Whose Voice?

11 Samuel 24-25:44

Two people; a married couple; Nabal and Abigail; both heard the same “news” about David’s flight from Saul, both were God’s people but one was not of God. Nabal was a descendent of Calab, a mighty warrior of strong faith, yet Nabal had none and didn’t take up his legacy. . Nabal had no spiritual insight [1 Samuel 25:4-11], but Abagail did [1 Samuel 25:15-19] . Nabal couldn’t recognize God’s protection; Abigail did [1 Samuel 25:23-31]

Jesus said,

 ^22-24They were celebrating Hanukkah just then in Jerusalem. It was winter. Jesus was strolling in the Temple across Solomon's Porch. The Jews, circling him, said, "How long are you going to keep us guessing? If you're the Messiah, tell us straight out."

 ^25-30Jesus answered, "I told you, but you don't believe. Everything I have done has been authorized by my Father, actions that speak louder than words. You don't believe because you're not my sheep. My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind." (John 10:24-30, The Message).

God's people know God's ways, actions and voice even before they know God in the present, they have known Him in their heart.

Fighting God and Wrestling with Puzzlement

1 Samuel 20-21:1

I’ve always wrestled with the passages that deal with the conflict David, and especially Jonathan, had with king Saul.  Why was this written for, what direction do they give us?  I see so many things in these passages of struggle, friendship based on true trust and loyalty between two people all based on both parties trusting in God.  I also see loyalty between son to father; however, not between father and son. 

I wrestle with the person who knows their God and who maintains strong ties with those who don’t; especially when one knows one of your close relationships is trying to take out- to “kill”-someone who is godly.  Jonathan, because of his close relationship with God, knew David was God’s ordained man.  He also knew his father; the king of Israel had lost his kingly anointing to be king.  Saul was king politically, but not heavenly. 

1 Samuel 20:30-31 AMP  Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan and he said to him, You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do not I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother who bore you?  (31)  For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, you shall not be established nor shall your kingdom. So now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.

Saul was fighting against God, a losing battle; however:    

1 Samuel 13:13-14 NIV  "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.  (14)  But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."

Jonathan knew the will of God and accepted it. Why hang out with people, family or non-family members, who you know are fighting against the will of God? 

1 Samuel 23:16-17 NIV  And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.  (17)  "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this."

Whose Cloak - Your Cloak or God's Cloak

1 Samuel 17-18:4

Are you wearing a “cloak” of insecurity and self-doubt because you don’t believe what God says about you?  Or, are you wearing the “cloak” God gave you.  A “cloak” woven with promises and certainties about whom you really are because God, as your creator, knows what you are made of.

Saul and his entire army saw Goliath’s size and heard his taunts then looked at themselves compared to the giant,  Goliath and stood wanting. Saul was more concerned about appearances because he cared only for what others thought of him. It appears from today’s text that insecurity about who and what you are leads to the concern of appearing as if you are in charge instead of being in charge.

You run out in your armor, you shake your spear, pull down the face piece on your helmet and you march out to the battle line, but go no further.     Insecurity leads to lust, the desire to benefit self at the expense of others.  Unable and unwilling to do the work to take down the enemy that taunts you, you try to enlist others by promising rewards.  In other words, you drum up a posse and feign outrage and disgust, appealing to the emotions and pocket books of those you supposedly lead.

1 Samuel 17:24-25 NLT  As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.  (25)  "Have you seen the giant?" the men asked. "He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man's entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!"

But David, secure in his knowledge of himself and his abilities, the ones he discovered while tending his father’s sheep and goats, knows who he is because he knows his God.  Know God, know yourself; don’t know God, don’t know yourself.

1 Samuel 17:33-37 MSG  Saul answered David, "You can't go and fight this Philistine. You're too young and inexperienced--and he's been at this fighting business since before you were born."  (34)  David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock,  (35)  I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it.  (36)  Lion or bear, it made no difference--I killed it. And I'll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive.  (37)  GOD, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine." Saul said, "Go. And GOD help you!"

David’s response shows many things, among them

1)   David loved the animals he took care of; Saul didn’t love the men he led into battle, more correctly, pretending to lead into battle; however, he did love himself more than any other in the face of his insecurity.

2)   David was willing to risk his life to protect the animals he had charge over; Saul was willing to risk the lives of his men before he himself faced Israel’s enemies.

3)   In going up against the lion and bears, David strengthened his faith “muscles” at each and every encounter.  He also knew from each encounter that it was not his strength that defeated the lion and bears but it was God’s strength; Saul never “tested” God’s intervening strength during the forty days Goliath stepped out morning and night, delivering his challenge. 

a.   I’m a new exerciser (Feb. 2006).  When I first began, I l could only do 15 minutes and took an hour to recover—I also continued by faith, believing that the future benefits of my exercise sessions would benefit my type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol.  I can know do a three hr session taking less than 15 minutes to recover.  When I first began my body spoke to me, telling me “You’re going to die, you’re going to kill us, now stop it.”  Yet, I heard God’s still small voice telling me to go on.

4)   David, having dwelled in God’s presence, knew that God was always with him; Saul didn’t know that he was in the presence of God while speaking with David because he never took the time to dwell with God.

There are probably many more things to discern when looking at the David and Saul responses when challenged by an imposing, powerful and loud advisory but I’ll leave that for you to discover. So go fish.   

Who Am I?

1 Samuel 15-16:23

Luke 19:26 NIV  "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.

I’ve always wondered how you can take something away from someone who doesn’t have anything.  I’ve quoted this verse that is stated by Jesus after he tells a Parable (Luke 19:12-25) and I’ve been reading this book long enough to know that whatever God, Jesus, Paul, etc. make a statement that points to a behavior pattern, lifestyle, or way of thought somewhere there is a “real life” example within the Words of God and today I’ve found it in the Old Testament scriptures regarding king Saul. 

Saul’s response to Samuel when told,

  “…And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father's family?"

gives the first hint of how Saul say himself in his response to Samuel,

1 Samuel 9:21 NIV  Saul answered, "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?"

When Samuel went to proclaim Saul king in front of all of Israel, Saul went and hid among the baggage,

1 Samuel 10:20-24 NIV  When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.  (21)  Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri's clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.  (22)  So they inquired further of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD said, "Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage."  (23)  They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others.  (24)  Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people." Then the people shouted, "Long live the king!"

And finally after Saul has messed up big time, we hear these words from God spoken by Samuel,

1 Samuel 15:12-17 NLT  Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, "Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal."  (13)  When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. "May the LORD bless you," he said. "I have carried out the LORD's command!"  (14)  "Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?" Samuel demanded.  (15)  "It's true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle," Saul admitted. "But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else."  (16)  Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!" "What did He tell you?" Saul asked.  (17)  And Samuel told him, "Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel.

It’s not what we think about ourselves that matters, it’s what God says about who and what we are that we must learn to believe despite appearances, and what circumstances look like.  If we don’t believe what God tells us, then we become what we believe about ourselves and what God has given us will be taken away.  Saul didn't do what he was commanded to do because he listen to the men he was suppose to be leading and not to the Words of God.  

Check Your Motives

1 Samuel 12-13:23


What we ask for and the true reason we want what we want is often a lie. We ask out of ulterior motives.

Israel didn’t want a king because Samuel’s sons were greedy for material gain, they asked out of fear (1 Samuel 8:4-5 AMP All the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah (5) And said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint us a king to rule over us like all the other nations.)

Their real reason is uncovered here:

1 Samuel 12:12 AMP But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, No! A king shall reign over us--when the Lord your God was your King!

No matter how we use our words to “cover” with leaves our true intent, God always comes in and asks the question, “Where are you?” He knows where we are but are we taking the time to find out where we really are.

Removing The Reproach of One's Past Sin

Joshua 5-7

 ⁹ God said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt." That's why the place is called The Gilgal. It's still called that. (Joshua 5:9, The Message)

The “reproach” of slavery, 400 years of slavery, was not rolled away from the Hebrews by God when they,
1) Left Egypt (Exodus 12-13)
2) Fought Battles in the desert (Exodus 17:8-16).
3) Crossed Over into their Promise and Scouted out Jericho (Joshua 2), nor
4)  Promised Rehab they would not destroy her and her household if she hung the “Red” cloth/cord out of the window (Joshua 2:17-20).

The reproach of slavery was rolled away after they, the Israelites, renewed their covenant with God by circumcising all the males that had not been circumcised in the desert. These are the ones that were either born in the desert and those under 20 years old who had not rebelled in the desert, except Joshua, the new leader, and Caleb, those two believed God. Being Circumcised represented covenant renewal to those who were born in the desert.  Past sins hanging out in our lives blocks our future, so circumcise your hearts to roll away the reproach of slavery.

Jacob People and Esau People: (updated w/link)

Something I keep seeing played out in today’s’ social discourse, unsettling as it is, reminded me of a message I heard and subsequently the book I read called, Buy The Future, by Dr. Mensa Otabil

People who are Esaus::

1) My oldest son Philip
2) Mike Tyson (and any other sports player who forgoes their education for a shot @ sports)
3) Anyone willing to exchange their “birthright” for one “pot-of-stew” because they are currently “starving-to-death.” Sacrificing short term pleasures/gains in lieu of long-term success. That success may not benefit them directly but will benefit the future generation. They don’t know the difference between an expense and/or investment.

People who are under the Jacob type:

1) My son Equiano
2) Microsoft’s Bill and Melinda Gates
3) Pastor Bernard (was in the ministry for a long time struggling while ministers, who began the same time as he, blew up and then blew out while trying to imply he was not hearing from God. My early adult church days began under a NYC ministry who did that)
4) Fred Price
5) Anyone willing and able to see their future ahead of them and willing to make sacrifices of immediate gratification on the altar of pleasure and give-it-to-me right know. They know the value of the future.


Esau after having his belly full for that one-time and after making an alter of worship to that one-time gratification, runs after Jacob to kill him when Jacob becomes a success will inform Jacob that he/she has entered into his promise.

The promise is not guaranteed because at anytime Jacob can become an Esau and Esau can become a Jacob through repentance. Repentance doesn’t always mean that you go from the wrong way to the right way. One can go from right to wrong.

Esau’s can always be identified by their “running” after the Jacobs relentlessly. Jacob does not have to be a “saved” individual. Their salvation, just like their namesake, is given after “wrestling” with God. Jacobs will always rule over Esaus because of Esaus lack of understanding or ignorance of their future and birthright and their willingness to sell it for “beads of color.”

Jacob and Esau folks were preceded by Cain and Abel:

Genesis 4:3-7 AMP And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. (4) And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering, [ Heb. 11:4.] (5) But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed. (6) And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected? (7) If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.

In society we are seeing played out the chasing of Jacob by Esau as we witness the “gottcha” mentality played out in front of us. Running down everything thing that can be used to beat someone over the head about what they should or should not be doing or believing in, who and what they are united under, etc. A true Jacob will ignore the clamor and do what God has placed within his/her heart to do, whether they know it is from God or not.

Esaus do not operate in forgiveness and that is verified when they continue to pull out things from the near and distance past that Jacob actually did do or was perceived to have done. Jacob did not steal his brother’s birthright, Esau simply gave it away. What you give away cannot be considered stealing after you have had time to sleep on it or when your hunger returns. Our regrets do not constitute stealing.

Jacob was never rebuked by God for “stealing” what belonged to Esau. It was pointed out by God that he, Jacob, was a deceiver. However, the “birthright” and the inheritance would still have gone to Jacob because it was God ordained and not Jacob manipulated. A god ordained birthright does not have to be wrested from man to receive it. God ordained blessings and promises only have to be received and gladly taken from God and claimed within the heart by the receiver. It takes belief and faith that was was promised will come to pass; however, it doesn’t mean the person promised must walk under God’s direction listen to the voice of God. God will work with you in your struggling unbelief and doubt.

Isaiah 55:8-11 AMP For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (10) For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [II Cor. 9:10.] (11) So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Hate Crimes, A New Understaning

Numbers 33:40-35:34

One of the things I love about reading through the Bible in a systematic way is how it forces you to rethink and reexamine what you thought you new and you interact with issues in the real world.  Today I came across a deeper understanding of what murder really is.  Today I understand why Jesus said,

²⁰ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.   
²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,^[a] and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause^[b] shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:20-22, New King James Version)

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 5:21 Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
2. Matthew 5:22 NU-Text omits without a cause.

Why would just being angry be equivalent to murder from God’s point of view?  Why would I be in “danger of the council,” for my feelings toward someone who has wronged me and I have not released because after all God, You just don’t know …” Isn’t that what we say while we struggle with our emotions, or at least I do as I constantly seek God’s mercy and grace until forgiveness in my heart truly shows up.   My answer is here in midst of this Numbers passage,

 ^9-15 God spoke to Moses: "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them, When you cross the River Jordan into the country of Canaan, designate your asylum-cities, towns to which a person who accidentally kills someone can flee for asylum. They will be places of refuge from the avenger so that the alleged murderer won't be killed until he can appear before the community in court. Provide six asylum-cities. Designate three of the towns to the east side of the Jordan, the other three in Canaan proper—asylum-cities for the People of Israel, for the foreigner, and for any occasional visitors or guests—six asylum-cities to run to for anyone who accidentally kills another.
 ¹⁶ "But if the killer has used an iron object, that's just plain murder; he's obviously a murderer and must be put to death.
 ¹⁷ "Or if he has a rock in his hand big enough to kill and the man dies, that's murder; he's a murderer and must be put to death.
 ¹⁸ "Or if he's carrying a wooden club heavy enough to kill and the man dies, that's murder; he's a murderer and must be put to death.
 ¹⁹ "In such cases the avenger has a right to kill the murderer when he meets him—he can kill him on the spot.
 ^20-21 "And if out of sheer hatred a man pushes another or from ambush throws something at him and he dies, or angrily hits him with his fist and kills him, that's murder—he must be put to death. The avenger has a right to kill him when he gets him.  (Numbers 35:9-21, The Message)

The first “hate” crime on the books of heaven was enacted by God.  I’ve always wrestled with “hate” crime laws because I’ve considered all crime as “hate” because why would we harm someone we truly love?  I've just received understanding and the reason why.  God Is good and his answers are always available, you just have to ask, knock and seek.  

God’s Favor is Upon All Who Call On His Name

 ^9-12I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:

   Salvation to our God on his Throne!
   Salvation to the Lamb!
All who were standing around the Throne—Angels, Elders, Animals— fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, singing:

   Oh, Yes!
   The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,
   The honor and power and strength,
   To our God forever and ever and ever!
   Oh, Yes!  (Revelation 7:9, The Message)

Amen and Amen

When a Curse is Not a Curse

Numbers 24-25:18

This passage and the one before it, Numbers 22:21-23:30, show that it is not what others are doing on the outside that can destroy us, but what that man/woman is doing who looks back at us in the mirror that counts.

 ¹ Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. ² And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
³ Then he took up his oracle and said:     

      “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, 
      The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,
 ⁴  The utterance of him who hears the words of God,
      Who sees the vision of the Almighty, 
      Who falls down, with eyes wide open:
 ⁵  “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob!
      Your dwellings, O Israel! (Numbers 24:1-5, New King James Version)

 Too often, especially in this country, we rant and shake our little fists at the “other” believing that they are bring our “community” of believers down, but it is what is in our own camp that destroys us. Then when we do see what is bringing us down, we fail to act decisively to root out what is destroying our community.

 ¹ Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove,^[a] and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. ² They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. ³ So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel.
⁴ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the LORD, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.”   
⁵ So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor.”   
⁶ And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. (Numbers 25:1-6, New King James Version)

Footnotes:

1. Numbers 25:1 Hebrew Shittim

               

Sin in the “camp” is a no-no, and is a sure fire way to step out from under the protection of God.  There is no amount of figure pointing toward the “other” that will bring the protection back.  We just need to make sure we understand what is considered inside the camp and what is considered the “other.” 

                

Leadership and Leadership Positions

Numbers 15:17-16:40

This continued pattern of rebellion against leadership shows how contagious it is.  First Miriam and Aaron, then the leadership appointed by Moses to spy out the land, ten of the 12 came back with a bad report (Numbers 13:17-33), and then encouraged the folks to rebel against the Word God had sent and against Moses, who they had wanted and agreed to have lead them (Exodus 20:18-20).  Moses appointed by God to lead and confirmed by the people, now finds his leadership rejected.

Because of their rejecting of the Promise God told them,

²⁷ “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. ²⁸ Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: ²⁹ The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. ³⁰ Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. ³¹ But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. ³² But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. ³³ And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. (Numbers 14:27-33, New King James Version)

Three Levites from the Tribe of Levi, of course, Korah, Dathan, and Abriam not only challenge Moses’ leadership, being themselves in leadership position, not only want to stand in the office of Priests, but begin stirring up the rest of the folks to join their Posse, bad move, deadly move. 

¹⁰ and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also? ¹¹ Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?”   
¹² And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up! ¹³ Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? ¹⁴ Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!”   
¹⁵ Then Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them.”   
¹⁶ And Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow, you and all your company be present before the LORD—you and they, as well as Aaron. ¹⁷ Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the LORD, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer.” ¹⁸ So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron. (Numbers 16:10-18, New King James Version)

Keeping to my theme that within these Five Books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are the patterns for successful living, as well as the highlighting of issues of life all men face, these particular chapters of Numbers are showing us where “rebellion” begins.  Social discourse, how we treat each other, the respect or lack thereof, begins with those in leadership positions.  We place and or accept leadership knowing full well who and what they are.  It only takes about 15 minutes of observing someone to know who and what they are, especially if they are trying to get a posse to follow them.   Are they humble, are they prideful, are they crooks, and the list goes on and on.  If you really want to know who and what they are take them to lunch/dinner even if they have more money then you because it will not be an expense but an investment into you, your family, community and country's future. 

 ²¹ The purity of silver and gold is tested
   by putting them in the fire;
The purity of human hearts is tested
   by giving them a little fame.  (Proverbs 27:21, The Message)

When you rebel against the information you were given (hanging out in the Desert for Forty Years came from God not Moses), don’t complain when it takes Forty Years.

Everything New is Old Again

NUMBERS 11:24-13:33

Our country, the United States of America, is facing a “dis-ease” of epidemic proportion, obesity.  Approximately one out of three of its citizens are obese, based on published studies of statistics taken between 2003/04. (JAMA).  These statistics do not even mention how many of the remaining 2/3^rd of the population is overweight.  Fat kills, and there are multitude of studies to prove it.  Gluttony killed those in the dessert too.

   
³¹ Now a wind went out from the LORD, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground. ³² And the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers); and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. ³³ But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague. ³⁴ So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah,^[a] because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving.   
(Numbers 11:31-34, New King James Version)

Footnotes:

1. Numbers 11:34 Literally Graves of Craving

I once heard a minister, whose name escapes me, state that everything we need to live a successful Christian life can be found in the first five books of the Bible.  I am finding out the longer I live; he was and is absolutely right. 

Mean What You Say and Say What You Mean 

We may say some things but what is the real reason why we say them.  Miriam and Aaron tried to get a “posse” together to challenge Moses’ leadership.  Their verbal rational for their challenge was,

² So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. (Numbers 12:2, New King James Version)

However, the true reason was something completely different,

 ^1-2 Miriam and Aaron talked against Moses behind his back of
because his Cushite wife (he had married a Cushite woman). They said, "Is it only through Moses that God speaks? Doesn't he also speak through us?"

   God overheard their talk.  (Numbers 12:1, The Message)

Beware the folks looking to put together a posse.  Ye better know why they are trying to stir up your passions.   

Going to War in Your Promise Land

Numbers 10:1-11:23

We have this assumption, and by “we“, I mean the Christian Community, that when we get to our “Promise” land, the milk and honey will flow without conflict, not true.  If we are called to believe in the scriptures as being the complete Word of God, which is to be “rightly divided” [2 Timothy 2:15 KJV Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.] then we must hold up what we believe to the measuring rod of God’s Word. 

⁹ “When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. (Numbers 10:9, New King James Version)

This does not just remain as an Old Testament “thing” because the Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the church at Corinth to,

 ^1-5Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life. They all ate and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God's fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. But just experiencing God's wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much—most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased.

 ^6-10The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did—"First the people partied, then they threw a dance." We must not be sexually promiscuous—they paid for that, remember, with 23,000 deaths in one day! We must never try to get Christ to serve us instead of us serving him; they tried it, and God launched an epidemic of poisonous snakes. We must be careful not to stir up discontent; discontent destroyed them.  (1 Corinthians 10:5-7, The Message)

Israel’s wondering in the desert, their trials, there missteps, their experiences, should be used as a road map in living our lives and not just seen as some story from long ago.  The pillar of fire and the cloud to them was the leading of the Holy Spirit to us.   

When you get to your promise, make sure your fighting clothes are on. 

The Choice is Ours

In reading today’s Old Testament passage, I became fascinated with the 26th chapter. So many of us want to throw off the restraints of God and go our own way, thinking that it is better to be enslaved by our own desires than to be enslaved by God. But God offers so much more,

^3-5 "If you live by my decrees and obediently keep my commandments, I will send the rains in their seasons, the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. You will thresh until the grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting time; you'll have more than enough to eat and will live safe and secure in your land.
 ^6-10 "I'll make the country a place of peace—you'll be able to go to sleep at night without fear; I'll get rid of the wild beasts; I'll eliminate war. You'll chase out your enemies and defeat them: Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand and do away with them. I'll give you my full attention: I'll make sure you prosper, make sure you grow in numbers, and keep my covenant with you in good working order. You'll still be eating from last year's harvest when you have to clean out the barns to make room for the new crops.
 ^11-13 "I'll set up my residence in your neighborhood; I won't avoid or shun you; I'll stroll through your streets. I'll be your God; you'll be my people. I am God, your personal God who rescued you from Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians. I ripped off the harness of your slavery so that you can move about freely. (Leviticus 26:3-13, The Message)

When we go our own way, we suffer in “freedom,

^14-17 "But if you refuse to obey me and won't observe my commandments, despising my decrees and holding my laws in contempt by your disobedience, making a shambles of my covenant, I'll step in and pour on the trouble: debilitating disease, high fevers, blindness, your life leaking out bit by bit. You'll plant seed but your enemies will eat the crops. I'll turn my back on you and stand by while your enemies defeat you. People who hate you will govern you. You'll run scared even when there's no one chasing you.
 ^18-20 "And if none of this works in getting your attention, I'll discipline you seven times over for your sins. I'll break your strong pride: I'll make the skies above you like a sheet of tin and the ground under you like cast iron. No matter how hard you work, nothing will come of it: No crops out of the ground, no fruit off the trees. (Leviticus 26:14-20, The Message)

The choice is ours.

Leprosy, The Sin Dis-ease

Leviticus 13:1-59


Leprosy in Leviticus is a picture of “sin” and how we should deal with it in our lives. WE are not to take prisoners and leave a little bit behind. Identifying sin takes a community and not just ourselves because we would more than likely excuse it away.
 ¹ And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: ² “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a leprous^[a] sore, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. ³ The priest shall examine the sore on the skin of the body; and if the hair on the sore has turned white, and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous sore. Then the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean. (Leviticus 13:1-3, New King James Version)

Footnotes:

1. Leviticus 13:2 Hebrew saraath, disfiguring skin diseases, including leprosy, and so in verses 2–46 and 14:2–32

The passage even deals with an environment of sin we may choose to live within our relationships and homes, the sin we cloak ourselves with.
   
⁴⁷ “Also, if a garment has a leprous plague^[a] in it, whether it is a woolen garment or a linen garment, ⁴⁸ whether it is in the warp or woof of linen or wool, whether in leather or in anything made of leather, ⁴⁹ and if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather, whether in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, it is a leprous plague and shall be shown to the priest. ⁵⁰ The priest shall examine the plague and isolate that which has the plague seven days. ⁵¹ And he shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, in the leather or in anything made of leather, the plague is an active leprosy. It is unclean. ⁵² He shall therefore burn that garment in which is the plague, whether warp or woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of leather, for it is an active leprosy; the garment shall be burned in the fire.
⁵³ “But if the priest examines it, and indeed the plague has not spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, ⁵⁴ then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the plague; and he shall isolate it another seven days. ⁵⁵ Then the priest shall examine the plague after it has been washed; and indeed if the plague has not changed its color, though the plague has not spread, it is unclean, and you shall burn it in the fire; it continues eating away, whether the damage is outside or inside. ⁵⁶ If the priest examines it, and indeed the plague has faded after washing it, then he shall tear it out of the garment, whether out of the warp or out of the woof, or out of the leather. ⁵⁷ But if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, it is a spreading plague; you shall burn with fire that in which is the plague. (Leviticus 13:47-57, New King James Version)

Footnotes:

1. Leviticus 13:47 A mold, fungus, or similar infestation, and so in verses 47–59

No matter how we try to hide it no matter how we try to filter it, sin is just that, sin.

The Burning Book

Leviticus 6-7:27

Haven’t posted in a couple of days and probably will not post much while going through the book of Leviticus.  Although this book is packed with ritual laws and ceremonies, I think it probably deserves its own blog just to go through the laws and rituals that directly point to New Testament principals and most importantly, point to Jesus Christ revealed in the New Covenant.  One of the Sacrifices that directly point to the New Testament is the Burnt Offering that was to be done before any other offering mentioned in Leviticus could be done or else nothing else that was offered up would be accepted. 

The Burnt Offering where everything of the sacrificial bull was placed on the alter and burned up completely is paralleled in,

Romans 12:1-2 NIV  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.  (2)  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Burning up for Jesus!

The Glory of the Lord

Exodus 39-40:38

To see Aaron dressed up in his High Priestly clothing must have been a glorious sight.  But we must remember that the clothing was not about Aaron but it was all about God.  In some way the covering to be worn in ministering to the people was a reflection of God.  We are suppose to see aspects of God’s Glory; His Character; His Omnipotence; His knowledge and Wisdom and all the other facets of God I have probably left off.  The engraved names of Israel on the stone and stones of the headpiece and chest piece represents how God always has us on His mind and His heart.

What is God’s Love, Really?

Exodus 34-35:9

Yesterday a co-worker sent me a devotional entitled, God's Love and Lemonheads The Writer was attempting to write down all the synonyms she could think of for Love, trying to describe God’s Love without using the word Love.  There is one big problem with that, we cannot compare man’s love, or even equate God’s love with what man describes as love no matter the language used (see Isaiah 55:8-9).  In today’s passage I saw something that might give us a clue of What God’s Love is:

        Exodus 34:5-7 NLT  Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and He called out His own name, Yahweh.  (6)  The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, "Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.  (7)  I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected--even children in the third and fourth generations."

Within this passage is something that appears to break away from love and it is something I have wrestled with for years, the laying/visiting/punishing upon the children/grandchildren the sins of their parents: It doesn’t sound like love to us humans, at least to me it doesn't.  In The Hebrew, as in the King James, that particular word is translated “Visiting”. According to Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary, the Hebrew word is.

[H6485 –פּקד - pâqad - paw-kad' - A primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.: - appoint, X at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up look, make X by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember (-brance), set (over), sum, X surely, visit, want.]

When someone comes to visit, you don’t have to let them in.  But if you’re living in a house under the tutelage of your parents their guests, their sins, are brought into the space you live in thus that visitor, that “sin,” becomes Familiar to you, which is how it gets passed down from one generation to the next.  Unless the children reject that sin and/or sins, it will truly move down the line from one generation to the next.  

The passage also states, God forgives, but doesn’t overlook the guilty.  Guilt, true guilt, in this context means the person never sought forgiveness from God.  They may have sought forgiveness from others, but they never stood under the cleansing Stream of God’s Forgiveness. 

In the New Testament Passage for today, we can see the –Cause-Effect-Cause, of our sins, our family sin  being  passed down one generation to the next in the following statement.  [Jesus is before the crowd at his trial.  Pilate’s wife has sent him a message about her bad dread and she warns him to leave Jesus alone.  The warning shakes Pilate up and he ceremonially washes his hands in front of the crowd and states he is not responsible for what is about to happen (As if shirking your responsibility to lead somehow gets rid of your responsibility) - The conversaton bewteen Pilate and the crowd]:

Matthew 27:24-25 NLT  Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. The responsibility is yours!"  (25)  And all the people yelled back, "We will take responsibility for His death--we and our children!"

Further down in the Matthew passage we see the “world” trying to strip Jesus of His Covering, His Favor with God which is keeping with my overall theme of Cloaks and Favor,

Matthew 27:27-31 NLT  Some of the governor's soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment.  (28)  They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.  (29)  They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head, and they placed a reed stick in His right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before Him in mockery and taunted, "Hail! King of the Jews!"  (30)  And they spit on Him and grabbed the stick and struck Him on the head with it.  (31)  When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.

God is still God; Jesus is still God as well as the son of God.  no matter what we do or don’t do. Even if we attempt to strip God verbally of his awesomeness and His power, He is still God and Jesus is still His son. 

Luke 19:11-27 NIV  While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.  (12)  He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. (13)  So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.' (14)  "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.' (15)  "He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. (16)  "The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.' (17)  "'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' (18)  "The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.' (19)  "His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.' (20)  "Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. (21)  I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.' (22)  "His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? (23)  Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?' (24)  "Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' (25)  "'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' (26)  "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. (27)  But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring them here and kill them in front of me.'"