Hebrews 12:2

New King James Version

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For Meditation

The man was old and fatigued. The harshness of his life’s journey and the Sinai wilderness sojourn with the Israelites for forty years had worn him out and brought him closer to breaking point. His people tested God’s patience for forty years in the wilderness despite the revelation of Himself and His sovereignty at Sanai. At every point, Moses fell to his face and interceded for them. Moses was nothing, but God was all.

At Kadesh, however, Moses and Aaron stumbled and fell into the disfavor of God (Nu. 20:1-12). Israel cried for water and gathered in opposition to their two leaders. The Lord told Moses and Aaron what to do, but instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it twice. The meekest person on earth stumbled in anger. He did not trust God enough to honor Him as holy in the people’s eyes. He took God’s glory and suffered wrath—a ban from entering Canaan (12).

Moses had always seen God’s Omnipotent and Sovereign rule over His people and, in reverence, yielded to His majesty. He sought God’s honor before the Israelites and the nations around. On that fateful day at Kadesh, however, Moses lifted his eyes in frustration and saw the rebellion of the people against him instead of Yahweh. All the people’s past offenses against him rushed before him. They distorted His vision and slayed his patience and humility.

Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock? Moses said (10).

The frustrations of this world, its cares, and burdens can blur our vision of God and the demands of His righteous kingdom on us as citizens. The devil has perfected his craft of using our eyes to tempt us to break the terms of our covenant with Christ. We have abandoned Jesus and have gone after what our deceitful inner cravings demand. So, we see through the eyes of the world and its glitter like Eve, and they blind us. We bow at the altar of self and take Satan’s offer, dishonoring God before the people of the world we must give witness to about Him. What a shame!

Jesus showed us a better way through the cross. He overcame where Adam failed (Matt. 4:1-10) and lived a perfect life right up to the cross as the Lamb of God who took away our sins (Jn. 1:29; 1 Pt. 2:24). Jesus always saw the Father’s glory in every situation in His earthly life, and has now ascended to heaven, seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us (Rm. 8:34). As our Great High Priest who has endured every hardship and suffering we go through, Jesus calls us to look to Him who is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). He will give us power to endure through suffering (3), and live to the end by faith, and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

So, what and who do you see when you look around you—Jesus and His glorious kingdom or the world and its inherent frustrations?

Pray with Me

Father, we need your grace to carry us through life’s frustrations so we can stand against all kinds of temptation to dishonor you and not fail. Thank you for the fullness of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives, in Jesus’s matchless name. Amen!