BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Friday, March 10, 2017

  Grandmother McGee often told little Sunny she believed that at birth he was vaccinated with a phonograph needle . . . and, that with all his expressed cravings he should be careful what he wished for. Eventually I realized how true her wisdom.

  In spite of repeatedly experiencing God’s deliverance the Israelites wished for the wrong thing . . . and got it! Recorded in Numbers 14:1-2 we see their emotionally hysterical wishing: After the Israelites heard negative reporting from 10 of the 12 male spies that had explored Canaan, the people wailed and moaned all night, and complained to Moses and Aaron, "We wish we had died in Egypt or somewhere out here in the desert!” 

  Not bad enough of itself, they included blame-shifting along with discussing democracy as the better path. Note verses 1:4, 10a.

  Reading a little further we see Jehovah’s giving them their wish: “As I live [Ex.3:14], says Jehovah, as you have spoken in My ears, so I will do to you. Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness …” (MKJV 14:28-29)

  What is it we are yearning for? Healing that brings with it a longer life, or possibly some other personal delight hankered for? Be very very careful. We may get exactly what we wish for! (Isaiah 38:1-6; 39:1-6)  EBB4