Good Morning.

Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel. (Numbers 14:10)

In the midst of all the clamor surrounding the spies’ evil report, the two faithful spies — Joshua and Caleb — had tried to dissuade the people from making this tragic mistake. And as is most often the case when someone tries to do the right thing, it was met with hostility. As the old saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished. In fact, our verse is preceded immediately with the statement, “And all the congregation said to stone them with stones.” The rabbinical thinking on this says the threat against Joshua and Caleb is exactly why the Glory of the LORD appeared. Had it not been for the glory of the LORD appearing in the tabernacle, the mob may have succeeded in their intentions.

The fact that they did not stone them is strong evidence that God does watch over and protect those who stand for righteousness and His purpose in the earth. That doesn’t mean that those who do take a stand are exempted from persecution and hardship. To the contrary, it means that they can most likely count on such. Still, those who are His faithful servants can and should rest assured that He is faithful to see us through the hardship and persecution. He doesn’t abandon us especially when we are being used as His instruments to stand against the spread of doubt and unbelief among His own.

When it comes to being persecuted for doing the right thing, few were more familiar with this than the apostle Paul. In fact, he had a lot to say to say on the matter. As he related to the Corinthians, he had been greatly afflicted spending as much time in prison as he had on the street. He had been beaten with rods, scourged with whips, shipwrecked, robbed suffered hunger and thirst and all because he was endeavoring to do the LORD’s will.

So the message today is, do the right thing regardless of what everyone else is doing and no matter the cost to our comfort. I realize that is easy to say but another matter, entirely, to do. Nevertheless, it is what we are called to do and so we must commit ourselves to do it. As Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him.”

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill 

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