It means that God changes our identity. Have we ever wished that we were someone else great, someone better than we are? God grants this for us by His grace. God not only makes us to despise our sinful selves, but He gives us completely a new self for us. We are no longer the child of the Adam, the child of the devil and the child of wrath, but through faith in Jesus Christ we have forever become the people of Christ, children of God and children of faith. Therefore this is why the bible commands us believers:
Ephesians 4:22-24 (KJV)
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Paul after his conversion could not live like Saul any more. He was given new, glorious clothing to wear instead of the filthy and decomposing rags that he was wearing. This is what God gives for us to wear. God tells us to put off self, that we may put on Jesus Christ. We don't need to be anyone great, for our identity is in Christ the Name above all names. We are satisfied being called Christians, and just to be associated with the name of the Son of God. Yet we know that, when our sanctification progress is over in this world, and when we receive our glorious bodies, Christ will grant each of us new names:
Revelation 2:17 (KJV)
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
How special does Christ want make each of us to feel, though we are not deserving. It's not that there is something great in us, but it is because of His love for each of us. Let us thank Christ who makes us to go from glory to glory. Like Nebo and Baal-Meon was changed to be places for God, one day we will be completely changed to be wholly His. Change us Lord, into Your image. Conquer and occupy our minds and our hearts, that we may be humble and our lives be centered around you. Amen.

Suffering for God is a choice

Numbers 32:25-32 (KJV)
And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth. [26] Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead: [27] But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as my lord saith. [28] So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel: [29] And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the Lord , and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession: [30] But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan. [31] And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the Lord hath said unto thy servants, so will we do. [32] We will pass over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.

If the children of Gad will pass with you over Jordan ... Then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession. We must all pass over the Jordan of death in order that our inheritance may be ours. Eternal life is ours now, but it shall not be ours until we pass over the river of death. We can't avoid the death of our body, though our soul may live forever by God's grace. Why can't we avoid this death? you ask. Because our Lord Jesus could not avoid it. He didn't deserve to die, but He went through it, that He may be the Lord over the dead as well as the living. It is therefore appointed unto man once to die, for even God Himself died once as a man for the sins of His people.

Yes, if Christ returns before we die, we shall not die, but we shall be changed, as Paul prophesied. But death is something that a true Christian cannot avoid if he wants to inherit the Kingdom of God. Elijah and Enoch never died, but were taken alive to heaven without tasting death, to be samples for those who will be taken up on the Lord's return. But they still died while they were on this earth. How? They died to their own selves, to sin and to the world. How much did Enoch deny himself and take up the cross all his life after his son was born? He reckoned himself dead so thoroughly that God saw no need for him to taste death. He was already dead to himself, and fully alive to God. How about Elijah, who considered himself dead to the world around him, and walked the path that God told him to walk. He cared not that He would suffer so greatly for the Kingdom of God, but he died to his own will, and lived for the will of God. God also considered him worthy to be taken up, for he was already dead, and his life was hidden in Christ.

We must also partake in suffering as our Lord Jesus did. How much did our Lord Jesus fight the war with sin, death, sorrows and hell, and finally conquered them all with His resurrection? Likewise we must partake with Him sufferings in order that we may be glorified together with Him. Suffering is the Jordan river that we can't avoid. There is no resurrection without the cross. Our Lord Jesus died a suffering death for us, that we may live forever. Shall we not in thanksgiving suffer for His glory? Without suffering and hard battles, we will not inherit with Christ and His brothers. How shall we receive a better resurrection? It is by suffering as Christ suffered, yet not for our sins, but for His name's sake. How shall we reap everlasting spiritual fruits if we do not with hard labour sow to our spirit? For we shall reap what we sow. If we do not suffer with our brethren, and do not go to war with them, our inheritance shall be with the kingdoms of outer darkness. Not that by our labour we go to heaven, but that spiritual labour and willingness to endure suffering is the evidence of a man who is saved.

A man who doesn't want to suffer for the kingdom of God is someone who doesn't want to inherit the kingdom of God. God has given no other way for a man to be saved but through much suffering. Read what Paul says:
Acts 14:22 (ESV)
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
As Israel only entered the promised land through much warfare and tribulations, so must a Christian enter into heaven through much tribulations.

Are therefore to be in despair? Are we to be in sorrow? By no means. God gives us suffering that we may be conformed to the image of His Son in every way. God is not making us to suffer in order to to punish us for our sins. Jesus Christ suffered for our sins. But God gives us suffering that we may become like His Son. Notice the language here:
Philippians 1:29 (KJV)
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
God has given us the gift of faith by His grace, and so He has also given us the gift of suffering. Both are for our salvation. Suffering helps us to despise sin and self and the world and guides us to grab hold of Christ as our only joy. Therefore it is of the grace of God. We must weep for those unbelievers who live in pleasure, for we know it is the sign of their destruction, for God has prepared for them horrible suffering in hell.

We know from scripture also that our suffering is a choice. Just as Reuben and Gad chose to suffer and to risk their own lives that they may gain the inheritance, it is a choice for Christians whether we will suffer for Christ, or live in the pleasures of sin for a season. As it is written:
Hebrews 11:24-26 (KJV)
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; [25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; [26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
How glorious was this choice of Moses to suffer, and that He chose to be conformed to the image of Christ. Just as Christ chose to suffer for us, we ought to choose this tree of life which is suffering. If we Christians will not choose suffering, we know that we will suffer anyway as chastisement for our sins. If we will choose not to suffer for His glory, God in His mercy will make us to suffer with worldly sorrows:
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (KJV)
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
We Christians either suffer godly sorrow or we will suffer worldly sorrow. Which shall we choose? If Moses chose not the cross, what worldly suffering would he have suffered in the courts of the Pharaoh. What shame would he have suffered from God?

Choosing suffering is what Christ meant by 'taking up the cross':
Matthew 16:24 (KJV)
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
There is much suffering in denying one's own self. But Christ is saying if a man is not willing to choose suffering, that man is not worthy of Jesus Christ. We are not worthy of His kingdom. As Reuben and Gad went over Jordan armed, we are to arm ourselves with suffering in self-denial. There is no other way.

As the Lord has said to unto thy servants, so will we do. It was not God who directly commanded them to go over Jordan, but it was Moses. But here they say that they will do as God said. Reuben and Gad took Moses' words as the words of God. They were not rebellious like their parents who proudly said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses?" But they took Moses' words to be God's. If these two considered Moses' words to be God's, how much more must we consider Jesus Christ's word to be God's? Jesus Christ Himself is the Word of God Himself made into flesh. Remember what Jesus said:
John 10:34-36 (KJV)
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? [35] If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; [36] Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
And here is also evidence why we can believe in the Holy Bible. God used holy men as His mouthpiece to write the Holy Scriptures. Just as Reuben and Gad considered Moses' words to be God's very words, we are to consider likewise all the prophets and the apostle's words to be the very words of God Himself. God is more than able to use imperfect men to produce perfect things if He wills. And if the Son of God Himself said that the "scriptures cannot be broken" and quoted the Bible, we can be sure that our Bible is without error and is the very word of God. And God did not use sinners to write His books, but He used righteous men who have been justified in His sight by the blood of Jesus. And God sent His own Son to verify that His scriptures were all true, as it is written:
Matthew 26:53-54 (KJV)
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? [54] But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Jesus fulfilled the scriptures concerning Him, proving to the world that the scriptures are true and the very words that God wrote through men. Why must we need any other proof? Jesus Christ died and rose again to put His seal forever on the living word of God, which is the Holy Bible. Let us read the word, and like Reuben and Gad, say, 'as the Lord has said we so shall we do'. Let us honor this very word of God.

Doing all things before the Lord

Numbers 32:20-22 (KJV)
And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the Lord to war, [21] And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord , until he hath driven out his enemies from before him, [22] And the land be subdued before the Lord : then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the Lord , and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the Lord.

If ye will go armed before the Lord to war ... Until He has driven out His enemies from before Him. It is God who will drive out the inhabitants from before Him. Israelites will be the ones gong armed before the Lord to war, but it is God who will fight through Israel to drive out HIS enemies. Canaanites are not Israel's enemies. Canaanites have not done anything against them. But these wicked inhabitants were enemies of God through their unrighteousnesses. They were offending God's majesty through idolatry, immorality, violence and spiritual carelessness. They were living in a land the flowed in milk and honey, and giving credit for themselves for living in this land. They said to themselves 'How powerful, wise and righteous we are. We have possessed this land by our own strength. We are a special people, so the gods have rewarded us with such a beautiful land because of our righteousness, because of our service to them. Who then can be against us?' They realized not that this land God was preparing for His own people, the children of Abraham. They have no part with the covenant of God. They were only borrowers of the land, but thought the land belonged to them. They paraded the land as though they were the owners of the land. They were enemies of God because they gave not God the glory for what they had. They realized not that they were wicked beyond repair and deserved nothing but the fires of hell. They realized not that they were enjoying something they don't deserve to enjoy. All the joy they had they gave glory and thanksgiving to themselves and their fathers and their wicked idols of wood and stone. What is worse, they used the land they were borrowing for evil, and doing wicked works with the fruits of it. Therefore it says:
Leviticus 18:24-25 (ESV)
"Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, [25] and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
The land which was to be use for doing good upon had become defiled by the evil deeds of the inhabitants. Is this not the word of warning to the world today? How unclean has planet earth become because of the evil of its inhabitants who give not God the glory, but who give themselves glory. These are all the enemies of God. Jesus Christ will come with all His holy angels and invade this land that has become defiled, and drive out the inhabitants and the Devil and cast them all to Hell forever. Then the land will be called the New Earth, and nothing defiled shall enter in any longer. This is the judgment that is awaiting the whole world

Therefore let us who have been saved from the wrath of God have the right understanding who our 'enemies' are. Our enemies are not those who have wrong to us. Our enemies are not those who are against us. No. We are commanded to forgive all who have done wrong against us. We have no right to have personal enemies, for when we were the enemies of Christ, He died for our transgressions. When Paul was still the enemy of God while he was giving glory to himself for all the good things he was enjoying, Jesus was crucified for him. Likewise, Jesus become our friend, when we were still hostile to Him.

So then who is our enemy? God's enemies are our enemies. We are not waging any personal wars on anyone. It is God's personal war against those who have sinned against Him. They have offended Him, not us. Their problem is with the Word of God and not with us. Their hostility is against God's will and God's commandments, not ours. This is why Jesus says:
John 7:7 (ESV)
The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
The world's problem is with God, not against us. Let us therefore not take it personally when it looks like it hates us. It isn't hating us, but Him who is speaking through us. See it here in this verse in John, "because I testify". It is Jesus who is testifying through us that the works of this world are evil. Let us therefore fight with Jesus His war with His enemies using His words. We are only the messengers. We are only the soldiers who take up the arms and go to war before the Lord. Let us forgive God's enemies for the wrongs that they do to us because of their hatred for God. We were also God's enemies once, so we understand their foolishnesses. We did exactly the same things. Let us love God's enemies, as Christ loved His own Father's enemies. Let us pray for Christ's enemies:
Matthew 5:44-45 (ESV)
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

To be noted here, God can fight His wars alone, but He involves us because He is gracious. One could assume by reading this text that God cannot go to war without man's help. But on the contrary, we know Israel's history:
2 Kings 19:35 (ESV)
And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
God can send 12 legions of angels to destroy all of Canaanites in a single night. It is no problem. We have to imagine here, if ONE angel could kill this much in one night, what will be the destruction be when the Almighty Son of God come down in His wrath to consume the earth in the fire of His Father's vengeance? There shall be no escape.

So why does God use Israel, and us Christians, to fight His wars? It is for our glory, and also His. It is our glory that God uses us for His purposes. It is an honour for the piano to have the world's greatest pianist to play upon it. The violin which Mozart used to perform in His concerts would be sold for a great price. Why? Because the one using the instrument was great. Because the one using the instrument deemed the instrument worthy to be played by him. This was what God is doing in using Israel for His glory. This is what God does in using us for any of His purposes. It is a great honour to have God use us for His glory. It is also a show of HIS glory that He uses us. See how effectively uses angels to carry out His holy work. But see what glory it is to God to use sinful human beings to receive glory for Himself. It is like Mozart playing the most beautiful piece of music through a piano that has missing keys. Mozart would throw such a thing away to be demolished, but our God uses such things for His glory. Why did Christ come in such a lowly body when He became a man? He came to a body of a carpenter from a town that was considered the slum of Judea. Isaiah said His appearance was not any beautiful. Why? Why did God prepare such a lowly body for Christ to be in? Because He wanted to show forth His Son's glory. This Carpenter became the most important being in the universe, the name above all names. Why? Because God was in Him. Likewise God can use lowly things for His glory. He is able, and nothing is impossible for Him:
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

This text also shows that God wants to work with us in our sanctification. We ought to be ready and armed and we must be willing to destroy the enemies of God that is within us and around us. And God will drive out them before our sight. The enemies are: our flesh, the world and the Devil. When we are armed against these, then God will be the one doing the work, for it is God's war. This mystical cooperation is shown by Paul's words:
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Paul is crucified with Christ. Paul is no longer living, but Christ is living in him. Yet he is still alive in the flesh. But he is living this life trusting, leaning on the Son of God who is living in him. It was Christ in Paul who was fighting the war. Yet Paul was still living, but how? Only by entrusting this life wholly to Jesus Christ. Faith is, then, what these Israelite soldiers had when they went over the Jordan to fight. Remember how Jericho was destroyed? Did they destroy it with catapults and bombs? No. Did they destroy them with many soldiers? No. How then? By faith. So did their faith destroy Jericho, as though there was strength in the faith? No. GOD crushed Jericho, when His army believed in His word. Therefore in our battle with self, the world, and the Devil, we must arm ourselves with faith. When we have faith, God uses us, and He will drive out His enemies before Him. Sanctification is thus by cooperation with God, but the only work that we do is leaning on God. Let us then, lean on God with faith, and He will work to purify us and sanctify us and destroy the remains of sin within us. Let us wholly trust in Jesus who loved us and died for us.

The land be subdued before the Lord. How does our Lord Jesus Christ subdue the land before Him? Does He do it with force? Does He do it with violence? No. He does it with the Gospel. He does it with His cross. He subdues man's rebellious hearts with a revelation of His grace that is like a light shining into dark place. We know that the carnal mind cannot submit to God nor His laws, as it is written:
Romans 8:7 (ESV)
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
Man naturally does not have the will nor the ability to submit to God. Man is naturally hostile to Him. But when man receives this revelation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this carnal mind is converted into a spiritual mind.

But let's think for a moment what it means to have a 'mind that is set on the flesh'. The best explanation would be what Christ meant when He rebuked Peter:
Matthew 16:21-23 (ESV)
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [22] And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." [23] But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
A mind that is set on the flesh is the mind of the devil. A carnal mind is a mind that is set on the things of man. This must mean that what happens when a man is converted is that: the man who only thought about the things of man, trusted in man and glorified man, beholds the beauty of what God has done on the cross, and his mind becomes changed to think about the things of God, trusts in God and glorifies God. A mind that thinks of the things of God, especially of the cross of Jesus Christ. The mind that is set on the Cross of Jesus is the mind that is friendly to God and His laws. The mind that understands God's graciousness is the mind that is both willing and is able to submit to the commandments of God:
Hebrews 10:16-17 (KJV)
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
God is saying in this verse to Old Covenant Israel that later He will make a people whose minds are not hostile to God's laws, but a people who have passion for His laws. Not that they desire to be righteous by law, but because they are people amazed by the forbearance of their God who says "their sins will I remember no more". These are people who understand and say: 'Though God remembers not my sins, God never left them unpunished, but for my sins which God forgot He remembered them against my Lord Jesus'. By this grace God converts and subdues a man's heart, that those who were once His worst enemies become His closest allies. Glory be to God.

This land shall be your possession before the Lord. There are things done which are before the Lord and not before Him. There are things which are done with God's approval and those things which are done without. An action can be taken with acknowledging God, or it can be done without having God in one's knowledge. Just read how many times Moses says "Before the Lord" in this passage: "before the Lord the war", "over Jordan before the LORD", "His enemies before Him", "subdued before the LORD", "Guiltless before the LORD", and "possession before the LORD". Moses was putting Reuben and Gad before the LORD God, as it were to make them swear before the Lord that they will do this thing. Moses was making them do this thing they have promised and carry it out faithfully all things before Him. We are likewise to do all things before Him. Read what Jesus said:
John 3:20-21 (KJV)
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Jesus is saying here that a deed can be done in the darkness, not before God, and a deed can be done in light, before God with His approval and His acceptance. Reuben and Gad likewise could have possessed this land east of Jordan without having to go to battle with their brethren. They could possess the land and say 'All this is ours'. But the land would not be theirs before the Lord. God would not accept their ownership, for they have not done it His way. They would only be found thieves, for the all the land is the Lord's and He has not given to them.

Likewise we do many things imagining God has given us the approval for us to do. But we know that in all honesty it was done in darkness. We didn't consult God about it, for perhaps we knew it was evil, but we were afraid that our deeds would be exposed by God's light. Isn't it so with even those things which were done in the name of God? How many times we do things in the name of Jesus, but in fact it was done apart from God. Reuben and Gad could have possessed the land without consulting Moses and said 'God gave us this land for us, so we will possess this land now, for that would be what God wanted us to do'. Then they would committed the sin of presumption. Paul before His conversion was persecuting and killing Christians and thought that he was doing God a service, but he was doing these things in darkness. Anything that is done in darkness are the works of darkness, even if they are done in the name of God. How many of these vain works will be exposed on the Day of Judgment. For God will judge the secrets of everyone's hearts, whether they did things before the Lord, or not:
Matthew 7:22-23 (ESV)
On that day many will say to me, ''Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'' [23] And then will I declare to them, ''I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.''

Are our ministry nothing but works of lawlessness, or is it according to the commandments of God? Let us fear, and be warned that the fruitfulness of our ministry is not the sign of God's approval. It is the fruitfulness of our character, whether we are "guiltless before the Lord". Let us repent to ashes for anything we have done that was not according to the will of the Father, even if it appeared holy or for God's glory. Let us do His will in all things, always before Him, and then shall the Kingdom of God be our possession, before the Lord. Let us work for the approval of our hearts in the Lord's eyes. Amen.

Christ named not a price for His service to men

Numbers 32:18-19 (ESV)
We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance. [19] For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east."

We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance. Christ also forsook His home in heaven He may come down to the earth, and returned not to His Father until each of His brethren gained the inheritance of eternal life. The work was finished on the cross, and that is why our Lord returned to His home. There is no more battles to be fought or work to be done. Christ has finished the work once and for all, and all that is left for us is to believe on that work. If His work in gaining our inheritance was not complete, Christ would have had to stay on earth until now. But when He died for us, His inheritance became ours according to the New Testament of His blood. What work shall we then add to His works so that we may inherit the Kingdom of God? There are no other works, but the works of trusting in Him.

It is to be noted here that they said, "until each of the people has gained his inheritance". Christ's work has also granted eternal inheritance to each and every single individual that believes in Christ. Christ cares for the individual, as He said:
Matthew 18:12-13 (ESV)
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? [13] And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.
Christ cared for the one woman in the well that had 5 husbands. He cared for Mary who had seven demons. He cared for Zecchaus that climbed on the tree to see Christ. Christ cared for each lost individual, died for each individual's sins, that they may each inherit the Kingdom of God and have his or her portion in it. Christ does not deal with us as a group, but as an individual, that we may each be able to say that Christ is 'my own Lord and God, and my own inheritance'.

Although the inheritance of eternal life is already ours by the work of God's Son, this does not mean that all work is finished in us. There remains the work of sanctification, that we may become worthy heirs of the Kingdom. If this work was left to us, no man would be saved, but we thank God that the Holy Spirit has come upon us to do this work for us. It is the Spirit of Christ who completes our salvation. He is our Helper who conforms us to the image of Christ. As it is written:
John 14:16-18 (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, [17] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. [18] "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
And,
Matthew 28:20 (ESV)
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Holy Spirit will dwell with us, working with us, until we have fully grasped the promised inheritance that God has given to us. He has been sent to guide us to the Way to eternal life, keeping our souls pure that we may not continue in sin. He will not leave us until the job is done. It is He that began this good work in us, and it is He who will bring it to completion. Great thing is, even once the work is done, the Spirit will not depart from us to His home, but will dwell with us forever. Not only the Spirit, but our Triune God will dwell with us forever, as it is written:
John 14:23 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Revelation 21:3 (KJV)
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
It should surprise us that our Holy God should make man His new home in which He dwells. As it is written:
1 Kings 8:27 (KJV)
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
The whole universe is not large enough for our great God to dwell in. How much less was the temple of gold that Solomon built? And how much further less than are the mortal bodies of lowly, sinful men? Why does God forsake the heavens to dwell in the manger and the tomb that is man? It is because He loves man. Reuben and Gad went back to their homes after their job was done for the brethren, but God leaves the heavens forever to make His dwellingplace with man forever. Christ became a man for this reason, forsaking equality with God that He may become one of us, forever. Why did He do this? To die as a substitute for our sins, yes, but even more, that He may sympathize with us by undergoing our sorrows and sufferings, that He may taste death as we do. See then how much He loved man that He was willing even to partake in our death. Let us therefore offer our bodies holy temples for His Spirit to dwell in, our hearts and minds abounding in thanksgiving.

We will not inherit with them on the other side of Jordan and beyond. Reuben and Gad had no intention of inheriting the land of their brethren. They were fighting only for the inheritance of their brethren. They recognized that they had already received the inheritance from God on this side of the Jordan. They had already received their rest, as Joshua would speak later:
Joshua 1:12-13 (KJV)
And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, [13] Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
Though they have already received their rest, inheritance and their land for their children, these Reubenites and Gadites were still willing to fight, not for their own gain, but for the rest of their brethren. This was noble in the sight of God and Moses.

Thus Christ fought the war with death for not His own inheritance, but for the rest and the inheritance of His brethren. He was the Son of God, and therefore already had the inheritance as the sole and eternal heir. Christ did not need to fight for us, but He fought for our benefit, out of love. He went further than these two tribes, in that He died so that His whole inheritance could be made ours. Not that He needed to gain something by dying for us. Do we say "Oh, but He gained the name above all names"? But He was already equal with God and the whole earth was His and He was the King of the universe. He had God as His eternal inheritance, always in the bosom of His Father, always pleasing Him. By becoming a man and dying He lost more than He gained, and He gave more than He received. He didn't need to become His creature to suffer the shame. He didn't need to be tempted by the devil, and suffer such scorn by the things He made. He didn't need to suffer hunger or sleep. He didn't need to heal and help people, as though they deserved help. And He didn't need to bear the sins and the guilt of people and be crushed. Why did He do it? For the rest and the inheritance of His brethren; Because He loved us. He died for our benefit, not for His. How glorious is His love for us.

Shall we not then, the disciples of Christ, do as He did, and do those things which are for the benefit of others, though they are not beneficial to us? This is our reasonable duty as believers. And this is the heart of the servant. A servant's desire is to please the master and not himself. A master's pleasure is the servant's pleasure. As Christ who is our Master came down to the earth to serve us, though He didn't need to, we ought to offer others our free service. Let us love others, especially our brethren, and fight for them and work with them, even if it doesn't profit us. Let us have the selfless hearts that say: 'their joy is our joy, and their glory is our glory'.

Reuben and Gad was willing to give up the inheritance of the land across the Jordan though they had the right to take some of it, because they were going to fight with the rest of Israel. Reuben and Gad were satisfied with what they have, which was the land that was on this side of the Jordan. We must learn their contentment. As it is written:
Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Reuben and Gad could have replied to Moses, 'Okay, we'll go and fight with the brethren. But give us a bit of the land because we fight with them. We won't go except under these conditions'. They could have spoken thus wickedly. But they desired not more than they had. To them, though it was on this side of the Jordan, and near to the wilderness, what God had given them was enough and beautiful in their sight. We also do well to watch for covetousness, be content with what we have, and not desire even those things we have right to have. Let us pray that God may give the grace of contentment. Perhaps Reuben and Gad considered the Levites who had no inheritance at all on either beyond or on the wilderness side of the Jordan, but whose only inheritance was God Himself and the priesthood. As the Levites were, Reuben and Gad resolved to be content with having Yahweh as their God. It should also be enough that Jesus is our God. We have the right on this world to work hard and have the things that we desire. That is our portion. But though we have the right, we must not always excise the right, because we ought to be content with having God as our treasure. He is our inheritance, and He gives us the things that we need. Let us not ask for more. Even when we labour in the things of God, let us not ask for wages, knowing that we are forever debtors to Jesus Christ. We owe Jesus Christ everything, and more, for we deserved not the grace He has shown us until now. Having received this free gift of eternal life, let us not name a price to our labour for our brethren. Reuben and Gad offered not a price, but freely offered their time, labour and their lives for the brethren. Let us imitate their faith, and live our lives for others.

Going to war for our next generation

Numbers 32:16-17 (ESV)
Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, [17] but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

Then they came near to him. Moses' rebuke drew them not away from God, but they were shaken to draw themselves closer to Him. Moses warning scared them not away in fear for God's wrath, but provoked them to repentance. Why do we draw ourselves away from God when we are rebuked by Him? God's heart is not that by listening to His harsh words we run away from His presence, but that we run towards His gracious arms. God rebukes and chastens those He loves, not those He hates. If He hated us, He would have left us in the coldness of His silence and left us dead in our sins until the Day of Judgment. But because He loves us, He corrects us every day and His eyes test us at every moment. God loves the world, and that is why He sends prophets and messenger to warn them of their sins and of the judgment to come. It is the wrong response to His love for us to be drawn back by His chastening, but in faith we are to draw nearer to His throne of grace:
Hebrews 10:38-39 (KJV)
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. [39] But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul
Do we think that when God rebukes us for our sins God will destroy us if we draw near to Him? On the contrary, the above scripture says we will be destroyed if we draw back from Him. Let us thus be warned, and draw nearer to Him, believing that He will receive us. As the father received the prodigal son and clothed him with the best robe, God will cover our sins with His grace when we draw near. We have not come to the mount Sinai which no man could approach for the fear of wrath, but rather we have come to Jerusalem which draws us nearer and nearer to His arms:
Hebrews 12:22-24 (KJV)
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, [24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
We can draw nigh to God because of the blood of Jesus Christ. We can go near because Christ has paid the price for the sins we are being rebuked for. God has made the way for us, and made it possible for us to dwell in His holiness by His Son's death. Let us believe in Christ then, for by believing in Him more, we draw ourselves closer to our Holy God.

We will build sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms. We see here that this generation is concerned about their children as much as the first generation was. Remember how the first generation complained unto Moses:
Exodus 17:3 (KJV)
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
It is a natural thing to be concerned about our children, about their future and wellbeing. It is no sin to do this, but it shows our love for them. But the difference is how we respond to our concerns. We can see here that the first generation complained, while the second generation built. The second generation worked hard to build the future for their children and their livestock, while the first generation blamed God for bringing them out to die in the wilderness. True faith in God for our second generations works diligently to build a godly future for our children, while faithlessness complains to God about the harshness of reality. See what these two tribes said, "our children will live in fortified cities". They were willing to protect their children from the inhabitants by building high walled cities. We Christians must likewise build fortified cities of truth and faith for our children to dwell in, lest their hearts and mind be invaded with the decay of sin. This is tough work. Those with dead faith do nothing for their children's faith, and when destroyers come, they have nothing to defend their children. They complain of a wicked society, but do nothing to protect their children's souls. This is also what Lot did, and his daughters had no sense of morality since their minds were corrupted by the evil practices of the inhabitants of Sodom. Lot, probably so concerned about his business, simply failed to pass on his faith to his daughters. He built no fortified cities for them to prevent them from the Enemy's attacks.

But the biggest difference of the faithful parent is that he will fight for his children's future, as the men say, "but we will take up arms, and ready to go before the people of Israel". These two tribes were ready to fight for the next generation. They were not only ready to build cities for them to dwell in, but to fight their enemies for them. Are we fighting for our next generation of believers? Are we contending for the faith, to preserve it, that we may hand it down to our children untainted? Are we preserving the Gospel, so that the next generation can hear the Gospel that we preached and be saved, and also hand in down to their generation? Or are we careless in this battle? Worse yet, are we fighting against God, as the first generation Israel did, and not fighting for God's cause? Having become the friend of the world, have we become nothing but the enemies of God, not fighting for the believers of the future? Jesus Christ fought this fight for His children, by His own death, that He might make them dwell in the Fortress and High Tower, which is God Himself. Christ sacrificed Himself in this war that we His seed may dwell in safety forever. Let us also likewise sacrifice ourselves for our next generation.

Until we have brought them to their place. Another difference was that the second generation were willing to place the Kingdom of God above their own families. Reuben and Gad resolve to help their brethren first gain their inheritance, then only after they will return to their land. They cared for Israel above their own children, but this was what ultimately preserved their children:
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
It was this mindset that Moses and God was pleased with. Likewise we ought to seek the Kingdom of God first, even above our family, not that we may neglect them, or love them less, but that we may preserve them. We think keeping our family as the top priority is noble, even at the cost of neglecting God's kingdom. We think if we care for them above everything, even above God's Church, we are helping to secure their future. But we do not realize that our excessive love of family is idolatry, and it is what will destroy both us and our children. Remember how the priest Eli honoured his sons more than God and God's judgment came upon his house:
1 Samuel 2:29-30 (ESV)
Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?'' [30] Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ''I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,'' but now the LORD declares: ''Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Eli's family ultimately lost everything, because Eli loved his own family above God's house. Eli had no legacy to pass on to his generations, for God took it all away from him. The world is filled with people like Eli, who love their families above all else but despise God's family. They think it noble, but it is in reality selfishness. But Christians ought to realize that we have a spiritual family that is just as real as a natural one. We really are brethren, all linked by the blood and the flesh of Christ, and under one Father. Let us take care of our brethren as much as we take care of our families. Let us fight the war for our brethren first, and then take care of our flesh and blood. Will not God then honour our hearts and add all things for our children and their future? Loving God above our children is the best thing that we can do for our children. This is the war we must fight, that we love our children less than God - for their sake. Is not this what Abraham did, when he was willing to even offer his own son for the love of God? His love for God did not destroy Issac, but it was what secured the future of Isaac, Jacob and his generations to follow. For God loves to the thousandth generation those who love Him and place Him first:
Exodus 20:5-6 (ESV)
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, [6] but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Unbelief makes us wanderers in this wilderness

Numbers 32:13-15 (ESV)
And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone. [14] And behold, you have risen in your fathers' place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the LORD against Israel! [15] For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people."

He made them wander in the wilderness. God's wrath makes us to wander in confusion. A meaningless life is the judgment of God's wrath. How close did this first generation come to the promised land, yet fell short, for they believed not. The unbelievers also live lives that are so close to the Kingdom of God, but yet are so far from it, because they believe not God. It is a futile life. Hear what Christ said:
Mark 12:32-34 (ESV)
And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. [33] And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." [34] And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
The scribe was so close to the kingdom of God for he knew what the law was about. But though he was so close, but he was so far from it because he did not realize that it was by faith in Christ that one enters into the Kingdom. He did not realize that the law was not to keep, but to show how much he needed a Saviour. Therefore Christ says, though he is not far, he has not yet arrived. He now needed to forsake all hope in self, and trust in Jesus Christ. No one knows if the scribe went on to believe in Christ, but if not, then it was a tragic and meaningless life indeed, spent so close to the gates of heaven yet never entering in. It is therefore the most fearful thing to be cursed with unbelief, as the first generation was. Let us always pray that God grant us soft hearts, lest our hearts be calloused beyond repair, unable to believe in God any longer.

The first generation wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all perished. Such also is the mortification that God will work within a believer. God will make us to wander in self-righteousness and law-keeping, until we completely become undone, and desire nothing but death to self. God always wants to recognize this: that we CAN'T do it. How much failures do we need to go through until we realize that there is no good thing within us, and that it is all by God's grace. How many times must we be surprised at our sins until we realize that we are wicked, and that it is by Jesus Christ's righteousness that we are accepted. God will make us to wander, forty years if it have to be, until we realize that we ought to trust in Christ alone. And thank God that He does this work in us, until the old man that wants self glory be destroyed from within us. God will form in us a new man after the image of Christ, a new man that wholly believes in God's mercy and power. The wilderness is not an aimless wandering for us, then. Just as Joshua and Caleb wandered with the generation that died, though we wander, it shall be for our good, and not for our harm. It shall be for the building of our character, and it shall be a journey and a walk with Christ, renewing us day by day.

Did not Christ also wander in the wilderness for our sins? He went through 40 days in the desert, being tempted, that God may prove what was in His heart. Unlike Israel, there was nothing found in Christ but sincere devotion to the Law of God. Also, as our Scapegoat, Christ, carrying all our sins, was cast out from the gate as to wander in the wilderness until He perished by the hands of Gentiles:
Leviticus 16:21-22 (KJV)
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: [22] And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
Christ was treated as a man who believed none of God's promises. He was treated like the first generation that went out of Egypt, and was released into the wilderness of God's wrath until He was consumed. Christ died for our unbelief. Christ was consumed for our hardened hearts that rebelled against God and His ways. Christ died for our doubting of His word. Christ died for our belief in ourselves. Christ died for us trusting in our own strength, all our attempts to establish our own righteousness. Because Christ died for our unbelief, God can allow His children to go in to His Kingdom though there are moments where His children do not believe. Because Christ died, God can be faithful to us though sometimes we are faithless. It is therefore not up to our own faith alone that we are saved, but because of God's grace. Christ died for the imperfect faith of His people. He perished in the wilderness like an unbeliever ought to be perished. Therefore He can have mercy on His elect who sometimes believe not. We thank God then, that our salvation is not up to our faith alone, but up to Jesus Christ. Praise be to God our Saviour.

You have risen in your fathers' place, a brood of sinful men. Moses gives their fathers no respect, calling them 'a brood of sinful men'. Moses is commanding them to disassociate all ties with the sinful actions of their fathers. Sometimes we ought to view our fathers as who they are, as sinners. Too much respect of our fathers is nothing but idolatry. God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has become our Father, as it is written:
Matthew 23:9 (KJV)
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Jesus also was called the son of Mary and Joseph according to the flesh, but He showed no more respect than He ought to have, for His Father was in heaven:
Luke 2:49 (KJV)
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Let us have like attitude, and give not honour to men than is commanded. We ought to take the place of our Father in heaven, and do the things that He does, being Holy as He is holy. Our parents all have mistakes, and in the light to God's holy law, in all honesty they can be called nothing but a brood of sinful men. Let us not exalt our earthly fathers more than required, lest we imitate their sin and offend God as they did.

To increase still the more the fierce anger of the Lord. God was already angry with Israel because of the wickedness that their fathers had committed. God has several times desired to destroy them all because of their sins, only to show then mercy by the intercession of Moses. Indeed God's wrath is being stored and increasing against those who believe not in the Gospel. God is slow to anger, but this does not mean that His anger will be decreased. It is increasing. And if we have been delaying and adding to God's wrath ever since the fall of Adam, what will be the revelation of His anger and fury on the Day of wrath? There shall be no escape. God's wrath is like rain waters being stored in the dam of His patience. He shall not be patient towards sinners forever, but as they fill up the measure of their offense, so shall the righteous anger of God increase until on Judgment Day it shall be released in full upon the kingdoms of men to destroy them. Some evidences of this truth in scripture:
Genesis 15:16 (KJV)
But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
Revelation 18:4-5 (KJV)
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. [5] For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Genesis 6:13 (KJV)
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Only those who have trusted Christ as the satisfaction for God's wrath shall escape this coming flood of God's wrath that is to come upon the earth.

Also, those who have received the grace of having this wrath removed must not continue in sin. This second generation had been saved from destruction by Moses' intercession. God's wrath was to wipe them all away with their fathers, but Moses, who is a type of Christ, asked for mercy:
Numbers 14:15-20 (ESV)
Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, [16] ''It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.'' [17] And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, [18] ''The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'' [19] Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now." [20] Then the LORD said, "I have pardoned, according to your word.
Likewise, we believers have been spared from eternal punishment by the everlasting mercy of God that came forth from the death of His Son. It was Christ who convinced His own Father to turn away His wrath because of His own shed blood. It is Christ Himself who died, as though in the wilderness, bearing our guilt and wrath that was due upon us. But having received this grace, are to commit the same sins that we have committed before? By no means. As it is written in Hebrews:
Hebrews 10:28-31 (ESV)
Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. [29] How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
It is not possible that those who have received mercy continue in sin, for in doing so we crucify our Lord afresh, spurn the Son of God and profane His blood and grieve His Spirit. Could the second generation expect to be saved while committing the same sins for which the first generation died? By no means. Likewise we cannot expect to be saved while continuing in the sins that crucified our Lord. Let us cherish the grace by which our Lord suffered for our sins, and pursue holiness.

If you turn away from following Him, He will again abandon them in the wilderness. God abandons those who choose not to follow Him in faith. The reason we wander aimlessly is because we have not chosen to follow Christ, and thus our Guide has abandoned us. He will not come back to chase those who have forsaken the Lord. We must been drawn to Him first. Hear James:
James 4:8 (ESV)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
But this drawing is not the result of our works, but by God's grace:
John 6:44 (ESV)
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
We who have received this grace, then, must go to Him, and follow Him closely, lest we be abandoned by Lord in this wilderness. He is our eyes in this life, but if we turn away from Him, and He abandon us, how shall we ever see the path that leads to life? Christ said, 'Come to Me all you who thirst' and 'Come to Me all who are burdened'. But if we obey not His command and draw not near to Him, how shall we quench our thirst and be eased of our burdens? Christ will not walk together with those who trust not in Him, but will abandon them like orphans. Indeed, God cannot work with unbelief:
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
And,
Romans 8:7-8 (ESV)
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
This mind therefore that is set on the flesh is mind that believes not. The unbelieving mind therefore is the mind that does not and cannot submit to God's law. The first generation that came out of Egypt followed not God because they believed Him not. Because they believed Him not, they could not and would not submit to His law. And because they submitted not, God was not pleased to walk with them, and abandoned them. Let us thus be warned of unbelief, for from unbelief springs forth this hostility to God and all lawlessness. Joshua and Caleb were not more righteous than all their brothers, but they were righteous in that they believed. And thus they entered in to Canaan.

And you will destroy all this people. It is to be noted here that Moses did not say 'God' will destroy them. Unbelievers destroy themselves with their own faithlessness. Remember when Christ said:
Luke 7:50 (ESV)
And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
As the believer saves himself from eternal condemnation by his own faith, likewise the unbeliever condemns himself with his own unbelief. Christ will say to the unbeliever on the last day: "Your unbelief has damned you; go into everlasting death, where you will have no rest". Unbelief destroys oneself. Just as the first generation had no one to blame but themselves for not entering in Canaan. those who go to hell have no one blame but themselves. God has given everything to man that he may save himself and not die. He has given His own Son and killed Him for us, that whosoever believes may live. No man in Hell will blame God for his torments, but will forever blame himself for refusing to believe in such a loving God. Therefore hell will be a place of eternal self-pity and regrets:
Matthew 13:49-50 (ESV)
The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous [50] and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Let us have faith in our hearts, that we may be able to rejoice in heaven for the choice we made while we were in the world to believe in Him. We will say: 'Though the way was painful, following Christ was worth it. Though the world laughed at us, they are weeping now, and now we rejoice. Our labour in faith was not in vain'. Amen.