Numbers 14:11 English Standard Version (ESV) And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

Since God knows all things, then the only reason God would pose this question to Moses is for our benefit. We might consider His Words, if we do not believe in Him despite all He has done for us, God feels despised.

In Numbers there is a mixture of people that are either following God or following Moses. Moses is a foreshadowing of Christ but the people of that time knew nothing of Christ or the work of the cross. We can see Moses as an example but they did not.

Do we follow God or man?

Jesus was fully man. He now sits on the right hand throne of God. We have charismatic men before us that show the love of Christ but do we believe God or the man? Do we see Christ’s love or man’s?

There will be some who think, if this man can do it, so can I. Then there will be those that only want to bathe in the light of the man rather than the source of that light, Christ. Then there will be another group that is not aware of the difference.

It doesn’t matter who you follow or why if you do not believe in God the Father.

Hebrews 11:6 English Standard Version (ESV) And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Jesus is God and that is easy enough to believe. The Holy Spirit exists as our helper and His presence is apparent.

God the Father, the  creator of all that exists, seems to be far distant to many of us, as far away as the beginning of creation. He does not seem to be as close as Christ who died almost 2,000 years ago. The Holy Spirit is with us but He only testifies of Christ, not the Father and at times that seems difficult to understand.

Jesus was including the Father when He said we.

John 14:23 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Luke 18:9-14 English Standard Version

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Pay close attention to verse 9. There is no connection between attitude and religion in this first line. Being self-righteous and contemptuous does not in and of itself demand that religion be involved. It is only in this parable that the connection is made between them for the purpose of seeing how justification works.

One does not have to be a Pharisee to act like a Pharisee. Anyone satisfied with their lives will not seek help.

Likewise no one has to be a tax collector to be dissatisfied with the life they are living. Note closely that this man did nothing more than plead for mercy. This is acknowledgement of guilt, a life lived out of control and feeling vulnerable. He does not have to name his sins to repent of them.

My first prayer to God was only in my mind “I don’t want to be like this.” That is all it took because God knew what was in my heart and in my mind.

If others cannot tell us what is troubling them, then just ask them to be honest with themselves and in private seek God’s mercy and see for themselves how God responds to prayer.

It couldn’t hurt and who knows, maybe God will honor honesty.