Teach us to number our days

Thoughts on Psalm 90

Moses is a witness to God’s wrath against the stubbornness of Israel.

When they left Egypt, Israel had more than 600,000 adult men fit for war. We can estimate that there are also about 600,000 adult females in the wilderness. It could be assumed that there about 1.2 million adult Israelites that traversed the wilderness. When Israel entered the Promised Land, of the original adult Israelites only Joshua and Caleb remained alive. So that means Moses saw about 1.2 million adults were buried in the wilderness in 40 years.

With simple math, we can estimate that about 30,000 adults die every year or 82 perish every day. So Moses wrote with sadness, “All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” The deaths of the people of God and the wrath of God set the sad lyrics of the psalm.

So Moses pleaded God, “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” This showed Moses’ humility. Lord, open our eyes so that we may learn that our life on earth is not permanent. Life is short and fleeting and yet we choose to spend it in unprofitable ways. Instead of spending our days to obey and to please God, we waste our time contending against God as what the Israelites did against God and against Moses the servant of God.

Moses was actually praying that Israel would consider the shortness of their days and learn from all their troubles and sorrows in the wilderness:

• That they may obey the leading of the Lord who guides them by pillar of cloud by day and by pillar of fire at night;
• That they may be thankful also for the goodness and generosity of God who feeds them daily with manna;
• That they may see the daily miracles of God who made sure that their sandals and clothes last for 40 years!
• That their eyes may be opened to the goodness and character of God and so move them to fear the Lord and follow Him. This is the beginning of wisdom.

Life is short. How much time do we spend on Facebook? Shopping? Watching television? Gym exercises? Doing school work? Attending Bible study or growth group? Praying? Sharing God’s Word? Building up the family?

We can pray the pleading of Moses and ask God to “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  

Let’s use our time for something that matters: “To fear God and to keep His commandments for that is the whole duty of man.”

God deserves all the glory for He is good

God is good.

I thank God for the wonderful things that He has done in our lives. His blessings upon us far exceed what my heart could ever imagine.

God has blessed my two sons with unbelievable intellect. Our eldest son, Nathan, graduated with highest honors from the PSHS Main. This is on top of the awards he received from winning various academic contests (Economics, Chemistry, Physics). No one could imagine the joy that engulfed me and my wife as we witnessed the awarding of medals to Nathan. Nathan also passed the UPCAT and awarded the UP Oblation Scholarship for being one of the top fifty (50) passers of the UPCAT. He also passed the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship. My wife and I are proud of our Nathan. I would say that our son’s wisdom is God-given. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally.” God is indeed generous to Nathan.

God also blessed our youngest son, Paul. He is the valedictorian of the Congress Elementary School (CES). He received about a dozen medals and a trophy for accomplishments such as Champion of Battle of the Brains in Caloocan City, Most Outstanding Elementary Pupil of Caloocan City, medals in MTAP Math Challenge (Individual and Team categories), Ovaltine Math Quiz Bee runner-up, Journalism, and Hekasi. On top of these, he also passed the entrance exam to the PSHS Main. Many CES teachers and parents congratulated us. My wife and I are thankful to God for entrusting to us these two gifted sons.

We pray that our two sons would use their gifts and talents for the glory of God who gave them all that they have. God deserves all the glory for He is good.

God is Good to My Family

Yesterday I attended the Recognition Program of Congress Elementary School in Caloocan City. My youngest son Emilio received seven medals including the First Honors for Grade III.

God has blessed Emilio this year. My 8-year old son won several awards in Metrobank-DepEd- MTAP Math Challenge highlighted by a second place in the individual Math contest at the Public Sector Level (Metro Manila Public Schools). His triumphs mean that he will get to buy some toys of his choice.

My wife and I are really thankful to God for blessing our son. The only wise God is the source of all wisdom. We made it a point to teach our children that it was God who gave them intellect and that it is but proper for them to use their talents for His glory.

God is good.