Numbers 9 - 15

the CHILDREN of God???? Where are the adults? Jesus makes it clear that we are to come (adults) to Him as little children. John 1:12 "as many as receive Him, to them He gave the power to become the CHILDREN of God!

When commands are clear, obey promptly, completely, following the words of the Word. When they are not clear, seek directions. These guidelines might prove helpful:
Guidelines to Guidance

1. Conviction within Psalm 37:4
Our part: “delight thyself in the Lord”
His part: “and He will give you the desires of your heart.
NOT "He will give you what you desire, BUT He will place His desires for you in your heart when you delight in Him!!"
2. Confirmation of Scripture
By principle OR by promise
By principle: You will know that it is right or wrong by the Scripture which you have stored in your heart and that you read in general.
By promise: logos—a personal word from the Lord. You are given these personal words as you are in the Word in a general sense…not when you do a topical study or look up things in the concordance, but might occasionally hear in that manner.
3. Counsel of others Proverbs 11:14, 15:22; 27:9 and many other verses having to do with the importance of seeking counsel of others.
4. Common sense. That is sanctified God-sense. When we received the Lord Jesus, become a new creation in Him, we are different. We have qualities like Him. He is not the author of confusion and He does all things well/decently and in order. We have the common sense/born again capacity to do likewise.
5. Circumstances without [ALWAYS consider last!] John 10:4; Rev. 3:8 Circumstances can be mis-read and mis-understood, but often are the first and sometimes the only guideline that many follow. Should line up with the other guidelines of Him, but consider LAST!
Sometimes when we are attempting to make a wise, Godly decision, we simply MUST wait. When we do not have a “peace that passeth all understanding”, we must wait, but that is different than being indecisive. We must listen for His voice. Psalm 27:13-14

Carping and Complaining Gratitude to Grouchiness!
“The World’s Largest Mobile Home Park”: The population estimate of 3 million, covering more than 100 square miles. And yet, through a detailed, God-given plan for pitching, striking, and moving camp, Moses maintained order in the nation. They were ready to “pull up stakes” and set out for Canaan. As silver trumpets herald the trips’ commencement, the huge camp prepares to march. The long-awaited journey has begun! But all too soon, gratitude turned into grouchiness. The people complained about their daily diet of manna and expressed jealousy over Moses’ leadership. In the midst of miraculous provision, there is persistent complaining, until at last the weary Israelites arrive at Kadish-barnea on the very border of Canaan.
Beautiful example in Moses of receiving criticism … one sentence I read about Moses was that the was the humblest man on earth. Miriam was striken with leprosy and Aaron cried out to Moses for mercy and admitted that he and Miriam were fools to do such a thing. Moses immediately cried out to the Lord, “Heal her, O God, I beg you!” (end of chapter 12)
“Those with their eyes fixed on the past risk a severe collision with the future.” How many things can you think of that were truly “good” about the good old days? When you experience adversity—even though you are obeying God—you may catch yourself looking back on the good old days with a twinge of nostalgia. Memory is a selective thing. Current difficulty often seems to bring to mind only the best of yesterday.
The Israelites had hardly broken camp when they began to complain about God’s daily provision of manna. They wanted meat and seem to long for the delicious fish, the wonderful cucumbers and melons, leeks, onions and garlic. To hear them tell it, you’d think they had left paradise in Egypt (11:5) But their FORESIGHT was even worse than their hindsight for they forgot God’s promise of future blessing. God never intended His children to spend the rest of their lives in the desert eating manna.
Have difficult times caused you to look longingly on the way life used to be? To help you keep your eyes focused on God’s purpose for you, it would be good to focus on Philippians 3: 13, 14. Keep looking up, and you’ll never want to look back.
THE PAINFUL PRICE OF UNBELIEF…In Chapter 13: At the Lord’s command, Moses selected one man from each tribe to forma a spying party and survey the land of Canaan. They returned 40 days later having all seen the same thing, but with a divided opinion as to what it meant. The majority opinion: “The people are too strong for us.” The minority opinion: “We shall surely conquer!” Disheartened and faithless, the people threatened to stone Moses and return to Egypt rather than face what seems to them certain massacre. The negative report spoke of the giants in the land – “No one deserves the title ‘giant’ when measured against an omnipotent God.” He had said “Do not be afraid!” ARE YOU A CALEB OR A COWARD IN LIFE?

Remember the example we have shared about the two bricklayers? When asked what they were doing, the first replied. “I’m laying brick”, the second, “I’m building a great cathedral.” Same task, same bricks, two thoroughly different perspectives!
On the verge of entering a land promised to Abraham more than six centuries before, the Israelites were faced with the spies’ report. The land is good, it FLOWS with milk and honey; it also OVERFLOWS with fortified cities and giants! Obviously, there could be only one response—“Let’s go!” The question was which direction. Joshua and Caleb responded with FAITH: “Let’s go FORWARD!” The other ten spies responded by FEELING, “Let’s go back to Egypt!” Majority opinion prevailed and Israel traced circles in the desert for 40 years.
The Israelites looked back when they ate the manna; they looked forward with FEAR as they were afraid they would become prey for the people in Canaan, so they again looked back to Egypt … in other words, “let’s escape slavery by going back into slavery!”
God’s punishment upon their unbelief is severe…one year of wilderness wandering for each day the spies were in the land—and death in the wilderness for that entire generation. And yet God would ultimately bring them into the land, they could be sure of this because the law He gave them contained instructions for living in the land.
Three NT Scriptures mention this happening: I Cor. 10:10-12, Hebrews 3:7-11, and 4:1-11
Where is God stretching your faith today? “spy out” your situation and make a list of what you see. Then ask yourself 2 questions: “How could I respond to this without faith? How should I respond to this in faith? REMEMBER what the Lord has already done in your life and think on His promises to you as a born again. Then do the thing that pleases God!