I had a big delivery today. I'm talking about a delivery so large that it required its own pallet. Two to be exact. The only frustrating part was where the delivery driver left my packages. Let me explain.
After he unloaded them from his truck, he informed me that he would have to leave them on the curb of my driveway, which meant that I would have to use my wagon to transport the boxes to my front door plus muster up enough strength to carry them inside. Although slightly annoyed, I prayed my way through it and proceeded to do what I had to because I'm learning not to let my feelings & emotions interfere with me hallowing the LORD in every situation.
"Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." - Numbers 20:12
Even before the children of Israel crossed over into the land of Canaan, the land that the LORD promised to them, they struggled with rebellion and doubt towards God. As their leaders, Moses and Aaron often experienced the brunt of their bad attitudes constantly having to remind them that God was with them. However, after one particularĀ incident in Numbers 20 in which the children of Israel falsely accused Moses and Aaron of bringing them out of Egypt and into the wilderness to die of hunger & thirst, the LORD commanded Moses to speak to a rock that would in turn, give them its water to drink. Moses who was still angry with his brethren over their false accusations struck the rock with his staff instead of speaking to it and while it did provide water for the people and their animals, his actions were sinful in God's sight.
"If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.āĀ - Genesis 4:7
The word hallow means to make holy, consecrate, and sanctify. Under God's new covenant with mankind through Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit who serves as an onsite counselor of sorts helping us to stay in alignment with God's will for our lives and to obey His statutes. In other words, He helps us hallow the LORD in any situation that we might find ourselves in even the most upsetting ones. Under God's former covenant with the children of Israel, this Spirit of Truth was typically only given to God's prophets. Therefore, as a prophet of God (Deuteronomy 34:10), Moses was expected to hallow the LORD no matter what. Unfortunately, he missed the mark in Numbers 20 and as a result of his disobedience, God did not allow him to cross over into the promised land. See that's the thing about sin, you never know what it might cost you no matter how many times you've done it before. All it needs is an open door in your life to potentially rob you of what should've been yours forever.
"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name."Ā - Matthew 6:9
Let me remind you that a bad day doesn't have to rule over you neither does a health diagnosis, a misbehaving child, an unexpected bill, or a frustrating home delivery experience. I know that American culture tries to convince us that it's okay to sulk and be mad until you feel like feeling better but I'm here to remind you that it's still possible for you and me to hallow the LORD in the midst of your situation without giving into the temptation to sin against Him. Jesus didn't leave us helpless after He ascended to heaven. Our heavenly Father gave us the Holy Spirit, so that even when we don't know what to pray, He does.
