Day 2: Beat down by pride
Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah (Numbers 14:44-45).
Sovereign Lord, You alone are God, seated on Your glorious throne, exalted from the beginning (Jeremiah 17:12). You have made it abundantly clear what an affront pride is to Your sovereignty, Your holiness, and Your majesty: For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23).
But throughout the history of Your ancient people, pride, rebellion, and disobedience persisted. Earlier, Moses had reminded them that You had clearly shown Yourself to them as God, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, [and] by great and awesome deeds... so that [they] may know that the Lord is God; besides Him there is no other (Deuteronomy 4:34-35).
Yet, after all the evidence of Your love, might and power— the leading and guiding, the providing and protecting, the shielding and defending— they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe Your promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord (Psalm 106:24-25). And compounding rebellion with arrogance they disobeyed and went forward into the land against Moses' warning and against the command of the Lord (Numbers 14:40-44).
Father, the wisdom of Your word tells us, The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished (Proverbs 16:5). Teach us from this example to guard our own hearts from disobedience, rebellion, and presumption— lest we too, experience the disgrace of a "beat down" by pride.
You have shown Yourself to be God— providing and protecting, shielding and defending us. Help us not to despise Your promises. Help us demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Remind us that God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6). May we walk in humility, and remain under the covering of Your grace.
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