WEDNESDAY 23 November, 2016
Disaster Assistance
Now Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. So Araunah went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.” - 2 Samuel 24:20-21
Imagine, David had seen the Angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. In response, David interceded for the people and the elders clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces (1 Chronicles 21:16). Interestingly, as Araunah was threshing the wheat he had turned and seen the angel of the Lord for himself. His four sons, being afraid, hid themselves but Araunah continued to thresh the wheat (1 Chronicles 21:20).
King David arrived with his servants and asked Araunah for his assistance. He requested to purchase the threshing floor––to build an altar to the LORD. By following the Angel of the Lord’s command, he hoped the disastrous plague would be stopped (1 Chronicles 21:18).
When the people of Israel spoke against the Lord and Moses; due to their sin––fiery serpents were sent among them; those bitten died. Moses was told by the Lord to make a fiery serpent and raise it up on a pole. Those who looked up at the pole were saved and did not perish (Numbers 8-9).
It is important to understand that sin is like a plague––it’s not only the cause of physical death, but spiritual death as well. Sin will always bring disastrous results but God has made a way of deliverance for us. God, who is rich in mercy, gave to us His Son, Jesus Christ. When you look to the cross of Jesus for salvation, you will be saved and not perish.
…as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
~John 3:14-15~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
