Making the Right Choices

When Moses wrote Numbers 33, he was chronicling the events from the Exodus to the time of his writing. What was the purpose? It was to remind the Israelites: You had to make choices in the past, and you still have to make choices today.

Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, you are to drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you. You shall destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and you shall demolish all their high places. You shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. (Numbers 33:51-53)

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you live. Then I will do to you what I thought of doing to them. (Numbers 33:55-56)

Moses was teaching the Israelites to make the right choices. Today, the theme is The path of life hinges on each choice. In reality, the entire journey is filled with grace and the Israelites' rebelliousness. Initially, the Israelites marched out of Egypt in military formation under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. God brought them out of Egypt as an army, but they could not act as one, continually making the choices of ordinary people. When the Israelites left Egypt, what did the Bible say?

On the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover, the Israelites went out with their hand raised high, in the sight of all the Egyptians, who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them; for the Lord had brought judgment on their gods. (Numbers 33:3-4)

We can see here that you do not need to defend God. Our God is a God who slays, striking down all the firstborn of the Egyptians. While every Egyptian was in mourning, the Israelites marched out fearlessly, plundering every Egyptian household, seizing their gold and silver treasures. Today, we see a group of Israelites who are not particularly obedient, yet God showed them grace, leading them out of slavery in Egypt. God also struck down the firstborn of the Egyptians because they repeatedly rebelled against Him. Egypt at that time was the world's leading power. Pharaoh liked to do things his own way, rebelling time and again, never keeping his word, thus opposing God.

Learning to See Through

We must remember, never to be at odds with God. No matter who you are or how much power you wield, opposing God will not end well. The Israelites made the choice to listen to God and follow Moses and Aaron out of Egypt. But Pharaoh and the Egyptians made the wrong choice, resulting in the death of every firstborn in Egypt at God's hand. Today, some brothers and sisters may think, Wow, God, You are too ruthless.

It is because we cannot see through things that we make choices that lack insight. We know that the Israelites made numerous wrong choices after leaving Egypt. As they were about to enter Canaan, Moses once again gave them insight, teaching them how to make the right choices.

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you live. Then I will do to you what I thought of doing to them. (Numbers 33:55-56)

What were the Israelites thinking as they were about to enter Canaan? So many people are being killed just like that, isn't it too cruel? If they thought that way, God would treat them the same way He treated those people. We really do not understand God's logical system. If we follow human logic, we would struggle when reading this passage of the Bible, thinking it is too cruel to kill people and seize their land. Returning to Genesis, God rained fire from Heaven to destroy Sodom and its inhabitants. Every time we read these passages, non-believers among us will ask, Isn't God too cruel? Today, brothers and sisters, you must know that the inhabitants of those lands chose to be at odds with God, so God destroyed them.

The foundation of right choices is knowing God. If we follow our own logical system, we will find God to be very cruel. Regarding God's command for Saul to kill the Amalekites, it seems cruel from a human perspective, and people may choose not to do it. God commanded the Israelites to kill these people, but they spared them, and all the way till the book of Esther, the Amalekites sought to destroy the entire Jewish race.

So today, we begin to understand that God's logical system is what we need to see through. If we cannot grasp this, it will be difficult to diligently obey God's word. We may think we are doing a good deed, but in fact, we are offending God. If we are filled with misplaced compassion, God will treat us the same way He treats them.

Today, being a Christian is really not easy. At every crucial moment, we must make the right choices, which means choosing to listen to God and understanding what God is doing. God's perspective is completely different from ours. We spiritual people see through all things, and God sees through all things even more clearly. God sees people's lives and deaths clearly. You may think it is a pity to kill these people! But in God's eyes, it does not matter how old you are when you die. Anyway, you will die in sin. Why does God see it this way? Because the Canaanites were inherently rebellious against God, and they did many immoral things.

Brothers and sisters must know that our God is very righteous. How you treat others is how God will treat you. Do not think that our God is unjust, and do not think that you are righteous. The reason God treated the Canaanites that way is because they were extremely wicked and their sins were overflowing. Today, brothers and sisters must know that we must never be at odds with God.

Do Not Complain

After the Israelites left Egypt, God originally wanted to bring them into Canaan and have them wipe out all the people in the land. The Israelites came out of Egypt and walked through the wilderness to the sea. In front of them was the sea, and behind them was no way out. Pharaoh suddenly remembered that he should not have let them go, and he decided to attack the Israelites, thinking he could destroy them. The Israelites saw the sea in front and the pursuers behind, and they complained for the first time: Were there no graves in Egypt? In fact, those who said this were afraid of death.

I once met some brothers and sisters among us who said, Oh, I might as well die. But then they would say, Find me the best doctor. Usually, those who shout like this are a group of people who do not want to die. Truly insightful people would not find themselves in such a miserable situation. The Israelites once again experienced God's grace. God has given each of us many opportunities to see God's mighty works. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they saw with their own eyes God leading a group of unarmed Israelites out in the face of the mighty Egyptian army.

No matter where we go in life, we must know that God is our way. We often find ourselves in situations where there is the Red Sea in front and pursuers behind, but we can still know that God is an almighty God. The Israelites once again experienced God's great grace. God opened the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass through it as if on dry land. When the Egyptian army chased after them, God closed the sea, burying the Egyptian army in the water.

God's Intention is to Bring Us Into a Land Flowing with Milk and Honey

The Israelites made the wrong choices, but God still showed them grace. So brothers and sisters, do not think that because God has shown you grace today, you have made the right choices. Having experienced grace again and again, it is each choice that plays a key role. Sometimes we choose incorrectly, but God still gives us grace, but we are not always so lucky. We must know how to see through all this, and we must know that every choice must be made according to God's will. Those who complain to God can still cross the Red Sea, so will those who obey God surely cross the Red Sea? Brothers and sisters, when we encounter situations in each of our choices, can we make the right choices?

Today, brothers and sisters must know that after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they traveled for three days and camped at Marah. At that time, there was no water, which was really miserable. What if people have no water? If we were Israelites, you and I would say that our God struck the Egyptians, buried the Egyptian army in the sea, and made us cross the Red Sea as if on dry land. Now, we face a very small problem, which is that there is no water. What kind of choice and reaction should you have? If your reaction and your inner choice is to complain, you still have not seen through things and you are still a rebellious people.

God once again showed mercy to the Israelites, allowing them to pick up a branch and throw it into the water, and the bitter water became sweet. Isn't this enough? God wants us to know that He does not want us to die, but to live. As a result, they set out from Marah and arrived at Elim, where they camped and had water to drink. Then they began to move forward.

To be honest, marching like this is really hard! In fact, our path in life is also really hard. Our path in life is not so easy to walk, but as hard as it is, we still need to know what God is doing. God does not want us to die. God wants us to enter a land flowing with milk and honey. With eternal hope, this little hardship is nothing.

Today, we often encounter all kinds of difficulties and all kinds of predicaments. We work hard to get to this place, but there is no water to drink. We have had no water to drink twice before. Shouldn't we have learned our lesson this time? As a result, the Israelites complained again. Can't they learn the lesson of faith? Do they have to complain every time to receive grace? Actually, no. We can draw on God's grace by faith without complaining.

Seeing Through the Choices of a Lifetime

By Numbers 33, Aaron had already died, and those who were supposed to die were almost gone. Can you see through the choices of a lifetime? Can you see through what people are doing in their lives? A person's choices in life depend on the logical system within them. A person's choices in life depend on their attitude when they encounter problems. A person's choices in life depend on their view of life. What are they pursuing? If they are after a simple life and are affected by a difficulty, it will be difficult for them to continue. But if a person sees through all this, without water, we can fast and pray. What does it matter?

At this time, Joshua, Caleb, and Moses had no water to drink either. When you are thirsty, you will find that the more thirsty you feel, the thirstier you become, and many people become thirsty and uncomfortable and start complaining. But some people were really thirsty, but they did not complain. They knew that God would give them water to drink, and they would be able to overcome it. They did not follow their feelings, and the feeling of thirst was lessened.

Brothers and sisters can try it. If you see a difficulty and then start complaining, How could this be? How could that be? the feeling of pain will double. If you do not complain and start moving forward with faith, it does not matter if you encounter difficulties. I can overcome it. I can overcome it because this environment is beyond our control, and your feeling of pain will be halved. All in all, one is halved and the other is doubled, which is a fourfold difference. So today, brothers and sisters, I tell you that those who can survive are those who see through things, those who do not complain, those who have a positive attitude, and those who believe in God. Knowing that God will provide for us, we can make it through our lives.

After a period of time, they arrived in the Sinai Desert, and Moses went up the mountain. As a result, the Israelites made a golden calf. The situation was terrible. They had many reasons to say, Moses is gone, what should we do? So they made a god for themselves, and they made two golden calves and said, This is our god, let it lead us. What kind of logic is this? A god made by human hands is not a god. Today, brothers and sisters, seeing the path that the Israelites took, God once again gave grace to the Israelites. God almost struck down all the Israelites. Moses knelt down and pleaded with God, and God forgave the Israelites, allowing them to continue onward, and he promulgated the Ten Commandments and various other commandments in the Sinai Desert. As a result, the Israelites began to complain again because they had not eaten meat for a long time.

Brothers and sisters, we can see the Israelites' choices every time. Their choices every time are really very foolish. As a result, before Hazeroth, they ate quail again, and many people died. Can we see through the matter of living a little more? Can we see as clearly as God does? What is the matter with living? When we encounter difficulties and obstacles in our lives, can we deal with the reactions within us? Even if we can't deal with them, can we halve the painful feelings within us? Don't start complaining when you encounter things. All who do so die miserably.

I will make a summary, though not in great detail. Any malignant disease in a person is closely related to the choices we make within. If we become nervous over the slightest thing, if we complain about every little issue, such people tend to be prone to cancer and other malignant diseases.

Do Not Complain, Trust in God

Finally, they arrived at Hashmonah. God had Moses select twelve spies to enter Canaan and bring back its fruit. Among these twelve spies, ten reported bad news, causing the Israelites to face another difficult choice. They chose not to enter Canaan, deciding to return to Egypt. So today, you know that on our journey forward, you can choose to return to Egypt, you can choose to enter Canaan, or you can choose to remain in the wilderness. What is your choice?

If you choose to enter Canaan, you will face a fierce battle because it is inhabited by giants. As a result, the Israelites chose not to believe in God; they chose not to enter Canaan. God immediately struck down the ten spies, leaving only Joshua and Caleb.

Therefore, every choice the Israelites made is recorded in the place names, and these names are filled with stories. Consequently, they made the wrong choice again in that place. The choices the Israelites made not only affected them but also Moses and others. Moses, Joshua, and Caleb had to wander with the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years—a tragedy!

If I were Moses, Joshua, or Caleb, I would feel terrible. Why should I wander here with you? We could have been living comfortably in Canaan by now. Why are we wandering here? Isn't it because of you? However, the Bible does not record Moses complaining in his writings. Moses seemed to accept the reality that he had to wander with the Israelites for forty years with equanimity.

Forty years in the wilderness—is that fun? What kind of entertainment activities are there? None at all. What is there to eat in the wilderness for forty years? Nothing. I don't know what Moses felt inside during those forty years of wandering for the Israelites. He didn't write about it, but I know that what he wrote in the Bible doesn't mention this part.

Today, I know that Moses, Joshua, and Caleb were people who saw through everything. Moses's view was the same as God's: life is but this. Since we have to wander in the wilderness, let's wander in the wilderness. Either way, one lives, so living like this is living, and living like that is living. Since God doesn't allow us to enter Canaan because of the Israelites, I will continue to walk with you; that's okay too.

The important thing is that I must not be a complainer. I begin to choose, saying, God, if that's the case, we'll walk together. One day, I will enter Canaan. You are a righteous God, and I will make the right choice. This is the logic of Joshua, Caleb, and Moses.

Did you see them complaining? But they were the ones who were truly wronged. They should have entered Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, and lived a good life. They didn't need to wander in the wilderness. Yet, Moses, Joshua, and Caleb each had to walk this path. If you feel bad, they feel bad too.

But no matter what, the path we walk in life, encountering a crossroads today and another tomorrow, facing one thing today and another tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, have you seen through everything in your heart? Have you seen through all of these things? If you have, you will know how to make choices. Anyway, people are just this way. No matter what situation you are in, even if I am wronged, even if I shouldn't have to wander in the wilderness with the Israelites for forty years, since I have to wander, then let's wander. I won't complain.

Today, I boast again before the brothers and sisters that I truly see through many things, though not necessarily completely. But what is passed down in me is Paul's logical system, like Moses. Even so, what does it matter? Life is but this; we must go on no matter what. Since there are twenty-four hours in a day and three hundred and sixty-five days in a year, let's just walk on like this, no matter what, without complaining.

I have seen through everything because I consider everything as rubbish, that I may gain Jesus Christ. Since we have God, what else do we need? With God, even if there are trials, let them be! So today, brothers and sisters, can you have the same resolve as me? If you see through many things, you will truly live well. When you encounter sorrow, sorrow is halved; when you encounter joy, joy is doubled. What could be better than God? Since we are alive, let us live out the image of God.

We face choices every time, and every road we walk is hard. Moses, Joshua, and Caleb, setting out from here and setting out from there, it was really hard. Sometimes we are forced, as if we are tied together. The entire nation of Israel failed, and the entire nation of Israel disobeyed God's will. Yet, Moses, Joshua, and Caleb had to bear the same consequences. You have reason to complain, but do you choose to complain? You may encounter many things in your small group or parish that do not align with your heart, but people must always move forward. You can choose to complain, or you can choose to continue moving forward. One day we will stand before God and give an account. One day God will let us rest from the toils of this world and find rest in Him.

Moses wrote about these places because he walked through them himself. Moses was the same as the other ordinary people: his legs ached from walking, and his heart was also troubled. But our hearts have seen through everything. After seeing through everything, our reactions are very different.

A few days ago, I shared with a sister, saying, I know a pastor who works at a church called WR Church and serves as its head pastor. He is planning to give the position of head pastor to his son. I asked her, Sister, what do you think? She said, His son should be doing very well, prestigious and glamorous. After listening, I thought I would have to teach her slowly in the future. In a church of ten thousand people, you can imagine the accounts of donations. If a person donates an average of six thousand Singapore dollars a year, ten thousand people would be sixty million. That is really a lot of money, and it may indeed be very glamorous.

But the question is, does that head pastor really know what he is doing? The pastor's chair is not easy to sit on, and there are many senior leaders in the church. Will they really honour his son? Of course, it would be okay if his son has the Word, but if he doesn't have the Word, can he shepherd the church well? I estimate that his days won't be easy. Since living is a simple matter, why make his son choose such a difficult path? It's really not necessary. It would be better for his son to build a small church with his team and then develop it into a large church; that's fine too, as his son certainly can. Why do such a thing? Of course, I am speaking from my own perspective.

Can people see through these worldly matters? If they see through worldly matters, worldly fame and gain count for nothing. If people want to pursue fame and gain, of course, they may be pursuing Mingding Destiny. If they are pursuing fame, profit, and halos, I think that pain will pierce them through in many instances.

Brothers and sisters, if we see through worldly matters, even if we are wandering in the wilderness, we can still wander out the glory of God. Like Joshua, Caleb, and Moses, they never complained about bearing such consequences with the Israelites, because complaining is very painful, and complaining is not the image of God.

Because people can see through everything, there is no problem encountering such things. How great it is if people can see through things! When people come into this world, can they see through many things? If they see through many things, they will not die in the wilderness, and they will not wander painfully in the wilderness. Today, you must know that those who see through have blessedness!

For example, Paul was sitting in prison for the sake of the gospel, but no one and nothing could rob him of the joy within him. I tell you, in the Bible, from Genesis to Numbers, we see that the people God chooses have a unique quality—they have seen through everything. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were all like this. Joseph was sold into Egypt as a slave, but he still had hope in eternity within him. He trusted in his God, and no one could rob him of his destiny. He eventually became the prime minister of Egypt.

Today, we really need to ask ourselves, have we seen through worldly matters? If we have, we will not wander in the wilderness for forty years. If we have, we will make the right choices every time. You will surely see God's miraculous deeds and His wondrous grace.

I encourage everyone to offer themselves as a living sacrifice. But often, people may not see through and may not know what to do, offering themselves as a living sacrifice without knowing what they are doing. I may not be able to explain it clearly to you, but I can explain it very clearly to myself—to be used by God, whether in business, work, or ministry, with nothing able to control us.

Reject the Erroneous Logical System Within

If we see through, what does warfare matter? You might say, Oh, war can kill people! Thank God, let us die! Anyway, we will leave this world one day. Going to Canaan to fight, many people will feel that it is cruel, but what is it for? Because the sins of the people of that land are full, and God wants to destroy them. You may feel that destroying them is terrible, but since God lets us destroy them, then let's destroy them. Of course, I am talking about Moses's time three thousand five hundred years ago.

So today, brothers and sisters, remove the human logical system within us, begin to see through everything, and make choices according to God's will every time. Even if these choices do not seem to align with human logic, like the Israelites drawing lots to divide the land, they argued over such small matters for a long time. If you really see through, you won't be bothered by these things. God wants us to see through the matters of ministry because they are merely entrusted to us by God. As we live, we see through everything. How God leads us, we follow.

Today, I must tell everyone that the path you have walked to this point is the result of a series of your choices. It is not God making choices for you, but you making choices yourself. If you have made the wrong choices in the past, then start making the right choices today. Begin to re-examine according to God's logic. If you see through everything, you will surely live very well. Even wandering in the wilderness with the Israelites for forty years can bring joy.

Today, brothers and sisters, can we unite in a single purpose to fight victoriously and make the right choices together? Let no brother or sister among us fall behind, and let no one make choices according to their own will, but according to God's will. Today, brothers and sisters, let us begin to arise and fight, and let us remove those things within us that do not align with God's will, allowing God's word to be the basis of our choices.

From the moment we began to believe in the Lord and came out of the world, God predestined us to be mighty warriors of battle. From that moment, we are a mighty army. From today, let us make worthy choices together, and we will not wander in the wilderness for so long. If we make the wrong choices today, we will bear such consequences together. When the time is right, we can still enter Canaan. Let us always reject complaining, fear, and all these human thoughts! Because what we do is spiritual: To demolish the walls, drive out the inhabitants of that land, destroy all their idols, take possession of that land and dwell in it. For that is the inheritance God has given us; our choices are too important.

Conclusion

Do we feel upset today? Do we feel implicated by others today? That is because we did not see through at those times, taking some things too seriously and being bound by these things. If you begin to continually climb the mountain of Jehovah, continually elevate your spiritual height, and see things more and more clearly, you will make the right choices.

The path of a person's life, however one walks, one must walk. If you choose rightly according to God's will, you can walk on. If you choose wrongly according to your own will, you must also walk on. Although we cannot change the wrong path of the past, we can still make choices about the path ahead.

Let us reorganize the faith within us. Know that God's will is to guide us into a land flowing with milk and honey. But this land flowing with milk and honey cannot be entered through our own strength. We must rely on God to fight victoriously in order to attain it. The path of the past has had many graces, but in the future, let us begin to actively and proactively walk according to God's word. May God bless everyone!