CONSECRATIONS ARE HEDGES

Reference text: Numbers 21: 4-9

Sometimes, in reading the story of Israel and their journey with God, I wonder how far our generation would have made it and how many of us would be left. Reading events like today where fiery serpents were sent into their camp made one wonder if God was being too harsh on them. However, a bit more context might change our opinion.

According to Biblical timeline, the events in Numbers 21 which we read today occurred around 38 years after manna had begun falling. So think about the situation again as Israel spoke against Moses to the extent of apparently appearing to forget all the provision throughout their near 40 year journey.

What was even extreme was them going as far as saying “we detest this miserable food”, referring to the manna which had sustained them for years as “worthless”. Manna was food for them, but in our time, it can be likened to our consecrations. The moment a people or an individual begin to detest the consecrations that has kept them, literal fiery outcomes await. Many are kept by consecrations such as pursuit of knowledge, prayer, fastings, or giving, amongst others.

The outcomes when these consecrations are neglected can be death – death of spiritual fire, death of access, death of influence and sometimes, literally, physical death. Ecclesiastes 10:8 reads: ‘Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.’ Our consecrations are hedges, and when those hedges are broken, access is open to all. Find yours and keep them.

#sly