The Whole Kit-and-Caboodle - Numbers 32

This chapter, yet once again, shows us a great insight into the character of God. This is important because, as many of us fail/forget to realize is that the God of the Old Testament is the same God as the new. Though the covenants are different, the character is the same. It is as if you make a deal with someone, and then years later make another that builds upon the old deal. Your personality and character doesn't change with the new deal. And the character that is revealed in this chapter is one of the most important: God wants people to be whole-hearted about their service to Him.

Verse 11 says God became angry with the people of Israel "because they have not wholly followed me". God wants His people to be His 110%. He doesn't want 10%, 50%, or even 99.9999-%. God wants it all. God deserves it all. He did not say that He was angry at the people because they did not follow Him at all; He says He was angry because they didn't give Him their whole heart. They didn't give Him their 100%, they only gave some of it.

This character of God is echoed throughout the Bible in both Testaments. The fifth beatitude of the sermon on the mount shows Jesus telling the crowd that the people who are "pure in heart" (pure in their service to God/giving 100%) were blessed and will see God. In the Revelation of John, he writes that God says He will spit the "lukewarm" out of His mouth. Straddling the fence doesn't cut it with God. He wants it all or nothing.

Now some would ask why He would rather you give nothing than to just give some. Well, the answer is quite simple: He doesn't want you ruining the name of His followers (as has happened a lot in the last century). To be called a Christian should be an honor, but to many around the world, it can actually be an insult. The reason for this is because so many who only followed God half-heartedly has ruined the reputation. Because they proclaim Christ and live like the world, they hurt the witness of all Christians. We are probably guilty of this at some point in our life, but the question is in the present: Are you giving God 100% right now?

If the answer is yes, then great! You are giving God's people a good name, and it should be a encouraging to do so.

If the answer is no, then you should know that it is not too late. Commit 100% to God right now, and start fixing what has been broken. "Through Christ, all things are possible" (Phil. 4:13).

God's judgement is not pretty on someone who has only given some of themselves. God wants the whole kit-and-caboodle. He wants everything you have and He wants it all the time. In the words of Paul, run this race worthy of the calling you have received. It is easy to become a Christian; anyone can profess it - living like it is where it counts!