OUR DAILY BREAD : HOUSE-HUNTING ANTS

[cimi]

Wednesday March 4


HOUSE-HUNTING ANTS

READ:
Psalm 90:1
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LORD, You have
been our dwelling
place in all generations.
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According to researchers from the University of Bristol, the European rock ant may be better than we are at staying on top of the housing market. The researchers found that the ant colonies use scout ants to continually monitor their colonies' living conditions. Using social skills complex enough to stun the scientists, the rock ants work together to find the right living space, darkness, and security needed to give the queen mother and her larvae the best available housing.

In the days of Moses, the families of Israel were looking for a new home. The slave yards of Egypt had been brutal. The wilderness of Sinai was no place to settle down. But there was a problem. According to Israelite scouts, the homeland to which God was leading them was already occupied__by walled cities and giants who made the scouts feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes (NUM. 13:28,33).

Sometimes it may be helpful to compare ourselves to insects. House-hunting rock ants instinctively follow the ways of their Creator. but we often let our fears keep us from following and trusting God. When we rest in the assurance of his presence and love, we can say, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations."

Father in heaven, please help us to see that today there is no better place
to live than in Your presence and love. Help us learn to settle in and be
comfortable with our place in You.__________________________________
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Finding ourselves at home in God is a good place to be.

********************Today's Bible Reading : Numbers 13:25-14:9*********************
25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty
days....

27 Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land
where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey....
28 Nevertheless the people before Moses, and said,
"Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able
to overcome it."

31 But men who had gone up with him said, "We are not
able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than
we." 32 "There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak
came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our
own sight, and so we were in their sight."

1 So all the....children of Israel complained against Moses
and Aaron, and the whole congregations said to them, "If
only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died
in this wilderness!..." 4 so they said to one another, "Let us
select a leader and return to Egypt."

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the
assembly....6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the
son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied
out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the
congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we
passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the
LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and
give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey.' 9 Only
do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land,
for they are our bread; their protection has departed from
them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."