Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna
Monday, July 18, 2016
Topic: The empty tomb 95
Reading: Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-15
Scripture: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. (Luke 24:6)
Note: Isaiah 40:22, “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.”
The prophet Isaiah, speaking under the unction of the Spirit was in fact affirming what Israel should have done long ago when Moses sent the spies to search out the promised land. The report that the ten spies brought only sought to magnify the inhabitants of the land beyond what they rightfully deserved.
The Anakims, who were giants and the occupiers of the land, were described in size, strength and power in terms that could only have been ascribed to God, the creator of heaven and earth. Israel was a nation under the direct rule of God, with Moses as His earthly representative. God had always fought for Israel in His capacity as the Captain of the Host of Israel. This had been the consistent trend right from their departure in Egypt, through the Red Sea and the wilderness.
It was therefore mind boggling that the ten spies who had been witnesses to all the great works of God since Egypt, would suddenly choose to assume that God would abandon them on that particular occasion to face the giants alone, without His help. It is inconceivable that after all that God had done for them throughout the 40 years of journey, He would suddenly put out a no show at the most critical point in their lives and history.
God has assured us time without fail, that He will never leave us nor forsake us. When we go through the stormy waters, through the valleys and even through the mountains, He will always be with us. The disingenuous attempt by the ten spies to reduce Israel together with their God to the insignificant level of grasshoppers compared with the giants, was an indescribable insult beyond merely dealing with Israel, because Israel had never been alone without Jehovah.
The description of Israel as grasshoppers was seen by God as a personal denigration of His name, an affront to His faithfulness and an implicit declaration of lack of confidence in His leadership. The result of this spectacular unbelief was death for all who participated in the pity party of hopelessness.
Food for thought: When we have God we have hope that is established upon the solid foundation of His word. For God has magnified His word above all His names.
Declaration: Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. (Jer 1:12)
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
