If today you hear hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

“Is the Lord in our midst or not?”  (Exodus 17: 7 NABRE)

The children of Israel driven by severe thirst in the desert posed this point blank question to God at Massah and Meribah. This place became known as place of rebellion.

Have you ever been driven by extreme adversity to challenge God?  "O God, where are You?"  The psalmist again and again shout out:   "Answer me God. Don't be deaf to my prayers and my cries for help!"  (Cf Psalm 39: 12, 143: 7, 28:1, 35: 22, etc).  But why would God allow us to be driven to this level of desperation that we rebel?  I have been in many such situation in my life.  I have learned the following:

#1.  God is a Father and a Teacher who knows exactly what we need and is teaching us what is best for us.
#2. Man's extremity is God's opportunity.

God uses our adversities as teaching moment.  What son who is valued by his father does not train him for success and integrity?  (Cf Hebrews 12: 7)

On Day 19 of 40 of Lent 2017,
"Oh, that today you would hear his voice: Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert."   (Psalm 95:  7 - 8)

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If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

“Is the Lord in our midst or not?”  (Exodus 17: 7 NABRE)

The children of Israel driven by severe thirst in the desert posed this point blank question to God at Massah and Meribah. This place became known as place of rebellion.

Have you ever been driven by extreme adversity to challenge God?  "O God, where are You?"  The psalmist again and again shout out:   "Answer me God. Don't be deaf to my prayers and my cries for help!"  (Cf Psalm 39: 12, 143: 7, 28:1, 35: 22, etc).  But why would God allow us to be driven to this level of desperation that we rebel?  I have been in many such situation in my life.  I have learned the following:

#1.  God is a Father and a Teacher who knows exactly what we need and is teaching us what is best for us.
#2. Man's extremity is God's opportunity.

God uses our adversities as teaching moment.  What son who is valued by his father does not train him for success and integrity?  (Cf Hebrews 12: 7)

On Day 19 of 40 of Lent 2017,
"Oh, that today you would hear his voice: Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert."   (Psalm 95:  7 - 8)

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I will go and say to my Father. Father forgive me.

"The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.
How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures."  (Psalm 145: 8 - 9 RM)

On Day 18 of 40 of Lent 2017, the word of God gives us some Scriptures we need to memorize and repeat every day.  Memorizing and repeating Scriptures is a well attested means of transformation of the mind and heart.  "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."  (Psalm 119: 11)  Here are two more reasons to encourage you to repeat often the Scriptures that touch your heart:

#1.  You are becoming what you believe.
#2.  What transforms your mind and heart is not what you know but what you do everyday.  (Cf John 13 : 17)

"Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts.  Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills, Who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with mercy and compassion."  (Psalm 103: 1 - 4)

Glory to You, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ.

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The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

"Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long ornamented tunic.  When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his brothers, they hated him so much that they could not say a kind word to him."  (Genesis 37: 3 - 4 NABRE)

On Day 17 of 40 of Lent 2017, the word of God reminds us through the story of Joseph and his brothers the narrative of Cain and Abel which we saw in mid February.  "Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him."  (Genesis 4: 8 NABRE)
The motives for the present crime are similar:

#1.  Jealousy, envy, anger, hatred
#2.  Spirit of disobedience
#3.  No fear of God or retribution
Etc, etc.

Consider the consequences:
Murder, fratricide, racism, war.

The brothers of Joseph sold him to traders en route to Egypt for 20 pieces of silver.  Both Abel and Joseph are types of Jesus.  As we approach the great feast of Easter, watch out for other types of Jesus.

"When the LORD called down a famine on the land and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them,
Joseph, sold as a slave.
They had weighed him down with fetters, and he was bound with chains, till his prediction came to pass and the word of the LORD proved him true."  (Psalm 105: 16 - 18 RM)

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

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Do not put your trust in princes.

"Thus says the Lord:
Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord."  (Jeremiah 17: 5 NABRE)

Why such a severe curse on anyone who trusts in human being? To get our attention.  Some people trust in humans to provide them with  job, money and even life.  The Bible warns again and again, put no trust in man or in princes or in horses and chariots (tanks, fighter bombers, etc). (Cf Psalm 118: 8; 146: 3)

The fellow who trusts in humans or themselves is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season.  (Jeremiah 17: 6).  Just like the 4 Seasons in nature, are the seasons of a man's life.  Spring follows winter.

On Day 16 of 40 of Lent 2017, the word of God asks us: Who do you trust?

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust. They are like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It does not fear heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still produces fruit."  (Jeremiah 17: 7 - 8 NABRE)

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My destiny, my security is in Your hands, O Lord my God.

"My destiny is in your hands."  (Psalm 31:  16 NABRE)

Are you delighted to know that your destiny, your total security is 100% in the hands of God?  God's most loving Providence watches over every moment of our life with utmost diligence. So diligent, that not a single hair falls from our head without His permission.  (Luke 12: 7, Luke 21: 18, Matthew 10: 30)

In order to appropriate this blessing, you must believe.  Faith is believing that what God says is true. God never fails, no matter what.  What we believe makes us what we are.  Correct belief is the key to correct action.

On Day 15 of 40 of Lent 2017, God invites us to trust wholeheartedly in His most loving and powerful providence:

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."  (Matthew 6: 33 - 34 NLT)

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Which is easier to do? To resist God or to enjoy the good things of the land?

"If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land."  (Isaiah 1: 19 NABRE)

How far will you go to resist God's will?  I will rather eat the good things of the land than continue in disobedience.

"Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome."  (1 John 5: 3 NLT)
Of course nobody can keep all the Commandments without the help of the Holy Spirit.  When you try and fail to keep the Commandments, the Lord whose mercy is unceasing has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation for this end.  On Day 14 of 40 of Lent 2017, think about this and thank the Lord Jesus for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

"To the upright I will show the saving power of God."  (Psalm 50: 23)

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Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.

"Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful."

 “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.   Give and gifts will be given to you."  (Luke 6: 36 - 38 NABRE)

On Day 13 of 40 of Lent 2017, the teaching of Jesus above (Luke 6 : 36-38) needs no comments.  Just do it.

Glory to You, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ

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