“Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23)

Every sin is like a magnet; when you go close to it you are caught by it.

The story is told of two young boys who were having a good time collecting plastic wares and other light materials floating in a river which had flooded its banks. Suddenly they spied a woollen-blanket-looking thing floating some distance away in the river. One boy swam towards it and caught the so-called black blanket. But as soon as he caught the blanket, he started drowning.

“Leave the blanket and come away,” shouted the other boy who was on the shore. “I’ve left the blanket,” shouted back the drowning boy, “but the blanket doesn’t leave me!” With that the boy disappeared from view. Then, to his shock and horror, the other boy saw the so-called black woollen blanket swimming away – it was a big black bear!

Every sin is like a black bear. First you are attracted to it. Smoking, drinking, etc. may appear harmless and likeable in the beginning. However, at the end they kill your spirit, soul and body. “The promises of sin are fair but the pay-off is cruel,” said Albert Nielson. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom :23).

“Sin’s pleasures have such great appeal, They look like bargains rare; But seldom do we clearly see. The hidden costs they bear.”

Keep as far away as possible from sinful places and people.”Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn away from it and pass away” (Prov 4:14,15).

Extracted from – TPM Morning Manna.

Stay Blessed 😊
Ravi

🛡️ The Vengeance 🛡️

Before his death, the Lord asked Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. Each tribe had to send a thousand men. They went along with Phinehas, son of Eleazar the priest.

All the five kings of Midian and Balaam the diviner along with all the people were killed. They took their women, children, herds and their flocks and all their goods as plunder. All the towns and camps of the Midianites were burnt. Moses wanted all the boys and women to be killed.

All the plunders were divided among the soldiers, the community and the Levites. The gold and crafted articles were presented as a gift to the Lord. This was brought into the Temple of Meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord.

⛲ Transjordan Tribes ⛲
The Reubenites and the Gadites had very large herds and flocks and they said that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for their livestock. They approached Moses and told him that their flocks, herds and families would settle on this side of Jordan.

The men of their tribes would go ahead of the Israelites, not to return to their homes till every Israelite had received had received their inheritance in the Promised Land. Moses warned them that if they failed to keep to their promise they would be sinning against the Lord. They agreed to keep to the Word.

🏝️ Clear Instructions 🏝️
When they crossed the Jordan into Canaan, they had to drive out the inhabitants of the land before them and destroy all their images, idols and high places. They had to take possession of the land and settle in it.

The land had to be distributed by lots according to their class. The Lord said that inhabitants of the the land should be driven out. If they allow some to remain they would only be barbs in their eyes and thorn in their sides and cause a lot of trouble. The lord clearly told them the borders of Canaan to the North, South, East and West.

Mrs Caroline Chellappa 📝
Chennai
20.8.2020