Do Some Counting Today!
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! (Psalm 139:17)
Often I become so immersed in things I haven’t finished or things I don’t have that I fail to see all the good things around me. I have forgotten to count the new friends made this year and the answered prayers received, the tears of joy shed and the times of laughter with good friends.
My ten fingers are not enough to count all that God gives me day by day. “Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Ps. 40:5). How can we even begin to count all the blessings of salvation, reconciliation, and eternal life?
Let us join David as he praises God for all His precious thoughts about us and all He has done for us, when he says, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee” (139:17–18).
Let’s learn to count again!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 139:14-18
Reflect
Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the Lord . . .(Numbers 33:2)
Numbers 33 is a chapter in the Bible we might pass by without reflection. It appears to be nothing more than a long list of places tracing Israel’s pilgrimage from Rameses in Egypt to their arrival in the plains of Moab. But it must be important because it’s the only section in Numbers that follows with the words: “Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the Lord . . .” (v. 2).
Why keep a record of this? Could it be that this list provides a framework upon which the Israelites emerging from the wilderness could retrace that forty-year journey in their thoughts and recall God’s faithfulness at each location?
I envision an Israelite father, sitting near a campfire, reminiscing with his son: “I will never forget Rephidim! I was dying of thirst, nothing but sand and sage for hundreds of miles. Then God directed Moses to take his staff and strike a rock—actually a hard slab of flint. I thought, What a futile gesture; he’ll never get anything out of that stone. But to my amazement water gushed out of that rock! A generous flow that satisfied the thirst of the thousands of Israelites. I’ll never forget that day!” (see Ps. 114:8; Num. 20:8–13; 33:14).
So why not give it a try? Reflect on your life—stage by stage—and remember all the ways God has shown you His faithful, covenant love.
Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Johnson Oatman Jr.
This devotion intrigued me because I would have been the one to pass by without giving it much reflection but after reading this devotion it gave me a much different light to the purpose and meaning behind Numbers 33 and I read it with a desire to understand the why and where. It has provoked me to give each chapter in God’s word a chance, even the ones that I may think don’t need much reflection, if it’s in The Bible, there is purpose and reason and it’s up to me to research it, dig deeper and find the meaning behind why God felt it to be of importance to add whatever it may be to the Bible. If it’s in the Bible then there is meaning and purpose.
Let us take the time today and count our many blessings and name them one by one. Take time to reflect on your life today.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Numbers 33