Numbers 14:9 says, “Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.”
I was privileged to be with my father-in-law during his last days on earth. I even saw his spirit leave his body. You may doubt this, but you would say the same thing if you had seen it. Before the last surgery that took his life, we were talking and praying with him in the hospital room. His prayer was, “Lord, I would like to spend a few more years with my family, but not my will but Yours be done.”
Jesus said in Luke 22:42, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
The will is a powerful thing. Some people would die sooner if it wasn’t for the strong will to live. Some have fought to live until a family member arrived to say good-bye, and then passed away peacefully.
In Numbers 14 we have a number of lessons to look at. In the preceding chapter we have the report of the 12 spies that went into Canaan and searched out the land for 40 days. It is easy to see a parallel between deliverance from Egypt and salvation, and entering into the promised land and the blessing of the Spirit-filled life. With that in mind, let us look at some principles that can help us today.
We are all born with a stubborn will. Faced with fear of entering the blessing (promised land), the stubborn will cannot move forward. The Israelites were willing to give up their salvation altogether. Verse 2 states, “…would God that we had died in the land of Egypt.” The stubborn will finally rejects God. Verse 3 says, “And wherefore hath the Lord brought us into this land…” The stubborn will gives up the walk with God. Verse 4 says, “…let us return into Egypt.” The stubborn will effects others. Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in prayer (Verse 5). Joshua and Caleb rent their clothes (Verse 6). Then they plead with the congregation not to rebel or fear. The congregation wanted to stone them (Verses 7-10). In the following verses, God was ready to disown them and make a new nation from Moses. Even though Moses plead for the people, God brought judgment upon the Israelites. They were to die in the wilderness, their children only were to enter into the blessed land, along with Caleb and Joshua. The 10 fearful spies then died of the plague (Verse 37). The stubborn-willed people then decided they would go fight. This was a rejection of God’s judgment (Verse 41). Though Moses warned them, they went up outside of God’s will and were defeated.”
It is God’s will to save us and lead us into a blessed holy walk with Him. The hymn, “Sweet Will of God,” by Lelia Morris, is still relevant today as we think on our own stubborn will. Verse one, and the refrain: “My stubborn will at last hath yielded; I would be Thine, and Thine alone. And this the prayer my lips are bringing, Lord, let in me Thy will be done. Sweet will of God, still fold me closer, ‘Til I am wholly lost in Thee. Sweet will of God, still fold me closer, ‘Til I am wholly lost in Thee.”
What a blessing awaits when we say, “Goodbye to my stubborn will!”
