Interesting little passage, isn't it? I guess it's no surprise that someone would come along who thinks they can do it better, and is willing to try to prove it. After all, isn't that similar to how our country started? (Similar, but not exact.) What gets me is that after God's awesome display of power, the Israelites are ready to rebel again. I mean, would you really think it's wise to cross the God who can open the earth to swallow you whole and live for ongoing, impertinent, rebellious sin? Forget the fact that He has proven over and over and over and over (can I put in one more over?) how much He cared for Israel, His provision, His grace, by not zapping every time they tested His patience.
Now, honestly, I do try to give them some credit. After all, I'm not perfect. I still have my times of doubt, even when God has more than amply proved His love and provision for myself. Perhaps it's an innate human failing. It's so easy for us to pass judgment on them in hindsight, and especially when all of these stories are told in succession, when we don't know all the circumstances and time lines, nor are we really in any position to judge. But I admit, I read this one and say, "Oh, come on, people!" The contest between Korah, Dathan, Abiram and Moses and Aaron was to prove who was righteous and chosen by God; it obviously came out in Moses' favor. Yet the people rebelled. I would like to say, "How dense can they get?" But I really don't think we are too different. When things don't go quite as expected, don't we get upset and ask why? When things don't go our way, don't we demand explanations? Truth is, I think the rest of Numbers is filled with similar incidents where people come up against the Lord, thinking they've got it figured out; and they don't. I can't say I've got a great deal of wisdom in this area or that I've got it all figured out. I can say that I am trying harder every day to follow my Lord more closely. It's still a struggle, though, to live for what He wants more than I want. I still need His help with that one.
Tomorrow's Reading: Numbers 17:1-18:32
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Numbers 15:1-41
In Numbers 15, we see commandments for sacrifices, again. It might seem overredundancy, but in reality, it's not. In light of the fact that the older generation, the "ruling" generation, shall we say, is now sentenced to die in the wilderness, it is upon the younger generation to take to hear the commandments given by the Lord. Notice, these commands about offerings all relate to when they have come into the Land. These were things that the younger generation was to take notice of and remember when they were the "conquering heroes".
The tassels here are important. They were to remind the people, generation after generation, of this one generations' infidelity. It was to remind them of the consequences of following their own desires rather than being faithful to the Lord. Today, when someone is making a decision, you'll often hear an advice giver saying, "Well, what does your heart tell you?" We are always being commended to "follow our hearts". But here, God reminds us that our hearts can be deceitful and vain: they don't always lead us in the way we should go. Emotions are fickle and misleading, but God's truth stands forever. Rather than our hearts, we believers should be listening to God's Word, and where God's Word is silent on a matter, listening to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit; He'll never steer us wrong.
Tomorrow's Reading: Numbers 16:1-50
The tassels here are important. They were to remind the people, generation after generation, of this one generations' infidelity. It was to remind them of the consequences of following their own desires rather than being faithful to the Lord. Today, when someone is making a decision, you'll often hear an advice giver saying, "Well, what does your heart tell you?" We are always being commended to "follow our hearts". But here, God reminds us that our hearts can be deceitful and vain: they don't always lead us in the way we should go. Emotions are fickle and misleading, but God's truth stands forever. Rather than our hearts, we believers should be listening to God's Word, and where God's Word is silent on a matter, listening to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit; He'll never steer us wrong.
Tomorrow's Reading: Numbers 16:1-50
Numbers 14:1-45, Redux
We could go into deep, theological discussion on Israel's lack of trust in regards to conquering the Promised Land, or into raptures over the beauty of Joshua and Caleb's plea to the people of Israel. But do you know what I'm stuck on tonight from this passage? The irony.
When the Israelites heard the spies' report, completely ignoring Caleb's argument, their immediate response was this: Oh, if only we'd died in Egypt rather than face this! If only we would die in this wilderness!
It's no small wonder that God's anger burned against them. All too often during their time in the wilderness after their escape (yes, escape, deliverance) from Egypt, the Israelites had complained. They were hungry; they were going to die of hunger. They were thirsty; they were going to die of thirst. Wouldn't it have been better to remain oppressed and abused in Egypt? Oh, now they have food, but they don't have meat. They didn't like how Moses did things. They didn't like this, they didn't like that. For a people greatly indebted to the Lord, they didn't seem very grateful. (Sound familiar?) Now, they were told to go in and take possession of a land that would bless their socks (okay, sandals) off, and they wished they'd died there in the wilderness! So what did God do? He granted their wish.
He would have been okay with just zapping them right there and starting over with Moses. But the plea Moses spoke was true: God doesn't nullify His promises, nor would He allow a pagan nation to triumph and gloat over His people in such a way. However, it was a done deal: anyone old enough to be held accountable for their behavior, those who had seen God's wonders and yet tested Him ten times would never see the Promised Land. They would die in the wilderness. And their children, whom they had so feared would suffer for going into the Promised Land, would suffer for their parents' disbelief: they'd wander for 40 years. Yet, they would be the ones to take possession of the Promised Land. They would be the generation to go forward and fulfill the promise God had made to Abraham so many generations before them.
It makes you wonder: what decisions do you make today that will affect your children tomorrow? Specifically, what decisions of faith? Your choice in faithfulness in attending church will affect your children and their attitude towards the importance of corporate worship. They way you lead example in prayer, in private devotion and study, in tithing, fasting, how you apply God's word; how you treat others: it all affects how your children will perceive these things. It's a heavy load. A very heavy load! I look at my daughter, I think of my son yet to be born, and I realize that the decisions my husband and I make today in how we live, the decisions we make tomorrow will inevitably affect our children's attitudes towards the Faith. Praise God, He is the One who saves them! But I do owe them a responsibility in how I live out my faith. If I am a true disciple of Christ, if I am earnest in my love and devotion, then I can only hope it will influence them to believe in Him. If I'm not...
We have a practice in many churches of dedicating our children to the Lord as infants, as Hannah did Samuel, as Mary and Joseph did with Jesus. I appreciate the fact that our church emphasizes that we devote ourselves as parents just as much to raising our children to know the Lord. It's a serious commitment, as Nick and I learned when we took our baby girl forward more than a year ago. It will be again when we take our son. But more than that, I have decided to devote myself, every day, to the Lord: that I might be a worthy servant, and that I might be a worthy example for them. I've got a lot to learn.
Today's Reading: Numbers 15:1-41
When the Israelites heard the spies' report, completely ignoring Caleb's argument, their immediate response was this: Oh, if only we'd died in Egypt rather than face this! If only we would die in this wilderness!
It's no small wonder that God's anger burned against them. All too often during their time in the wilderness after their escape (yes, escape, deliverance) from Egypt, the Israelites had complained. They were hungry; they were going to die of hunger. They were thirsty; they were going to die of thirst. Wouldn't it have been better to remain oppressed and abused in Egypt? Oh, now they have food, but they don't have meat. They didn't like how Moses did things. They didn't like this, they didn't like that. For a people greatly indebted to the Lord, they didn't seem very grateful. (Sound familiar?) Now, they were told to go in and take possession of a land that would bless their socks (okay, sandals) off, and they wished they'd died there in the wilderness! So what did God do? He granted their wish.
He would have been okay with just zapping them right there and starting over with Moses. But the plea Moses spoke was true: God doesn't nullify His promises, nor would He allow a pagan nation to triumph and gloat over His people in such a way. However, it was a done deal: anyone old enough to be held accountable for their behavior, those who had seen God's wonders and yet tested Him ten times would never see the Promised Land. They would die in the wilderness. And their children, whom they had so feared would suffer for going into the Promised Land, would suffer for their parents' disbelief: they'd wander for 40 years. Yet, they would be the ones to take possession of the Promised Land. They would be the generation to go forward and fulfill the promise God had made to Abraham so many generations before them.
It makes you wonder: what decisions do you make today that will affect your children tomorrow? Specifically, what decisions of faith? Your choice in faithfulness in attending church will affect your children and their attitude towards the importance of corporate worship. They way you lead example in prayer, in private devotion and study, in tithing, fasting, how you apply God's word; how you treat others: it all affects how your children will perceive these things. It's a heavy load. A very heavy load! I look at my daughter, I think of my son yet to be born, and I realize that the decisions my husband and I make today in how we live, the decisions we make tomorrow will inevitably affect our children's attitudes towards the Faith. Praise God, He is the One who saves them! But I do owe them a responsibility in how I live out my faith. If I am a true disciple of Christ, if I am earnest in my love and devotion, then I can only hope it will influence them to believe in Him. If I'm not...
We have a practice in many churches of dedicating our children to the Lord as infants, as Hannah did Samuel, as Mary and Joseph did with Jesus. I appreciate the fact that our church emphasizes that we devote ourselves as parents just as much to raising our children to know the Lord. It's a serious commitment, as Nick and I learned when we took our baby girl forward more than a year ago. It will be again when we take our son. But more than that, I have decided to devote myself, every day, to the Lord: that I might be a worthy servant, and that I might be a worthy example for them. I've got a lot to learn.
Today's Reading: Numbers 15:1-41
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Numbers 14:1-45
I've looked at my reading for today, but as I've been so focused on the Daniel study I'm going through with the women's Bible study, I haven't had any time to focus on it. Which is a shame, as it covers a pivotal point in Israel's history. In the book of Numbers, period. So I may have to revisit it tomorrow along with chapter fifteen. But for now, I need some sleep! I barely slept last night and I have felt run down all day. (Though I should get used to it, being 9 weeks out from a new baby. And a sleepless schedule.
Tomorrow's Reading: Numbers 15:1-41
Tomorrow's Reading: Numbers 15:1-41
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Numbers 12:1-13:33
The set reading for today was only through 13:25, but for eight more verses, I think you can round out the story a little better. Chapter 13 is an important point on the Israelites journey: they had left Egypt two years ago, had finally set out from Sinai, and this was their first glimpse of the Promised Land. Remember that: the land was promised to them.
Moses sent spies into the land to bring back reports about what kind of place it was and what they could expect there. The intention was to then go in and take possession of it. Did you notice that the branch with the grapes on it was so large that they had to carry it on a pole between two men. Have you ever seen such a bountiful bunch of grapes? Not me. They also took figs and pomegranates to show the people on their return. All of these fruits would have demonstrated to the people waiting out in the wilderness that the Promised Land was a fruitful place, well able to produce in abundance. As well as this, even the contentious among the spies are willing to admit that the land was flowing with milk and honey: a euphemism for the richness and fruitfulness of the land, in that it could support large flocks to produce the milk and that honey was rare and precious and sweet. Yet what do they say that the end of the chapter? The spies' report could be summarized like this: "Yeah, sure, the land is good, definitely fruitful, but you gotta understand: the people there are greater than us. They have big fortified cities. There's no way we could take them!" Caleb alone stands up and reminds them that if God goes before them, who can stand up against them? It was more likely that these people might flee before them, right? And God had promised them this land! The spies were so focused on the negative of what they saw, they completely ignored the huge blessings that come from living in such a land.
I've been like this before. I know, I, too, want to smack them upside the heads and yell, "Come on!" But I've done this before myself; what do I have to say? It was just a year ago that my husband resolved to quit his job because he wasn't making any money. The bad economy had hit the entertainment technology industry as everyone began to tighten their belts. We weren't making ends meet. In fact, we couldn't really pay the bills. It was a blow, as he'd just started a position he'd always wanted. But he knew he needed the time to devote to job searching, rather than spending time at a position where he wasn't really getting paid anymore. At the same time, our daughter who was just barely four months old, contracted bronchialitis. She needed medical attention and treatments, and we no longer had insurance. The moment that I realized she was that sick, and the possibility of RSV and a hospital stay loomed before me, I hit the roof. I was so scared, and I couldn't believe we'd been put into this position. We firmly believed God had led Nick to that position. We firmly believed it was time for him to leave. And we didn't have any money to support ourselves or our daughter.
I focused on these things so much, that I missed the blessings the Lord had set over us: we had a roof over our heads as my parents had agreed to take us in so we could sell our condo. Both sets of grandparents were supportive, my mom even telling me that they would help if necessary; Eliza would get proper care. We had a good church family who was praying for us, good friends who supported us. We had each other, and a doctor who cared more for our daughter's well-being than that the bills would get paid right away. She loaned us a nebulizer so we wouldn't have to pay to buy one or rent one! It was such a blessing, even that small act. As well, we had friends who reached out to us in our time of need and provided gifts to us; gifts that to this day still make me a little emotional in gratitude. But I was in danger of losing sight of that because I couldn't see how we would pay for everything. I had to learn to look for those things and
It's been a year since then. We've had a lot of bills come in, and we've worked hard to try to get them paid off. The Lord showed His provision to us in being able to set up payment plans, to faithfully provide each month to cover them. And then, we finally received help from a federal program that allowed us to take care of our medical bills. Just in time before another baby comes! Where we are today may yet be far from where we'd like to be, but it is so much further than where we were a year ago. God is so good! I would have been tempted to focus on the negatives, on the fears and worries, rather than see how God was already providing and would continue to do so. I would like to shake my head at the Israelites, but I can't. I'm only glad that I learned from their mistakes, and a few of my own. I hope to be wiser in the future.
Tomorrow's Reading: Numbers 14:1-45
Moses sent spies into the land to bring back reports about what kind of place it was and what they could expect there. The intention was to then go in and take possession of it. Did you notice that the branch with the grapes on it was so large that they had to carry it on a pole between two men. Have you ever seen such a bountiful bunch of grapes? Not me. They also took figs and pomegranates to show the people on their return. All of these fruits would have demonstrated to the people waiting out in the wilderness that the Promised Land was a fruitful place, well able to produce in abundance. As well as this, even the contentious among the spies are willing to admit that the land was flowing with milk and honey: a euphemism for the richness and fruitfulness of the land, in that it could support large flocks to produce the milk and that honey was rare and precious and sweet. Yet what do they say that the end of the chapter? The spies' report could be summarized like this: "Yeah, sure, the land is good, definitely fruitful, but you gotta understand: the people there are greater than us. They have big fortified cities. There's no way we could take them!" Caleb alone stands up and reminds them that if God goes before them, who can stand up against them? It was more likely that these people might flee before them, right? And God had promised them this land! The spies were so focused on the negative of what they saw, they completely ignored the huge blessings that come from living in such a land.
I've been like this before. I know, I, too, want to smack them upside the heads and yell, "Come on!" But I've done this before myself; what do I have to say? It was just a year ago that my husband resolved to quit his job because he wasn't making any money. The bad economy had hit the entertainment technology industry as everyone began to tighten their belts. We weren't making ends meet. In fact, we couldn't really pay the bills. It was a blow, as he'd just started a position he'd always wanted. But he knew he needed the time to devote to job searching, rather than spending time at a position where he wasn't really getting paid anymore. At the same time, our daughter who was just barely four months old, contracted bronchialitis. She needed medical attention and treatments, and we no longer had insurance. The moment that I realized she was that sick, and the possibility of RSV and a hospital stay loomed before me, I hit the roof. I was so scared, and I couldn't believe we'd been put into this position. We firmly believed God had led Nick to that position. We firmly believed it was time for him to leave. And we didn't have any money to support ourselves or our daughter.
I focused on these things so much, that I missed the blessings the Lord had set over us: we had a roof over our heads as my parents had agreed to take us in so we could sell our condo. Both sets of grandparents were supportive, my mom even telling me that they would help if necessary; Eliza would get proper care. We had a good church family who was praying for us, good friends who supported us. We had each other, and a doctor who cared more for our daughter's well-being than that the bills would get paid right away. She loaned us a nebulizer so we wouldn't have to pay to buy one or rent one! It was such a blessing, even that small act. As well, we had friends who reached out to us in our time of need and provided gifts to us; gifts that to this day still make me a little emotional in gratitude. But I was in danger of losing sight of that because I couldn't see how we would pay for everything. I had to learn to look for those things and
It's been a year since then. We've had a lot of bills come in, and we've worked hard to try to get them paid off. The Lord showed His provision to us in being able to set up payment plans, to faithfully provide each month to cover them. And then, we finally received help from a federal program that allowed us to take care of our medical bills. Just in time before another baby comes! Where we are today may yet be far from where we'd like to be, but it is so much further than where we were a year ago. God is so good! I would have been tempted to focus on the negatives, on the fears and worries, rather than see how God was already providing and would continue to do so. I would like to shake my head at the Israelites, but I can't. I'm only glad that I learned from their mistakes, and a few of my own. I hope to be wiser in the future.
Tomorrow's Reading: Numbers 14:1-45
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Numbers 11:1-35
I know I am not alone in wishing that sometimes the Lord would hand me a designated "road map", a bottle of water, and some granola bars as He guides me through my life. Have you ever said to yourself, "I wish He would tell me what He wanted me to do/where He wanted me to go/which decision I should make!" Yeah, me, too. When I was still single, and beginning to believe that God just might be calling me to a life of celibacy, I often said, "If I just knew if this was what He really wanted for me!" I already knew the party line about, if you are single, then the Lord has called you to celibacy, and completely agreed. What I wanted to know was if my celibacy was temporary or permanent; I felt the need to prepare myself. Praise the Lord, in His rich wisdom and blessings, I have been blessed with the opportunity to marry an amazing man, and all in God's good time! But there were days when I really wanted to know what that time was!
The Israelites had the blessing we modern Christians, who have never seen but have trusted our Savior, often long for. God made it pretty clear when He wanted them to go and where. By day, He hovered over the Tabernacle in a cloud, by night a flame of fire. If the cloud lifted, the Israelites knew it was time pack up and move out. If God remained over the Tabernacle, they were to stay put. You can imagine a scene like this:
Man 1: Is it time to go yet?
Man 2: (Looks at the Tabernacle). Oh, nope. The cloud is still over that Tabernacle. Another day in Paran.
Or whatever they might have said. All they had to do was follow the Ark of the Covenant and the Lord's cloud or fire, and they knew where they were to go. Visible, tangible guidance from God.
But they weren't satisified.
Already, the complaining starts in chapter eleven, just after they set out from Sinai! In fact, it says that they complained of their misfortunes. You might be thinking, as I often do, "What were those?" After all, they had been rescued from a hard slavery by the Lord, brought safely through wilderness before a galloping army, walked through the sea on dry ground, defeated any enemies threatening them, and are provided food every morning. No grocery shopping; no hunting. Just go out and pick it up off the ground and make whatever you like: boiled manna, baked manna, manna porridge...
It says in verse four, though, that "rabble among them" stirred them up to complaint. These were likely any Egyptians or even people of other ethnicities that escaped Egypt along with the Israelites, and not all of them found the journey to their taste. However, the Israelites did choose to listen to them, and they too missed the food they had known in Egypt, the comforts of a steady bed, a steady diet, a steady job... Familiarity. There is certainty in familiarity. And though the Lord guided them, showed them the way, made it clear in which way they were to go, the Israelites didn't necessarily know everything. They never knew when they were to depart, until it was time to go. They never knew where they were going until they got there. After all, this was new territory. And all of this with a monotony in food, in company, perhaps in scenery. (I don't know: I've never been to that part of the world.)
It's so easy to shake your head at the Israelites and think they were great fools (and perhaps they were) because they were blessed to live in the very visible presence of the Lord and daily experience His provision, and yet they complained. But I have to wonder: are we so different? Would I really be satisfied if the Lord handed me that road map, the bottled water, and the granola bars? Would I happily follow along behind Him then? I have a map. Clearly I can see where I am and where I'm going: unless there's a fork in the road. What if He didn't tell me where I was going? Would I only be content with granola bars? Don't we often find something to complain about?
It seems that the real problem the Israelites have, and maybe that we have today, too, is a lack of faith. You know the famous line from the Santa Clause movies: Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing? The Israelites saw, and yet they didn't trust. They didn't trust the Lord's provision for all their needs, and they weren't satisifed with what they were offered. Even Moses, when the Lord promised meat for a month in response to their groans, was a bit incredulous, wondering where God would get the herds to slaughter. There was a small lack somewhere in faith and understanding in all that the Lord is able to do, a lack of trust for His purposes. When they reach the Promised Land in a few chapters, do they rejoice and storm in to take possession of the land, as commanded? We shall see that soon.
When you have cut all the details down to the essentials, which is more important? Faith and trust in God, or having all the answers? I believe that what God wants for us above all things is for us to have faith in Him and to abide in Him. To do that, do you really need answers? Answers can help, especially when we are weak, but how much stronger our faith must be and is when we don't have them. When we simply rely on God alone. Now that's easy to say. How easy is it, then, to live?
The Israelites had the blessing we modern Christians, who have never seen but have trusted our Savior, often long for. God made it pretty clear when He wanted them to go and where. By day, He hovered over the Tabernacle in a cloud, by night a flame of fire. If the cloud lifted, the Israelites knew it was time pack up and move out. If God remained over the Tabernacle, they were to stay put. You can imagine a scene like this:
Man 1: Is it time to go yet?
Man 2: (Looks at the Tabernacle). Oh, nope. The cloud is still over that Tabernacle. Another day in Paran.
Or whatever they might have said. All they had to do was follow the Ark of the Covenant and the Lord's cloud or fire, and they knew where they were to go. Visible, tangible guidance from God.
But they weren't satisified.
Already, the complaining starts in chapter eleven, just after they set out from Sinai! In fact, it says that they complained of their misfortunes. You might be thinking, as I often do, "What were those?" After all, they had been rescued from a hard slavery by the Lord, brought safely through wilderness before a galloping army, walked through the sea on dry ground, defeated any enemies threatening them, and are provided food every morning. No grocery shopping; no hunting. Just go out and pick it up off the ground and make whatever you like: boiled manna, baked manna, manna porridge...
It says in verse four, though, that "rabble among them" stirred them up to complaint. These were likely any Egyptians or even people of other ethnicities that escaped Egypt along with the Israelites, and not all of them found the journey to their taste. However, the Israelites did choose to listen to them, and they too missed the food they had known in Egypt, the comforts of a steady bed, a steady diet, a steady job... Familiarity. There is certainty in familiarity. And though the Lord guided them, showed them the way, made it clear in which way they were to go, the Israelites didn't necessarily know everything. They never knew when they were to depart, until it was time to go. They never knew where they were going until they got there. After all, this was new territory. And all of this with a monotony in food, in company, perhaps in scenery. (I don't know: I've never been to that part of the world.)
It's so easy to shake your head at the Israelites and think they were great fools (and perhaps they were) because they were blessed to live in the very visible presence of the Lord and daily experience His provision, and yet they complained. But I have to wonder: are we so different? Would I really be satisfied if the Lord handed me that road map, the bottled water, and the granola bars? Would I happily follow along behind Him then? I have a map. Clearly I can see where I am and where I'm going: unless there's a fork in the road. What if He didn't tell me where I was going? Would I only be content with granola bars? Don't we often find something to complain about?
It seems that the real problem the Israelites have, and maybe that we have today, too, is a lack of faith. You know the famous line from the Santa Clause movies: Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing? The Israelites saw, and yet they didn't trust. They didn't trust the Lord's provision for all their needs, and they weren't satisifed with what they were offered. Even Moses, when the Lord promised meat for a month in response to their groans, was a bit incredulous, wondering where God would get the herds to slaughter. There was a small lack somewhere in faith and understanding in all that the Lord is able to do, a lack of trust for His purposes. When they reach the Promised Land in a few chapters, do they rejoice and storm in to take possession of the land, as commanded? We shall see that soon.
When you have cut all the details down to the essentials, which is more important? Faith and trust in God, or having all the answers? I believe that what God wants for us above all things is for us to have faith in Him and to abide in Him. To do that, do you really need answers? Answers can help, especially when we are weak, but how much stronger our faith must be and is when we don't have them. When we simply rely on God alone. Now that's easy to say. How easy is it, then, to live?
Numbers 9:15-10:36
If you're parent you'll understand what I mean when I say: when you have a sick child, you have NO time for anything else! And my girl isn't incredibly sick: she has pink eye. But I spent a great deal of yesterday doing the regular laundry, as well as extra linens and towels and things as part of germ-management, not to mention wiping down surfaces, wrestling with her to take her eye drops, and trying to keep her clean of her own gunk. I did get to read, but I didn't get to blog.
I thought about going ahead and posting some of my thoughts belatedly today, but they tie in so well with today's passage that I think I'm just going to put them all together.
Tomorrow's (Today's) Passage: Numbers 11:1-35
I thought about going ahead and posting some of my thoughts belatedly today, but they tie in so well with today's passage that I think I'm just going to put them all together.
Tomorrow's (Today's) Passage: Numbers 11:1-35
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