So, I’m finishing the book of Numbers today. I find a lot of Christians think of Numbers as that dreaded book of the Bible that you just have to get through, gnashing teeth and all(ok, so, maybe I’m exaggerating). Myself, I enjoy the historical accounts and genealogies. I’ve found a great deal of wisdom in this book… something that stood out to me today is:

‘Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord.’ Numbers 32:11-12

And I think to myself, how many of the Lord’s promises are unfulfilled in our own lives due to the fact that we have not wholly followed the Lord? What does it mean to wholly follow the Lord?

“And I said, ‘O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,” Nehemiah 1:5

“Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.” 1 Kings 8:61

Keeping His commandments and statutes is key to living wholly for God. Chew on this:

“for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. ” Psalm 119:47-48