DAILY DEVOTIONAL – May 23, 2024 From Wrath to Mercy By David Wilkerson God’s holiness demands that he be angry at sin, but he loves mercy.  Now the blood of Jesus has satisfied God’s justice so that he can come out to us through the torn veil, showing mercy and grace. The Old Testament includes a powerful foreshadowing of our merciful High Priest.  In Numbers 16, we see the whole congregation of Israel rising up and murmuring against Moses and Aaron.  God had destroyed two hundred and fifty princes because they had rebelled against him, and the people were mad at Moses and Aaron over their deaths.  “On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘You have killed the people of the Lord.’” (Numbers 16:41, NKJV). God appeared in a cloud, telling Moses and Aaron to stand apart from the rest. “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment” (Numbers 16:45). Suddenly, a horrible plague broke out among the people.  Terrified, Moses told Aaron, the high priest, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the Lord. The plague has begun. …And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped” (Numbers 16:46, 48). Aaron is a type of Christ here, and the incense represents Jesus’s prayers for a rebellious people.  What an incredible picture of God showing mercy through the prayers of the high priest.  We see an image of Jesus running among rebellious sinners, sending up prayers to the Father on their behalf. With each person, he cries, “Father, have mercy!” An advocate is one who tells the court what is legal, what is right and should be done.  Jesus says, “I have fulfilled the law. I have paid the price to fully satisfy God’s justice. The devil can never accuse God of being unjust.”  Although 14,700 Israelites died of the plague, two or three million others should have fallen. However, God showed mercy!  Likewise, you and I should have died long ago because of our sin.  The Father, through Jesus’s prayers, has mercifully kept us by his power. Read and Listen OnlineForward to a Friend

Your Gift Makes a Difference Give a gift today, impact lives eternally. Your generosity is changing lives throughout the world. Give Now

The Altar of Our Hearts How do we express heartache to God? In this book, Gary Wilkerson, pastor and president of World Challenge, examines the first twelve psalms and how each is a unique invitation to authentic prayer. Get Your Copy Now

The Mantle of Elijah Second Kings 2 contains one of the most spectacular passages in all of the Old Testament. It tells the miraculous story of the aging prophet Elijah and his younger servant, Elisha.  Read Now   Cows, Collaboration, and Compassion Gary Wilkerson and Mark Renfroe discuss an approach to Christian missions combining compassion ministry and collaboration with indigenous believers. Watch Now   Sermon Podcast David and Gary Wilkerson as well as other speakers share their knowledge of the Bible and walk alongside you through the scriptures. Listen Now

You are welcome to make copies for FREE distribution or retransmit the devotional via e-mail, but all devotionals must be copied or retransmitted in their entirety. However, devotionals may not be posted on any website, printed, or used in any media without written permission from World Challenge, Inc. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact World Challenge, Inc. using our online contact form or by calling (719) 487-7888. © 2024 World Challenge, Inc. Transforming Lives Through the Message and Mission of Jesus Christ