Impulsive Sin!

Reading:  Numbers 35, 36
My Verse:  "When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there" (35:10, 11).

I have always found this to be a fascinating provision of Yours, LORD God!  You make a provision for the impulsive behavior of Your people.  You know that we often  act without thinking.  We do some crazy things impulsively - even some actions that result in the death of another person.  You know this and so You provide a way to deal with such actions.  You provided cities of refuge for the Israelites and "for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there."  It is really such a relief to see that You do allow us that - impulsive sinful acts. The consequences of impulsive acts are to be different than for those sinful actions that are premeditated or planned.

There is so much I do not understand and I feel there is so much that I am learning and continue learning as I read Your enlightening Word!  I know that You created us.  You created us in Your image!  I am often pondering what exactly does that mean?  We are so much more complex than we can ever know or understand.  This complexity is not only in our physical make-up which is awesome!  It is also in our spiritual and mental make-up.  This amazing complexity became ever more obvious to me as I raised my child.  I would be amazed at who this tiny person was, who he was becoming.  I continue to be amazed as I watch him grow into an adult.  Oh, LORD God, only You truly know us and only You understand  just how complex we are. Your entire Word reveals not only the complexity of mankind but of Your loving and compassionate care for us.

You teach  about impulsive sin.

"A man of wrath stirs up strife, and a man given to anger commits and causes much transgression.  A man's pride will bring him low, but he who is of a humble spirit will obtain honor" Proverbs 29:22,23).

"Be not rash with your mouth and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God" (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

You teach me that I need to guard my heart and attitude to keep from sin."Above all else, guard your heart, for everything yo do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23).

You teach in Psalms 1 the progressiveness of sin.  It really comes down to our heart condition.  I so need to be ever allowing You to keep and guard my heart.  I need to be ever before You to allow You to mold  so that I am "constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor . . ."(II Cor. 3:18).

Thank You, LORD God, that I can trust You to keep me.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me". (Psalm 51:10).

We do act impulsively and You, LORD God, make provision for that.  Yet, we need to be ever vigilant and trust You daily to keep us from sin.

"Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.  then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression" (Psalm 19:13).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!