Holy God

Scripture:
Numbers 27:13-14 — “When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was; for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” 

Observation:
What a sobering story. Moses, who God used to free His people from bondage, who had led God’s people for forty years through the wilderness, who was handed the Ten Commandments, was now being told that he could not enter into the Promised Land. The reason … he had not honored God as holy and as I read it, on ONE occasion. If this doesn’t show the importance of fearing and honoring God’s name I don’t know what does. God’s holiness is absolute. It can’t be tailored to accommodate sinful people. Moses had sinned and there was a price to be paid. It didn’t matter that it was Moses. It didn’t matter that it was one of God’s trusted leaders, a faithful follower, or even a Godly man. He had sinned. How much more amazing is the grace that God pours out on us. That in our sin, He sent His Son to pay a price we could never pay. 

Application:
I must never forget that my God is a holy God and will never compromise His holiness to accommodate my sinfulness. I need to constantly be mindful that He is a holy God who demands my utmost respect and honor. I also need to be mindful that there are consequences to sinful behavior. Knowing that forgiveness is gift that is undeserved and not to be taken for granted. 

Prayer:
God, You are The Holy God. You are not a God who can go against who You are. You are a just, righteous and lawful God. Help me to never take Your gifts of forgiveness, salvation and love for granted but to live in the awareness that You are the Almighty.

— Crystal Stringer, high school minister