Bible Poetry Reading Plan: Proverbs 25
Numbers 14:21-23 (ESV); But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the
Lord, none of the men who have seen My glory and My signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness,
and yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed My voice, shall see the land that
I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised Me shall see it.
God was ready to fulfill His promise and bring the Israelites into Canaan, but they would not accept
it. Fear and dread plagued them and they refused to put their trust in the God who had delivered
them from Egypt. Rather they cried out against their leaders and plotted to establish a new leader
who would bring them back to the nation that had enslaved them. Blinded by fear, they plunged
themselves into this foolishness and rebellion.
Though God was in their midst they disregarded Him and His anger burned against them. And the
punishment for their rebellion was grave – they who had grown up hearing stories of the Promised
Land and hoping against hope that theirs would be the generation to experience deliverance were
refused entrance.
God’s redemption is not cheap. A high price was paid at the Passover and He would pay the highest
price on Calvary. There is consequence for spitting in the face of God. He has shown humility to the
greatest degree and yet our final picture of Him is not of a baby in a manger or a man on a cross – we
see a Righteous Judge and Ruler of all. Those Israelites who rejected the promise were punished,
but God would not turn His back on His people. His plan was still to be accomplished and this people
would still be the catalyst.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What are some ways that you think people treat God’s redemption cheaply? When have you
treated His redemption cheaply? Spend some time in repentance.
2. When you think about Jesus, what is the picture that usually comes to mind? Is He the Baby in
the manger? The compassionate Healer? The Man on the cross? The risen Christ? The Judge?
Each of these pictures can bring us to worship. Ask God to give you a different picture of Jesus
to meditate on today.
