A Mist That Appears For a Little While
Numbers 13:17–20
"When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)"
I like so much the prudence that Moses and the Israelites exhibit in this particular event. Planning is very important to a large extent and good stewardship of the blessings and resources God gives us honours the Great Giver. We do not know what the future holds, lest we boast about it. St. James exhorts us to be careful: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that (Jam 4:14–15)." So, plan we must, and our plans we must always lay at the feet of the Lord only. Seek His wisdom and holy counsel. We are given much freedom in living and planning our lives, but God ultimately lays our paths, and the outcomes are determined by God in His sovereignty, we may want to keep close, as the Lord said, "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 (John 15:4)." "People plan their way, according to their hearts' desires; But the Lord directs each one's steps (Prov 16:9)."
"When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)"
I like so much the prudence that Moses and the Israelites exhibit in this particular event. Planning is very important to a large extent and good stewardship of the blessings and resources God gives us honours the Great Giver. We do not know what the future holds, lest we boast about it. St. James exhorts us to be careful: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that (Jam 4:14–15)." So, plan we must, and our plans we must always lay at the feet of the Lord only. Seek His wisdom and holy counsel. We are given much freedom in living and planning our lives, but God ultimately lays our paths, and the outcomes are determined by God in His sovereignty, we may want to keep close, as the Lord said, "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 (John 15:4)." "People plan their way, according to their hearts' desires; But the Lord directs each one's steps (Prov 16:9)."
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