Only a short time into the book of Numbers, there are two statements I've read numerous times, which have not escaped my mind. "So Moses did as the Lord commanded him."
AND
"Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground."
Both Moses and Aaron are leading large groups of incredibly obstinate and stubborn people, and during all the whining, struggles, and frustrations, these are two very common responses from Moses and Aaron. On countless occasions you see the Lord give Moses a command for his next move as the leader (often decisions and commands which will inevitably anger and frustrate the people), and the next statement in the text is, "So Moses did as the Lord commanded him." It is written so simply in our Bibles, but that statement represents a very significant action. Moses was incredibly obedient to God when commanded anything of him.
Those commands were never simple, but the simple presentation of his obedience in scripture shows the great devotion and dedication of Moses. That is phenomenal, and I really need to take a great challenge from that. How obedient of God's commands on my life have I been? Would someone be able to write my biography and write, with confidence, "So PC did as the Lord commanded him"?
Well I am not so sure this person would be able to write of me that I frequently heard from God enough to actually do as He tells me, which brings up the second statement.
Each and every time anything came before Moses and Aaron, there was this second statement quickly following: "Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground." Generally, once they were berated by their own people for having done what the Lord asked them to do, this statement followed. Often when circumstances came their way and HUGE decisions needed to be made, this statement quickly followed. Nearly every time, that statement would be followed with, "The glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them..."
As a leader, a husband, a man...I wonder if my biographer would be able to write of me that I was quick to "fall face down on the ground" once presented with difficult circumstances and decisions. Actually, no, I don't wonder at all! My biographer would NOT be able to write that statement of me; at least not frequently enough to indicate a pattern.
This makes me wonder if I could change the course of my hypothetical biography from this point forward...