Mar 9 (Daily reading: Numbers 33-34) We as God’s children should possess “holy boldness.” Moses recorded that “the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians” (33:3). They began with boldness and confidence because God had freed them from bondage!
Unfortunately, wilderness living is not characterized by holy boldness. When the Hebrews heard the report of the ten spies, “all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept” (Num. 14:1). Yet, after living in fear for forty years, their children learned from Rahab: “I know that the LORD has given you the land…For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt…When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Josh. 2:9-11). They had been afraid of a defeated enemy!
In contrast, living “in the land” abundantly is living boldly. “And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness” (Ac. 4:31). Paul had a prayer request: “That utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel…that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph. 6:19-20). Our greatest opportunity for boldness is described in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (NKJV). We can “walk right in boldly” into the very presence of God!
“On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul” (Ps. 138:3).
– Al Gary
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