Slavery in the Bible
Exodus 21:20-21 f a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.
Is this verse condoning slavery? For us living in Stamford in 2009 we recoil from the idea of humans ever bring regarded as property to be brought and sold, whether beaten or not. How could God ever permit the institution of slavery?
Some initial thoughts on this question:
1. Back to yesterday’s theme of the Redemptive History of mankind. This was a primitive, morally immature world where just the basics of decent human behavior had to be laid down by God. He could not give them the elevated view of mankind that we have today all in one moment. It is important that we do not confuse God's use of an institution (or of evil) with His approval of it.
2. The whole celebration of the Jewish feasts is a picture of God’s stance on slavery. The first of the holy festivals given to the Israelites is the Feast of the Passover, which is to commemorate their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. God heard the cries of people and brought His wrath against the nation that had enslaved them. In the Passover celebration which is a lasting memorial, the Lord painted for us a picture of our ultimate deliverance from the bondage of sin. Every spring to this very day, the Jewish people remember that they were released from slavery by the hand of God. Year after year, Passover reminds the world that God does not approve of slavery.
3. The laws given in our passage today are not the final answer to God’s perspective on this topic. We will have to wait until the NT to have a complete picture.
4. There are elevated laws on slavery found in the OT. Most people conveniently overlook them:
- If you kidnapped a person and sold them into slavery you are to be put to death!
- If you were involved in slave trade you were to be put to death! This would have ended American slavery!
- If you kill your slave you are to be punished. From today’s verses.
- Permanently injured slaves had to be set free.
- Slaves who ran away from oppressive masters were effectively freed.
- You could not take sexual advantage, rape, or force a slave to become a prostitute.
- The law also gave slaves a day of rest every week.
- Hebrew slaves had to be freed every 6 years and on the year of Jubilee every 50 years.
5. Slavery in the ancient world. Slavery described in the Old Testament was quite different from the kind of slavery we think of today - in which people are captured and sold as slaves. Slavery during Old Testament times was not what we commonly recognize as slavery, such as that practiced in the 17th century Americas, when Africans were captured and forcibly brought to work on plantations. Unlike our modern government welfare programs, there was no safety-net for ancient Middle Easterners who could not provide a living for themselves. In ancient Israel, people who could not provide for themselves or their families sold themselves into slavery so they would not die of starvation or exposure. In this way, this was an economic system, a way for a person to receive food and housing in exchange for labor. So, although there are rules about slavery in the Bible, those rules existed to protect the slave.
6. Race and slavery. The slavery of the past few centuries was often based exclusively on skin color. Black people were considered slaves because of their nationality – many slave owners truly believed black people to be “inferior human beings” to white people. The Bible most definitely does condemn race-based slavery. Consider the slavery the Hebrews experienced when they were in Egypt. The Hebrew were slaves, not by choice, but because they were Hebrews (Exodus 13:14). The slavery found in the Bible was not based on race. People were not enslaved because of their nationality or the color of their skin. In Bible times, slavery was more of an economic institution. People sold themselves as slaves when they could not pay their debts or provide for their family. In New Testament times, sometimes doctors, lawyers, and even politicians were slaves of someone else. Some people actually chose to be slaves so as to have all their needs provided for by their master.
7. Jesus Christ radically changed the relationship of slaves and masters. As Christ followers they become brothers and sisters. Paul does not speak against the institution of slavery but gave guidelines to be applied. His counsel for this relationship can be applied to the employer-employee relationship. Bottom line - employees should work hard; show respect for their employers. In turn employers should be fair. At issue here is our integrity as workers. Our work should reflect our faithfulness to and love for Christ.
Paul was not advocating an economic revolution (Marxism). He was advocating a spiritual revolution (Christ’s invisible kingdom).
8. Modern slavery. There is a tendency to look at slavery as if it was something of the past. It is estimated that today there are 20 million people in the world who are subject to slavery: forced labor, sex trade, inheritable property, etc. Those of us who have been redeemed from the slavery of sin should be the foremost champions of ending human slavery in the world today.
9. The best way to end slavery is to do it from the inside-out. If a person experiences the love, mercy, and grace of God, receiving His salvation – God will reform his soul, changing the way he thinks and acts. A person who has experienced God’s gift of salvation and freedom from the slavery of sin, will be changed from the inside out, and realize that enslaving another human being is wrong. A person who has truly experienced God’s grace will in turn be gracious towards others. That would be the Bible’s prescription for ending slavery.
Action Steps for us today:
1. Pray for slavery to end.
2. Support missions to third world countries where the vast majority of slavery exists.
3. Share the gospel message freely. It is only as God changes us from the inside-out that we will push back the encroaching darkness.
4. Watch a movie on slavery... two great movies.... “Amistad” and “Amazing Grace.”
5. Work to put pressure on foreign governments to end slavery. Case in point: the situation in Darfur, where thousands of our fellow Christians are being sold into slavery.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
February 27
Deut 17 His-Story of the coming Kings
Deut. 17:14-15 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us," 15be sure to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite.
What an incredible truth is being revealed here. The year is 1400 BC and the nation still is in the desert. They are physically out of Egypt but God wants to make sure Egypt is out of them. God has given the nation new laws so they can know what is right and wrong but a whole generation has been buried in the desert because they were slow learners. Now as they are on the brink of entering the land God looks forward 400 years and sees that they will eventually need a king so they can learn the next lesson in their growth. He has repeatedly warned them against desiring a king, yet here he makes provision for one. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?
No, this is what is called “The Story of Redemption” or in theological terms “Redemptive History.” It refers to the increasing manifestation of God's plan of salvation through His acts of redemption. God couldn’t dump the lessons of algebra and trigonometry on the nation in kindergarten. He needed to work on the simple mathematical processes first.... addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
It is like a child growing up. You have to teach your children that it is wrong to hit your friends or steal their toys. It is also healthy to eat clean food and not the dirt in the sandbox. And washing your hands will give you a better life than keeping a dirt pile under your fingernails. These childhood rules are like the first laws that were given to the nation at Sinai. But eventually that child must be sent off to college. You are training them every day to prepare them for the time when they will make adult decisions. They need to learn how to live under God’s authority and not yours.
For adult decisions to be made for the nation, the Israelites would have to learn how to respond to the kingship of God. For them to learn this lesson it would be necessary to have an earthly king over them. Without bad kings how would people appreciate good kings – especially the righteous King of Kings? God, in his omniscience, proclaims there will be a time when kings will govern them.
The final lesson of this growing up process will include living under the guidance of a Messiah. The redemption story reaches its climax with the shedding of the blood of the Son of God on the cross and his new kingdom ethics. All of this is the process of an unfolding story of redemption.
The fascinating question for us today: Does God ever allow me to act against his will in order to bring me within his will?
Deut. 17:14-15 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us," 15be sure to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite.
What an incredible truth is being revealed here. The year is 1400 BC and the nation still is in the desert. They are physically out of Egypt but God wants to make sure Egypt is out of them. God has given the nation new laws so they can know what is right and wrong but a whole generation has been buried in the desert because they were slow learners. Now as they are on the brink of entering the land God looks forward 400 years and sees that they will eventually need a king so they can learn the next lesson in their growth. He has repeatedly warned them against desiring a king, yet here he makes provision for one. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?
No, this is what is called “The Story of Redemption” or in theological terms “Redemptive History.” It refers to the increasing manifestation of God's plan of salvation through His acts of redemption. God couldn’t dump the lessons of algebra and trigonometry on the nation in kindergarten. He needed to work on the simple mathematical processes first.... addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
It is like a child growing up. You have to teach your children that it is wrong to hit your friends or steal their toys. It is also healthy to eat clean food and not the dirt in the sandbox. And washing your hands will give you a better life than keeping a dirt pile under your fingernails. These childhood rules are like the first laws that were given to the nation at Sinai. But eventually that child must be sent off to college. You are training them every day to prepare them for the time when they will make adult decisions. They need to learn how to live under God’s authority and not yours.
For adult decisions to be made for the nation, the Israelites would have to learn how to respond to the kingship of God. For them to learn this lesson it would be necessary to have an earthly king over them. Without bad kings how would people appreciate good kings – especially the righteous King of Kings? God, in his omniscience, proclaims there will be a time when kings will govern them.
The final lesson of this growing up process will include living under the guidance of a Messiah. The redemption story reaches its climax with the shedding of the blood of the Son of God on the cross and his new kingdom ethics. All of this is the process of an unfolding story of redemption.
The fascinating question for us today: Does God ever allow me to act against his will in order to bring me within his will?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
February 26
Being a Person of Your Word
Deut. 23:23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.
In ancient Israel it was the practice of the people of God to make vows to God and to each other. What God wanted to get across to us in our reading today is the seriousness of fulfilling that vow. The importance of being a person of your word is seriously lacking in our culture. Whether it is in a marriage, the marketplace, a financial agreement, or simply to show up to an agreed upon plan, people today very rarely keep their word.
Integrity is a word widely used in our language but few people know what it means. The origin of the word comes from the Latin “integer” which means “whole” or “complete.” In mathematics, an integer is a positive or negative whole number of zero – a number without any fractional part.
One synonym for integrity is sincerity – the state of being truthful, genuine and free from deception or duplicity. This is a word Bernie Madoff and most politicians do not include in their vocabulary.
The word “sincerity” comes from the Latin “sincerus” meaning clean and pure through and through. It is the result of two Latin root words sine (without) and cera (wax).
Tradition tells us that dishonest Roman sculptors would cover up nicks and flaws in their statues with wax filler. The deception would last only until a hot summer sun melted the wax away and exposed the flaws. A sculpture that was pure and flawless was said to be “sine cera” without wax.
In the same way, a human life that is pure and whole is “sine cera” without wax. The person who lacks integrity has hidden flaws that will be revealed in their character when exposed to the heat of trials and adversity. The most prevalent test we have for sincerity is the examination of how much do we keep our word.
Here are some practical ways to becoming a person of your word.
1. Picture every promise as a promise made before God. This is actually true!!
2. Make very few promises.
3. When you make a promise write it down so you remember your commitments.
4. Remember you are building or tearing down trust with your fulfillment of this promise.
5. If you don’t keep your word ask for forgiveness. This includes your promises to your children.
6. The little things count.
7. Always tell the truth..... Always!!
8. Create a culture of truth in your family.
9. Keep your word even when it hurts.
Thought for today: “When people think of you do they see a promise keeper or a promise breaker?”
“Semper fidelis” the promise to always be faithful. May that be the label people place on us.
Deut. 23:23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.
In ancient Israel it was the practice of the people of God to make vows to God and to each other. What God wanted to get across to us in our reading today is the seriousness of fulfilling that vow. The importance of being a person of your word is seriously lacking in our culture. Whether it is in a marriage, the marketplace, a financial agreement, or simply to show up to an agreed upon plan, people today very rarely keep their word.
Integrity is a word widely used in our language but few people know what it means. The origin of the word comes from the Latin “integer” which means “whole” or “complete.” In mathematics, an integer is a positive or negative whole number of zero – a number without any fractional part.
One synonym for integrity is sincerity – the state of being truthful, genuine and free from deception or duplicity. This is a word Bernie Madoff and most politicians do not include in their vocabulary.
The word “sincerity” comes from the Latin “sincerus” meaning clean and pure through and through. It is the result of two Latin root words sine (without) and cera (wax).
Tradition tells us that dishonest Roman sculptors would cover up nicks and flaws in their statues with wax filler. The deception would last only until a hot summer sun melted the wax away and exposed the flaws. A sculpture that was pure and flawless was said to be “sine cera” without wax.
In the same way, a human life that is pure and whole is “sine cera” without wax. The person who lacks integrity has hidden flaws that will be revealed in their character when exposed to the heat of trials and adversity. The most prevalent test we have for sincerity is the examination of how much do we keep our word.
Here are some practical ways to becoming a person of your word.
1. Picture every promise as a promise made before God. This is actually true!!
2. Make very few promises.
3. When you make a promise write it down so you remember your commitments.
4. Remember you are building or tearing down trust with your fulfillment of this promise.
5. If you don’t keep your word ask for forgiveness. This includes your promises to your children.
6. The little things count.
7. Always tell the truth..... Always!!
8. Create a culture of truth in your family.
9. Keep your word even when it hurts.
Thought for today: “When people think of you do they see a promise keeper or a promise breaker?”
“Semper fidelis” the promise to always be faithful. May that be the label people place on us.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
February 25
Dusting off the Old Books
Today read Leviticus 14
Leprosy Leviticus 14:1-9
What we have in this passage is a glimpse of the first seminary training. Now if you think it is boring to read about this, just think about learning how to do it. I am sure there was a class called Leprosy 101 and the priest kept asking why they had to learn all this stuff. No one was ever healed from leprosy.
Thnk about the procedures they would have to go through...
1. Take an hour walk and go outside the camp. The tabernacle was at the center of the community.
2. Give the person a physical.
3. Put in an order at Costco for 2 live birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn and some hyssop (a branch)
4. Kill one bird over a clay pot
5. Take the remaining live bird and dip it in the blood with the wood, yarn and hyssop
6. Sprinkle the person 7 times and pronounce them clean
7. Release the bird.
8. Then go to the laundromat and clean his clothes
9. Shave his hair
10. Have him take a bath at the Desert Day Spa
11. Have him camp outside for 7 days.
That is an elaborate ceremony!!!. As far as we know there were only two people cured on leprosy in the OT, one was Miriam and the other was General Naaman in 2 Kings 5. So the seminary guys learn this stuff and then their notes sit in their libraries for decades without use.
One day, many centuries later, there is a knock on the temple door. The person on the other side says, “I have been healed of leprosy.” All of a sudden the priests start scrambling around looking for the notes from that class. The next day 3 more appear. Then next week 10 guys show up. The priests start asking, “How were you healed?” The name Jesus comes up every time. I believe God put this in the law to give the priests in Jesus’ time overwhelming evidence that he was the Messiah.
In Matthew 8:4 Then Jesus said to a guy healed of leprosy, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Wow... what a plan to show the world that Jesus is the Messiah. It is evident even in Leviticus 14.
Do you love Jesus with all your heart today? He loves you with all of his.
Today read Leviticus 14
Leprosy Leviticus 14:1-9
What we have in this passage is a glimpse of the first seminary training. Now if you think it is boring to read about this, just think about learning how to do it. I am sure there was a class called Leprosy 101 and the priest kept asking why they had to learn all this stuff. No one was ever healed from leprosy.
Thnk about the procedures they would have to go through...
1. Take an hour walk and go outside the camp. The tabernacle was at the center of the community.
2. Give the person a physical.
3. Put in an order at Costco for 2 live birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn and some hyssop (a branch)
4. Kill one bird over a clay pot
5. Take the remaining live bird and dip it in the blood with the wood, yarn and hyssop
6. Sprinkle the person 7 times and pronounce them clean
7. Release the bird.
8. Then go to the laundromat and clean his clothes
9. Shave his hair
10. Have him take a bath at the Desert Day Spa
11. Have him camp outside for 7 days.
That is an elaborate ceremony!!!. As far as we know there were only two people cured on leprosy in the OT, one was Miriam and the other was General Naaman in 2 Kings 5. So the seminary guys learn this stuff and then their notes sit in their libraries for decades without use.
One day, many centuries later, there is a knock on the temple door. The person on the other side says, “I have been healed of leprosy.” All of a sudden the priests start scrambling around looking for the notes from that class. The next day 3 more appear. Then next week 10 guys show up. The priests start asking, “How were you healed?” The name Jesus comes up every time. I believe God put this in the law to give the priests in Jesus’ time overwhelming evidence that he was the Messiah.
In Matthew 8:4 Then Jesus said to a guy healed of leprosy, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Wow... what a plan to show the world that Jesus is the Messiah. It is evident even in Leviticus 14.
Do you love Jesus with all your heart today? He loves you with all of his.
Monday, February 23, 2009
February 23
Today is accountability day. Send me an email with your progress.
Today: Lev 5, 22 Deut 21
Tomorrow: Lev 21, 25
Deut. 21:6-8 Then all the elders of the town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, 7and they shall declare: "Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. 8Accept this atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, O Lord, and do not hold your people guilty of the blood of an innocent man." And the bloodshed will be atoned for.
There is a huge difference between the east and west. In the west we value our rugged individualism. We are the captains of our own ship and we live as individuals. In the east they value community. You are part of a community and thus you have certain community responsibilities. The last thing you want to do is to disgrace your community or family. This sense of community responsibility carries over in this passage. When a crime was committed and the criminal got away, the whole community was held responsible. They would have to gather the elders together and offer atonement for the crime. If they didn’t own this they would be guilty of the crime itself.
This verse has application for us today in 4 ways.
1. As Christ followers we need to be involved in bringing wholeness to our communities. We should be working for the growth, health, and well being of our city. What could you do to make Stamford a better city? Christ followers should be the best citizens.
2. As Christ followers we need to help the families of our community. We all bear some responsibility when a criminal is raised in our city. Could we have helped this person by helping their family? Could we have reached them in school? Could we have reached them through mentoring in a sports program? Just how many failed relationships does it take to make a criminal?
3. As Christ followers we need to assume responsibility for national crimes. We are responsible when we have government policies that harm people. We held the people of Germany responsible for the 6 million Jews that were killed. Do you realize that since 1973 we have killed 49 million helpless children. Now more than ever it is important for us to elect government officials who share our sense of morality.
4. As a race we are responsible for the death of Jesus. Remember the shout from the people at the crucifixion of Jesus? “Let his blood be on us and our children.” Did they not realize the responsibility they were assuming with this cry? When asking the question, “Who killed Jesus” we are all guilty. It was our sin that nailed him to the cross. It is only when we assume responsibility for that sin that we will find healing and forgiveness.
Thought for today: As you walk around Stamford on this cold winter day ask yourself, “What can I do to touch this city with the love of Jesus?”
Today: Lev 5, 22 Deut 21
Tomorrow: Lev 21, 25
Deut. 21:6-8 Then all the elders of the town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, 7and they shall declare: "Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. 8Accept this atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, O Lord, and do not hold your people guilty of the blood of an innocent man." And the bloodshed will be atoned for.
There is a huge difference between the east and west. In the west we value our rugged individualism. We are the captains of our own ship and we live as individuals. In the east they value community. You are part of a community and thus you have certain community responsibilities. The last thing you want to do is to disgrace your community or family. This sense of community responsibility carries over in this passage. When a crime was committed and the criminal got away, the whole community was held responsible. They would have to gather the elders together and offer atonement for the crime. If they didn’t own this they would be guilty of the crime itself.
This verse has application for us today in 4 ways.
1. As Christ followers we need to be involved in bringing wholeness to our communities. We should be working for the growth, health, and well being of our city. What could you do to make Stamford a better city? Christ followers should be the best citizens.
2. As Christ followers we need to help the families of our community. We all bear some responsibility when a criminal is raised in our city. Could we have helped this person by helping their family? Could we have reached them in school? Could we have reached them through mentoring in a sports program? Just how many failed relationships does it take to make a criminal?
3. As Christ followers we need to assume responsibility for national crimes. We are responsible when we have government policies that harm people. We held the people of Germany responsible for the 6 million Jews that were killed. Do you realize that since 1973 we have killed 49 million helpless children. Now more than ever it is important for us to elect government officials who share our sense of morality.
4. As a race we are responsible for the death of Jesus. Remember the shout from the people at the crucifixion of Jesus? “Let his blood be on us and our children.” Did they not realize the responsibility they were assuming with this cry? When asking the question, “Who killed Jesus” we are all guilty. It was our sin that nailed him to the cross. It is only when we assume responsibility for that sin that we will find healing and forgiveness.
Thought for today: As you walk around Stamford on this cold winter day ask yourself, “What can I do to touch this city with the love of Jesus?”
Sunday, February 22, 2009
February 22: Leviticus and Numbers
Today's passage speaks about several different types of offerings: peace, thanksgiving, freewill, and sin offerings. In each of them, we see the truth explained in Hebrews 9. Please refer to this passage, as its teaching may be instructive for seeing the greater purpose behind today's list of regulations. Please note how God provides for everyone, that all should give offerings according to their ability to do so. It is clear from this flexibility that God is more concerned with the heart behind the offering rather than its cost. For each person, however, a sacrifice would be just that: a sacrifice, something that costs the giver.
In Hebrews 9:6-10, the author indicates that the Tabernacle order only pointed to the coming of Christ: "When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order." These offerings point to the final Offering, the Person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, our Great High Priest, atoned for our sins ONCE FOR ALL! As the author of Hebrews points out, "when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." (vv. 11,12) The blood of Christ has freed us from slavery to sin and made us sons and daughters of the living God: "... Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (v. 16)
Blood marked forgiveness under the first covenant, about which we read today. Hebrews 9:22 highlights this: "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." How true this is even under our new covenant; God's sovereign plan has always called for true sacrifice -- the shedding of blood unto forgiveness. But Jesus's sacrifice was not like the earthly High Priest's, ones that needed to be offered continually to atone for sin. No, Jesus has forever forgiven us by His bearing of sin ONCE FOR ALL.
Our proper acceptance of Jesus's gift should bring both peace (trust in God's provision, for Christ is our peace) and thanksgiving ("Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15). In Christ, we have received an offering we could never earn. Sing for joy today!
QUESTIONS
1. Do you feel guilty or ashamed today? How can you lay this guilt or shame at the Cross, rejoicing in the freedom that Jesus bought for you by His blood?
2. How could the reflection of Jesus's ONCE-FOR-ALL sacrifice change your view of God's power and sovereignty?
In Hebrews 9:6-10, the author indicates that the Tabernacle order only pointed to the coming of Christ: "When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order." These offerings point to the final Offering, the Person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, our Great High Priest, atoned for our sins ONCE FOR ALL! As the author of Hebrews points out, "when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." (vv. 11,12) The blood of Christ has freed us from slavery to sin and made us sons and daughters of the living God: "... Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (v. 16)
Blood marked forgiveness under the first covenant, about which we read today. Hebrews 9:22 highlights this: "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." How true this is even under our new covenant; God's sovereign plan has always called for true sacrifice -- the shedding of blood unto forgiveness. But Jesus's sacrifice was not like the earthly High Priest's, ones that needed to be offered continually to atone for sin. No, Jesus has forever forgiven us by His bearing of sin ONCE FOR ALL.
Our proper acceptance of Jesus's gift should bring both peace (trust in God's provision, for Christ is our peace) and thanksgiving ("Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15). In Christ, we have received an offering we could never earn. Sing for joy today!
QUESTIONS
1. Do you feel guilty or ashamed today? How can you lay this guilt or shame at the Cross, rejoicing in the freedom that Jesus bought for you by His blood?
2. How could the reflection of Jesus's ONCE-FOR-ALL sacrifice change your view of God's power and sovereignty?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
February 21
Burning out for God.
Today: Lev 1, 2, 6
Tomorrow: Lev 3, 4, 5
If there is one theme that we have seen throughout our Bible reading this year it is that people’s passion for God runs hot and cold. It’s like buying a membership at Planet Fitness. We purchase the membership and go for the first two weeks, then we start to slack off. “You know it’s so cold out today,” “my knee hurts a little,” “there is a rerun on the WB that I just have to see,” a million excuses, but the result is the same, we fail to keep the fire burning brightly for our physical heart. The same is true for our spiritual heart. At the beginning of the year we are faithful to open the Word and read it everyday. But then the excuses start to pop up. There are a million of them, but before you know it, the fire has gone out for the Lord. Anyone who has ever built a fire knows it is a lot easier to add fuel periodically and stir the embers than to let the fire go out and have to start all over again. Spiritually God wants us to keep the fire going.
Leviticus 6:13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.
God wants us to keep our passion for him burning brightly. Don’t let the fire go out. By nourishing the fire everyday we can keep it burning brightly. Here are some reminders on how to do it....
1. This is all about connecting with God. I do not want to go into my day without a word from Him. Hearing God’s voice is the top priority of my day. This is the reason I am alive.
2. To hear God’s voice I must be quiet. He does not shout, he whispers. I need quiet and uninterrupted time with him.
3. I need accountability. We are designed for community. When we take the journey together we are much more likely to finish it. Every Monday I am going to ask you to send me an email. When I don’t hear from you I am assuming you have let the fire go out. This accountability is designed to help you finish the race.
4. The law of entropy applies to our hearts. All fires go out unless they are diligently attended. This is work, this is sacrifice, this will cost me something, but in the end it will be worth it all.
Thought for the day: If I’ve let the fire go out, what is stopping me from getting back on track today?
Today: Lev 1, 2, 6
Tomorrow: Lev 3, 4, 5
If there is one theme that we have seen throughout our Bible reading this year it is that people’s passion for God runs hot and cold. It’s like buying a membership at Planet Fitness. We purchase the membership and go for the first two weeks, then we start to slack off. “You know it’s so cold out today,” “my knee hurts a little,” “there is a rerun on the WB that I just have to see,” a million excuses, but the result is the same, we fail to keep the fire burning brightly for our physical heart. The same is true for our spiritual heart. At the beginning of the year we are faithful to open the Word and read it everyday. But then the excuses start to pop up. There are a million of them, but before you know it, the fire has gone out for the Lord. Anyone who has ever built a fire knows it is a lot easier to add fuel periodically and stir the embers than to let the fire go out and have to start all over again. Spiritually God wants us to keep the fire going.
Leviticus 6:13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.
God wants us to keep our passion for him burning brightly. Don’t let the fire go out. By nourishing the fire everyday we can keep it burning brightly. Here are some reminders on how to do it....
1. This is all about connecting with God. I do not want to go into my day without a word from Him. Hearing God’s voice is the top priority of my day. This is the reason I am alive.
2. To hear God’s voice I must be quiet. He does not shout, he whispers. I need quiet and uninterrupted time with him.
3. I need accountability. We are designed for community. When we take the journey together we are much more likely to finish it. Every Monday I am going to ask you to send me an email. When I don’t hear from you I am assuming you have let the fire go out. This accountability is designed to help you finish the race.
4. The law of entropy applies to our hearts. All fires go out unless they are diligently attended. This is work, this is sacrifice, this will cost me something, but in the end it will be worth it all.
Thought for the day: If I’ve let the fire go out, what is stopping me from getting back on track today?
Friday, February 20, 2009
February 20
February 20, 2009
THE FEASTS Besides enjoying one Sabbath day of rest each week, the Israelites also enjoyed 19 days when national holidays were celebrated. This is a culture that knew how to party!!
Some notes on the purpose of these feasts:
1. The Hebrew meaning of the word Leviticus is "And he called" It is somewhat misleading for although the book deals extensively with the Levites and priests and their various tasks, this book was given to the whole nation. We are all called to live holy lives.
2. The word "Holy" occurs 90 times. The word "Sanctify" 17 times.
What does “sanctification” mean? To be set apart for God’s use. A believer’s sanctification is an ongoing process. When a person becomes a Christian, he or she is sanctified. The Holy Spirit continues helping him or her become more and more like Jesus, which is the process of sanctification. The goal in our Bible reading this year is not information but transformation. Every day we should be more and more like Jesus.
3. God wanted the nation to act as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Ex 19:5,6 Israel rejected this offer by God. Ex 20:21. In the New Testament we have been given this same task. So today give yourself the title of “Priest or Priestess.” 1 Peter 1 Notice this is not prince or princess. Don’t take it too far.
4. The book of Leviticus is filled with the commands God gave his people at the foot of Mount Sinai. From these commands we can learn much about God’s nature and character. At first glance, Leviticus seems irrelevant to our high-tech world of Ipods and GPS’s. But digging a little deeper, we realize that the book still speaks to us today—God has not changed, and his principles are for all times. As people and culture change, we need constantly to search for ways to apply the principles of God’s law to our present circumstances. God was the same in Leviticus as he is today and will be forever (Hebrews 13:8).
5. The point of the book. Make a distinction between the God you feel and the God who is revealed. God gave specific instructions on how we are to approach him. Worship isn't something we just feel…. Don't just wing it. Nadab and Abihu didn't follow instructions and they paid a huge price. Today the ceremonial law is not in effect. But God has still given us guidelines on worship. We need to be diligent to worship God correctly.
Thoughts for today
1. Take a minute and sing a worship song to the Lord.
2. Be quiet for a few minutes and ask God to reveal to you how he wants to sanctify you today.
3. Make sure your life is lining up with the God revealed in the Bible. Truth is absolutely what God says it is.
THE FEASTS Besides enjoying one Sabbath day of rest each week, the Israelites also enjoyed 19 days when national holidays were celebrated. This is a culture that knew how to party!!
Some notes on the purpose of these feasts:
1. The Hebrew meaning of the word Leviticus is "And he called" It is somewhat misleading for although the book deals extensively with the Levites and priests and their various tasks, this book was given to the whole nation. We are all called to live holy lives.
2. The word "Holy" occurs 90 times. The word "Sanctify" 17 times.
What does “sanctification” mean? To be set apart for God’s use. A believer’s sanctification is an ongoing process. When a person becomes a Christian, he or she is sanctified. The Holy Spirit continues helping him or her become more and more like Jesus, which is the process of sanctification. The goal in our Bible reading this year is not information but transformation. Every day we should be more and more like Jesus.
3. God wanted the nation to act as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Ex 19:5,6 Israel rejected this offer by God. Ex 20:21. In the New Testament we have been given this same task. So today give yourself the title of “Priest or Priestess.” 1 Peter 1 Notice this is not prince or princess. Don’t take it too far.
4. The book of Leviticus is filled with the commands God gave his people at the foot of Mount Sinai. From these commands we can learn much about God’s nature and character. At first glance, Leviticus seems irrelevant to our high-tech world of Ipods and GPS’s. But digging a little deeper, we realize that the book still speaks to us today—God has not changed, and his principles are for all times. As people and culture change, we need constantly to search for ways to apply the principles of God’s law to our present circumstances. God was the same in Leviticus as he is today and will be forever (Hebrews 13:8).
5. The point of the book. Make a distinction between the God you feel and the God who is revealed. God gave specific instructions on how we are to approach him. Worship isn't something we just feel…. Don't just wing it. Nadab and Abihu didn't follow instructions and they paid a huge price. Today the ceremonial law is not in effect. But God has still given us guidelines on worship. We need to be diligent to worship God correctly.
Thoughts for today
1. Take a minute and sing a worship song to the Lord.
2. Be quiet for a few minutes and ask God to reveal to you how he wants to sanctify you today.
3. Make sure your life is lining up with the God revealed in the Bible. Truth is absolutely what God says it is.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
February 19
Are you tired all the time?
Today: Deut 18, 26, Deut 5:12-15
Tomorrow: Deut 16, Leviticus 16, 23, 29
I'm not sure I understand it, but I have this feeling that an increasing amount of my conversations deal with the subject of weariness, over commitment, and the perceived need to drop out.
Here are phrases that I hear all the time, maybe you have even said some of these:
1. I've got to cut down; I'm into too many things.
2. I think I'm on the edge of burn‑out.
3. I never have any time for myself these days.
4. You can't believe how busy my life is.
I get the feeling we are a tired generation. Evidence of that can be found that Americans are overworked and exhausted these days. Workaholism is a modern word. No matter how hard we are willing to work in our competitive world, there always seems to be someone willing to put in a few more hours than we are. The amazing thing is that all this weariness, exhaustion, fatigue is taking place at a time when we have more leisure than any generation who has every lived in this country. How can these things be? Can I suggest that this is not necessarily a weariness of the body, but this is a weariness of the spirit and soul?
God in his infinity wisdom has a solution for our burn out; it is called a Sabbath Rest.
Deut. 5:12-14 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work.”
It might be time for us to read the instructions. Here is the remarkable principle. We work for six days and then we get a day of vacation. A day for our souls to catch up with our bodies, a day of enjoyment of God and the wonderful gifts he has given us, in a sense a mini-vacation day to renew ourselves.
Here are some words from an Israeli tourist brochure: “Make the Sabbath an eternal monument of the knowledge and sanctification of God, both in the center of your busy public life and in the peaceful retreat of your domestic hearth. For six days cultivate the earth and rule it. But the 7th is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. Let a man therefore realize that the Creator of old is the living God of today, that He watches every man and every human effort, to see how man uses or abuses the world loaned to him and the forces bestowed upon him, and that He is the sole architect to whom every man has to render an account of his week's labors.”
Jewish awareness of a unique pace of Sabbath is something we should consider. Routines are to stop, labors are to cease. Even the homemaker in the pious Jewish family is to refrain from cooking or menial tasks. Food is prepared before Sabbath begins so that she also can enjoy the fruit of the special rest day. This is a far cry from the incredible, filled up, pressurized day many evangelical Christians tend to make of their day of rest.
Make Sunday the high point of your week. Make it a day to go to church, spend time alone with God, and renew your relationships with family and friends. It is a day to re-create your spirit and soul.
We are as busy as we choose to be. Choose not to be busy this coming Sunday. Take a vacation with God.
Today: Deut 18, 26, Deut 5:12-15
Tomorrow: Deut 16, Leviticus 16, 23, 29
I'm not sure I understand it, but I have this feeling that an increasing amount of my conversations deal with the subject of weariness, over commitment, and the perceived need to drop out.
Here are phrases that I hear all the time, maybe you have even said some of these:
1. I've got to cut down; I'm into too many things.
2. I think I'm on the edge of burn‑out.
3. I never have any time for myself these days.
4. You can't believe how busy my life is.
I get the feeling we are a tired generation. Evidence of that can be found that Americans are overworked and exhausted these days. Workaholism is a modern word. No matter how hard we are willing to work in our competitive world, there always seems to be someone willing to put in a few more hours than we are. The amazing thing is that all this weariness, exhaustion, fatigue is taking place at a time when we have more leisure than any generation who has every lived in this country. How can these things be? Can I suggest that this is not necessarily a weariness of the body, but this is a weariness of the spirit and soul?
God in his infinity wisdom has a solution for our burn out; it is called a Sabbath Rest.
Deut. 5:12-14 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work.”
It might be time for us to read the instructions. Here is the remarkable principle. We work for six days and then we get a day of vacation. A day for our souls to catch up with our bodies, a day of enjoyment of God and the wonderful gifts he has given us, in a sense a mini-vacation day to renew ourselves.
Here are some words from an Israeli tourist brochure: “Make the Sabbath an eternal monument of the knowledge and sanctification of God, both in the center of your busy public life and in the peaceful retreat of your domestic hearth. For six days cultivate the earth and rule it. But the 7th is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. Let a man therefore realize that the Creator of old is the living God of today, that He watches every man and every human effort, to see how man uses or abuses the world loaned to him and the forces bestowed upon him, and that He is the sole architect to whom every man has to render an account of his week's labors.”
Jewish awareness of a unique pace of Sabbath is something we should consider. Routines are to stop, labors are to cease. Even the homemaker in the pious Jewish family is to refrain from cooking or menial tasks. Food is prepared before Sabbath begins so that she also can enjoy the fruit of the special rest day. This is a far cry from the incredible, filled up, pressurized day many evangelical Christians tend to make of their day of rest.
Make Sunday the high point of your week. Make it a day to go to church, spend time alone with God, and renew your relationships with family and friends. It is a day to re-create your spirit and soul.
We are as busy as we choose to be. Choose not to be busy this coming Sunday. Take a vacation with God.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
February 18
If you don’t have the Daily Bible it is going to be too difficult to give you all the passages.
We now begin the Laws of Moses.
Today Deut 13, 17
Tomorrow: Deut 14, 26
Both of these are about half of the verses that we are reading.
Our enemy Satan has two great tools to keep us from reading God’s word. His first tool is busyness. He wants to get our lives so revved up that we just can’t see how it is possible to get 15 minutes of quiet time in with God.
His second tool is laziness. If we find time to watch TV and our favorite shows why can’t we find time to read? Could it be that we love the couch potato lifestyle and we don’t like to spiritually exercise ourselves?
Take the time today to read the Word. Jesus said that can’t live by bread alone. We need God’s word to sustain our lives.
The darkness is growing in the US. Only God’s word can give us a light for our path.
Keep reading .... if you are behind... catch up.
May we all hear God’s voice today!!!
We now begin the Laws of Moses.
Today Deut 13, 17
Tomorrow: Deut 14, 26
Both of these are about half of the verses that we are reading.
Our enemy Satan has two great tools to keep us from reading God’s word. His first tool is busyness. He wants to get our lives so revved up that we just can’t see how it is possible to get 15 minutes of quiet time in with God.
His second tool is laziness. If we find time to watch TV and our favorite shows why can’t we find time to read? Could it be that we love the couch potato lifestyle and we don’t like to spiritually exercise ourselves?
Take the time today to read the Word. Jesus said that can’t live by bread alone. We need God’s word to sustain our lives.
The darkness is growing in the US. Only God’s word can give us a light for our path.
Keep reading .... if you are behind... catch up.
May we all hear God’s voice today!!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
February 17
Here are my thoughts on the reading:
We all have pride! how much pride do you have? It's even worse if your sitting there as your reading this telling your self; "pride? who's he to tell me i have pride? I have NO pride". If that was you, get up, and go for a walk. Once your back from your walk try re-asking your self until you come to the depressing conclusion that we all suffer from pride. The Israelites are the prime example of pride. Now they are doing great and following the Lord and will get blessed with riches, but a little down the road kicks in the pride and far from the Lord they go.
In Moses' last 'State of the Union' address, before he speaks of their victory that is promises, and soon to come he warns them about pride. The pride that comes from the focus on your self accomplishments rather than the God given accomplishments.
If you notice, all the times that Israel messed up the one thing that saved them was Moses' prayer. Prayer is a powerful thing and one of the hardest things to do (at least for me). I see these wonderful prayers that saved nations, while my sorry prayers are only to find my keys before I'm late for work. What's wrong with that picture? Why can't I pray more boldly ? Pride. Moses' always sough God's mercy through prayer and supplication.
Personally, my prayer time is lame. I pray for little selfish things and always tell myself that i can do it on my own . It is only when things get really bad that i take time to pray, and even then sometimes i forget to. At the same time i can sit here and tell you all the different times that God has answered my prayers. Where do things change that we forget the good that God does for us? Pride. The self-centeredness view that allows us to think that we are in control rather than God.
God asked for a lot from Israel, but not in any single moment was he out of control. Things haven't changed since then, he's still in control. Add prayer to your life, leave your pride at the door and allow God to do whatever his will is to do with you.
These are my thoughts on todays reading. Hopefully they made sense and were helpful to you!
Monday, February 16, 2009
February 16
February 16
Read Deut 4-8
Tomorrow Deut 9-11
Today is accountability day. Send me a quick email telling me what chapter you are on.
Today I want to deal with one of the most difficult ethical questions in the Bible: the genocide of the Canaanites.
Deut. 7:1-2 When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations--the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you-- and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.
The Hebrew word used here is “herem” to utterly destroy. The word is used to show what the exclusive property of the Lord is. Only God can make this pronouncement of what is to be totally destroyed. No human being can “herem” a people or country. This word would later be used for a group of women who would be the exclusive property of a king, “The King’s Harem.”
The question that faces us is, “Is this ethical?” Certainly this concept does not fit with the Western concept of God being a big, loving sugar daddy in the sky. But the harder question is the killing of the children and infants. If the Israelite children who were under age 20 were allowed to live in the desert, why would God demand the lives of these children? How do we reconcile this command with the concept of a loving, gracious God who asks us to turn the cheek to our enemies? This declaration offends our moral sensibilities; it literally jars our picture of God because it seems at odds with the revelation of God at other points in the Bible.
So what is the answer? Let me give you some initial thoughts. I have used some thoughts from Walter Kaiser, William Craig, and Gleason Archer.
1. The Holiness and Justice of God. God’s character demands just laws and just rulers in government. When a group of people deliberately violate God’s standard for an extended period of time they will eventually face the holiness and justice of God. It doesn’t matter what time, what country, what nationality. When we break God’s standards there is a price to be paid. That is why God literally pleads with people to repent of their unjust and wicked ways so that he won’t have to judge them.
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'
This verse was directed at Israel because they had fallen into the exact sin of the Canaanites. God’s holiness is not capricious. It stands opposed to sin regardless of the person committing it. That is why the US and western culture are in danger today. We have deliberately turned our backs on God and his laws. We wink at sin in our culture. To us sin is fun; it is something to play around with. But to God all sin is cosmic treason which is punishable by death.
Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death.
Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned.
That means that every one of us is under the wrath of God when we violate his commands. While we trivialize sin, God says that all sin has drastic consequences. The most horrific consequence is eternally being separated from God.
2. The patience of God. Did God give the Canaanites enough time to repent and get right with him? God gave them 430 years to respond to his love. Archaeologists have found that in Canaanite history both El and Baal were considered equal at one time. El being the God of the Bible and Baal being the god of the Canaanites. But over the next centuries Baal overtook El until only Baal worship existed. They had their opportunity to respond to the God of the Bible but they rejected his love and laws. 400 years is a long time to wait for someone to respond. God was fair. See Genesis 15:13, 16.
3. The Wickedness of the People of Canaan. Critics of God’s pronouncement of “herem” typically neglect one very important truth, the depravity of the Canaanites. According to the Bible and archaeological information, the Canaanites in the land widely practiced child sacrifice, incest, bestiality, and other behaviors that almost everyone in history, including today, rightly regard as unspeakably, grossly immoral. If the people of Canaan were akin to the peace-loving, civilized folks of different religions living in our suburban neighborhoods and working in our colleges, hospitals, and fire departments, then the Israelite claim that God had condemned those peoples as hopelessly degenerate would be rightly questioned. On the other hand, if the Canaanites and other peoples in the land were a degenerate society widely practicing bestiality and publicly burning their children to Molech, can we not understand why God would “herem” them.
But what about the young children? Since we don’t have an explanation of why they are included in this ban, let me suggest 2 possible theories:
First, after generations of the sort of moral degeneracy that characterized these peoples, it may be that even the smallest children were beyond civilizing. Apparently even they were abused and forced to participate in obscene conduct, such that they would have grown up psychologically and spiritually scarred-and perhaps threatened to perpetuate the cycle.
Second, the STDs and other infectious diseases that must have pervaded those cities may well have been carried by the smallest children, and if so, they may have posed a grave danger to the physical health of the Israelites. Imagine some of the nations today most ravaged by AIDS, but living more than three thousand years ago, with no access to even the most basic medical resources. It may be that infectious diseases were also ravaging the domestic animals in these cities, which would also explain why they were destroyed.
It's horrible to contemplate that things were so bad that it was actually necessary for even the youngest members of that society to be killed in order to stop the generational cycle of degeneracy and disease. But something along these lines seems likely to be the reason for God's order to leave alive nothing that breathed.
4. The age of accountability should be taken into account. Since God was so gracious and declared the age of accountability for the Israelites as age 20 could he not have done this for the Canaanites? I personally believe that God’s grace is extended to those who die in infancy, or as small children, the death of these children was actually their salvation. We are so focused on an earthly, secular perspective that we forget that those who die are happy to quit this earth for heaven’s incomparable joy. Therefore, God does these children no wrong in taking their lives.
5. The Nature of God and Being God. God is not to be trifled with. Again this goes against the current politically correct thought where we stand over God in judgment of him and his actions. But the God of the Bible is clearly someone you don’t want to mess with. He means business and he is to be feared. As C.S.Lewis pus it, “Aslan is not a tame lion.” God does have the right to take any life since he is the one who gave it. He is not under any moral obligation to prolong life and when he takes life he doesn’t have to explain to mortals why he did it. He is God and we are not. As Americans this grates against us since we think we are always in control. Control is just an illusion. God is God and we are not.
6. God’s past record of being gracious. When we look at the destruction of Sodom we see a God who gives his solemn promise not to destroy the city if there are ten righteous people there. The implications are clear; the Canaanites are not righteous people but have come under God’s judgment. Every human being is given a choice when it comes to being reconciled with God. God has made a way for us to be reconciled with him. It is through the cross of Jesus. If we reject the sacrifice that Jesus paid on the cross then the consequences of that decision lie with us. God will not force his will on any person.
In summary: The pronouncement of “herem” on the Canaanite people is harsh. But it was God’s way of preserving Israel’s health and posterity. God knew that if these Canaanites were allowed to live, they would spell the undoing of Israel. This is exactly what happened. The Israelites did not eliminate the Canaanites and their Baal worship, and eventually it became their undoing. In 586 BC God would say “Enough” to the nation of Israel just like he had said it to the Canaanites. And then it would be Israel who would face the wrath of God. God did everything possible to spare them from this destiny.
When will we wake up in the USA and realize how close we are to God saying to us, “Enough?” That is a scary thought. Now is the time for us to renew our commitment to God and follow him with our whole hearts.
Read Deut 4-8
Tomorrow Deut 9-11
Today is accountability day. Send me a quick email telling me what chapter you are on.
Today I want to deal with one of the most difficult ethical questions in the Bible: the genocide of the Canaanites.
Deut. 7:1-2 When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations--the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you-- and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.
The Hebrew word used here is “herem” to utterly destroy. The word is used to show what the exclusive property of the Lord is. Only God can make this pronouncement of what is to be totally destroyed. No human being can “herem” a people or country. This word would later be used for a group of women who would be the exclusive property of a king, “The King’s Harem.”
The question that faces us is, “Is this ethical?” Certainly this concept does not fit with the Western concept of God being a big, loving sugar daddy in the sky. But the harder question is the killing of the children and infants. If the Israelite children who were under age 20 were allowed to live in the desert, why would God demand the lives of these children? How do we reconcile this command with the concept of a loving, gracious God who asks us to turn the cheek to our enemies? This declaration offends our moral sensibilities; it literally jars our picture of God because it seems at odds with the revelation of God at other points in the Bible.
So what is the answer? Let me give you some initial thoughts. I have used some thoughts from Walter Kaiser, William Craig, and Gleason Archer.
1. The Holiness and Justice of God. God’s character demands just laws and just rulers in government. When a group of people deliberately violate God’s standard for an extended period of time they will eventually face the holiness and justice of God. It doesn’t matter what time, what country, what nationality. When we break God’s standards there is a price to be paid. That is why God literally pleads with people to repent of their unjust and wicked ways so that he won’t have to judge them.
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'
This verse was directed at Israel because they had fallen into the exact sin of the Canaanites. God’s holiness is not capricious. It stands opposed to sin regardless of the person committing it. That is why the US and western culture are in danger today. We have deliberately turned our backs on God and his laws. We wink at sin in our culture. To us sin is fun; it is something to play around with. But to God all sin is cosmic treason which is punishable by death.
Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death.
Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned.
That means that every one of us is under the wrath of God when we violate his commands. While we trivialize sin, God says that all sin has drastic consequences. The most horrific consequence is eternally being separated from God.
2. The patience of God. Did God give the Canaanites enough time to repent and get right with him? God gave them 430 years to respond to his love. Archaeologists have found that in Canaanite history both El and Baal were considered equal at one time. El being the God of the Bible and Baal being the god of the Canaanites. But over the next centuries Baal overtook El until only Baal worship existed. They had their opportunity to respond to the God of the Bible but they rejected his love and laws. 400 years is a long time to wait for someone to respond. God was fair. See Genesis 15:13, 16.
3. The Wickedness of the People of Canaan. Critics of God’s pronouncement of “herem” typically neglect one very important truth, the depravity of the Canaanites. According to the Bible and archaeological information, the Canaanites in the land widely practiced child sacrifice, incest, bestiality, and other behaviors that almost everyone in history, including today, rightly regard as unspeakably, grossly immoral. If the people of Canaan were akin to the peace-loving, civilized folks of different religions living in our suburban neighborhoods and working in our colleges, hospitals, and fire departments, then the Israelite claim that God had condemned those peoples as hopelessly degenerate would be rightly questioned. On the other hand, if the Canaanites and other peoples in the land were a degenerate society widely practicing bestiality and publicly burning their children to Molech, can we not understand why God would “herem” them.
But what about the young children? Since we don’t have an explanation of why they are included in this ban, let me suggest 2 possible theories:
First, after generations of the sort of moral degeneracy that characterized these peoples, it may be that even the smallest children were beyond civilizing. Apparently even they were abused and forced to participate in obscene conduct, such that they would have grown up psychologically and spiritually scarred-and perhaps threatened to perpetuate the cycle.
Second, the STDs and other infectious diseases that must have pervaded those cities may well have been carried by the smallest children, and if so, they may have posed a grave danger to the physical health of the Israelites. Imagine some of the nations today most ravaged by AIDS, but living more than three thousand years ago, with no access to even the most basic medical resources. It may be that infectious diseases were also ravaging the domestic animals in these cities, which would also explain why they were destroyed.
It's horrible to contemplate that things were so bad that it was actually necessary for even the youngest members of that society to be killed in order to stop the generational cycle of degeneracy and disease. But something along these lines seems likely to be the reason for God's order to leave alive nothing that breathed.
4. The age of accountability should be taken into account. Since God was so gracious and declared the age of accountability for the Israelites as age 20 could he not have done this for the Canaanites? I personally believe that God’s grace is extended to those who die in infancy, or as small children, the death of these children was actually their salvation. We are so focused on an earthly, secular perspective that we forget that those who die are happy to quit this earth for heaven’s incomparable joy. Therefore, God does these children no wrong in taking their lives.
5. The Nature of God and Being God. God is not to be trifled with. Again this goes against the current politically correct thought where we stand over God in judgment of him and his actions. But the God of the Bible is clearly someone you don’t want to mess with. He means business and he is to be feared. As C.S.Lewis pus it, “Aslan is not a tame lion.” God does have the right to take any life since he is the one who gave it. He is not under any moral obligation to prolong life and when he takes life he doesn’t have to explain to mortals why he did it. He is God and we are not. As Americans this grates against us since we think we are always in control. Control is just an illusion. God is God and we are not.
6. God’s past record of being gracious. When we look at the destruction of Sodom we see a God who gives his solemn promise not to destroy the city if there are ten righteous people there. The implications are clear; the Canaanites are not righteous people but have come under God’s judgment. Every human being is given a choice when it comes to being reconciled with God. God has made a way for us to be reconciled with him. It is through the cross of Jesus. If we reject the sacrifice that Jesus paid on the cross then the consequences of that decision lie with us. God will not force his will on any person.
In summary: The pronouncement of “herem” on the Canaanite people is harsh. But it was God’s way of preserving Israel’s health and posterity. God knew that if these Canaanites were allowed to live, they would spell the undoing of Israel. This is exactly what happened. The Israelites did not eliminate the Canaanites and their Baal worship, and eventually it became their undoing. In 586 BC God would say “Enough” to the nation of Israel just like he had said it to the Canaanites. And then it would be Israel who would face the wrath of God. God did everything possible to spare them from this destiny.
When will we wake up in the USA and realize how close we are to God saying to us, “Enough?” That is a scary thought. Now is the time for us to renew our commitment to God and follow him with our whole hearts.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
February 15: Deuteronomy 1-4
As Scott promised yesterday, today offered a rich and detailed passage. Moses recounts the Israelites' recent spiritual history and how their rebellion upon the spies' report drove them to wander in the desert. Moses provides some insights to the burdens of leadership and how the Israelites' rebellion played into Moses's inability to reach the Promised Land, a source of undoubtedly great disappointment. From Moses's discussion, we see how sin causes strain in human relationships and how it thwarts our enjoyment of God's blessings -- chiefly, His presence.
The latter portion of the passage delves into this character of sin: that it draws us away from God's presence. Moses highlights how idolatry is the greatest threat to Israel -- not physical enemies or economic challenges or water rights. Moses tells them: "Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." When I first consider God's jealousy, it struck me as odd. We often associate jealousy with a negative or sinful behavior in ourselves, but, for God, His jealousy is part of His righteousness. He desires our allegiance and praise, not because He is petty but because it is ultimately right. Worshipping anyone or anything but Him interrupts His sovereign plan. Because He is holy, He abhors any other type of worship.
Despite Israel's falling short, God is gracious. This grace is, by definition, a free gift and one that we cannot earn. Moses prophesies that the people will be scattered among the nations should they pursue idolatry but that God will bring them back: "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey Him. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath."
Moses's closing remarks here deal with God's singularity: "You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other." While this point is clear, how often we need to be reminded of God's uniqueness. It reminds me of one of my favorite praise songs:
"There is none like You;
No one else can touch my heart like You do.
I could search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You."
QUESTIONS
1. What idolatry do you see in your own life? You could check for this by sitting still for three minutes and seeing how your mind or heart wanders. Consider why your heart focused on this or that.
2. How are you doing in seeking God? May we wake each day with our heart's desire to be to follow Him and to bask in His presence.
The latter portion of the passage delves into this character of sin: that it draws us away from God's presence. Moses highlights how idolatry is the greatest threat to Israel -- not physical enemies or economic challenges or water rights. Moses tells them: "Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." When I first consider God's jealousy, it struck me as odd. We often associate jealousy with a negative or sinful behavior in ourselves, but, for God, His jealousy is part of His righteousness. He desires our allegiance and praise, not because He is petty but because it is ultimately right. Worshipping anyone or anything but Him interrupts His sovereign plan. Because He is holy, He abhors any other type of worship.
Despite Israel's falling short, God is gracious. This grace is, by definition, a free gift and one that we cannot earn. Moses prophesies that the people will be scattered among the nations should they pursue idolatry but that God will bring them back: "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey Him. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath."
Moses's closing remarks here deal with God's singularity: "You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other." While this point is clear, how often we need to be reminded of God's uniqueness. It reminds me of one of my favorite praise songs:
"There is none like You;
No one else can touch my heart like You do.
I could search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You."
QUESTIONS
1. What idolatry do you see in your own life? You could check for this by sitting still for three minutes and seeing how your mind or heart wanders. Consider why your heart focused on this or that.
2. How are you doing in seeking God? May we wake each day with our heart's desire to be to follow Him and to bask in His presence.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
February 14
February 14, 2009
Today: Numbers 32, 34, 35
Tomorrow: Deuteronomy 1-4 It is a long reading tomorrow!! Hang in there... stay up to date. Sunday is the Lord’s Day... take time and spend it with Him.
Sometimes a warning is really a prediction. All it takes is changing an “if” to a “when.” Looking back some 3500 years, it’s clear that it was only a matter of time before the “if” of God’s warning turned into the “when” of predictable consequences. Israel’s constant flirtation with her idolatrous neighbors would bring terrors for centuries. It did not take a clairvoyant to see what inevitably would happen. Israel’s track record was already pretty dismal. The Israelites were a fickle bunch – one day praising God, the next day being seduced by cheap imitation gods. One day trusting God for victory, the next day cowering with fear. The Israelites lacked full and complete commitment to the Lord, and given that fragile faith, they always under estimated the power of their enemies. Indeed, they seemed to be altogether fascinated by them, strangely drawn to them and almost envious of them! As long as you are fascinated, drawn, and envious, it is hard to wipe out your enemies completely. Oh, maybe there are daily skirmishes and sometimes ever furious all-out assaults. But there is never quite that knock-out punch because, after all, you’re still fascinated, drawn, and envious. Call it a love-hate relationship. Call it compromise. Call it anything you want. The problem is that anything less than complete eradication of the enemy means that there is no escape from the endless cycle of war, appeasement, fraternization, accommodation, acceptance, betrayal, conflict, and once more, war. Spiritual enemies are enemies for a reason! With spiritual enemies, there can be no peaceful coexistence. It’s them or us. Complete and total victory or ongoing, never-ending conflict.
Thought for the day: Am I kidding myself to believe that I can rid my life of most major sin and still live comfortably alongside the few “insignificant sins” I allow to remain?
Thoughts of F. LaGard Smith
Today: Numbers 32, 34, 35
Tomorrow: Deuteronomy 1-4 It is a long reading tomorrow!! Hang in there... stay up to date. Sunday is the Lord’s Day... take time and spend it with Him.
Sometimes a warning is really a prediction. All it takes is changing an “if” to a “when.” Looking back some 3500 years, it’s clear that it was only a matter of time before the “if” of God’s warning turned into the “when” of predictable consequences. Israel’s constant flirtation with her idolatrous neighbors would bring terrors for centuries. It did not take a clairvoyant to see what inevitably would happen. Israel’s track record was already pretty dismal. The Israelites were a fickle bunch – one day praising God, the next day being seduced by cheap imitation gods. One day trusting God for victory, the next day cowering with fear. The Israelites lacked full and complete commitment to the Lord, and given that fragile faith, they always under estimated the power of their enemies. Indeed, they seemed to be altogether fascinated by them, strangely drawn to them and almost envious of them! As long as you are fascinated, drawn, and envious, it is hard to wipe out your enemies completely. Oh, maybe there are daily skirmishes and sometimes ever furious all-out assaults. But there is never quite that knock-out punch because, after all, you’re still fascinated, drawn, and envious. Call it a love-hate relationship. Call it compromise. Call it anything you want. The problem is that anything less than complete eradication of the enemy means that there is no escape from the endless cycle of war, appeasement, fraternization, accommodation, acceptance, betrayal, conflict, and once more, war. Spiritual enemies are enemies for a reason! With spiritual enemies, there can be no peaceful coexistence. It’s them or us. Complete and total victory or ongoing, never-ending conflict.
Thought for the day: Am I kidding myself to believe that I can rid my life of most major sin and still live comfortably alongside the few “insignificant sins” I allow to remain?
Thoughts of F. LaGard Smith
Friday, February 13, 2009
February 13
February 13, 2009
Today Numbers 26
Tomorrow Numbers 32, 34
Numbers 26:64 Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the desert, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son
of Nun.
Was God to harsh on his people?
It is now 38 years later and a new census is taken. During that time every man and woman from the initial generation had died in the desert, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua. Was God to harsh on his people?
Four reasons why God was more than gracious to this generation.
1. He gave them so many powerful, dramatic and obvious miracles but the people refused to believe. God will not force himself on anyone. God was more than fair in giving people a chance to respond to his loving guidance. Just seeing the Red Sea parted should have done it for this generation. But their hearts were stubborn and they didn’t want to give up control of their lives.
2. God did fulfill his promise and bring them to the edge of the Promised Land but the people didn’t want to possess it. Numbers 14
3. God was more than fair in setting the age of accountability at the age of 20. God did not hold any young person as guilty if they were under the age of 20. If we apply that to our children today you can see how gracious God is.
4. There was much more at stake than just a home in the Promised Land. What is at stake is a home in God’s eternal kingdom. Compared to an eternity separated from God, a long walk in the desert is nothing. So keep your eyes on eternity. God is doing everything possible to bring mankind to an awareness of the seriousness of sin and a future separated from his love.
Thought for the day: It is much easier to get the people out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of the people. Beware of the seduction of the culture. Sin is a very serious matter.
Today Numbers 26
Tomorrow Numbers 32, 34
Numbers 26:64 Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the desert, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son
of Nun.
Was God to harsh on his people?
It is now 38 years later and a new census is taken. During that time every man and woman from the initial generation had died in the desert, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua. Was God to harsh on his people?
Four reasons why God was more than gracious to this generation.
1. He gave them so many powerful, dramatic and obvious miracles but the people refused to believe. God will not force himself on anyone. God was more than fair in giving people a chance to respond to his loving guidance. Just seeing the Red Sea parted should have done it for this generation. But their hearts were stubborn and they didn’t want to give up control of their lives.
2. God did fulfill his promise and bring them to the edge of the Promised Land but the people didn’t want to possess it. Numbers 14
3. God was more than fair in setting the age of accountability at the age of 20. God did not hold any young person as guilty if they were under the age of 20. If we apply that to our children today you can see how gracious God is.
4. There was much more at stake than just a home in the Promised Land. What is at stake is a home in God’s eternal kingdom. Compared to an eternity separated from God, a long walk in the desert is nothing. So keep your eyes on eternity. God is doing everything possible to bring mankind to an awareness of the seriousness of sin and a future separated from his love.
Thought for the day: It is much easier to get the people out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of the people. Beware of the seduction of the culture. Sin is a very serious matter.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
February 12, 2009
Today Read: Numbers 25, 31
Tomorrow Read: Numbers 26
It will be more difficult to follow along if you are not reading “The Daily Bible” In Chronological Order 365 Daily Readings. Published by Harvest House. It is a great 15 dollar investment.
Numbers 25 Don’t Let Your Hormone Guide Your Life.
The Midianites realized they could not physical destroy the Israelites so they planned on luring them into bed. Guys have a tendency to be directed by their hormones more than their brains. Sorry guys, but this is absolutely true. So these guys jumped into bed with these women and a plague wipes out 24,000 of them. AIDS has wiped out a lot more than that. Right now in NYC one in four people have herpes.
In today’s politically correct culture this passage makes no sense. If Phinehas were on Jerry Springer he would have been booed off stage. The Israelites were just expressing themselves. Who are you Phinehas to say what is right and wrong sexually? Young people just do these things, the best we can do is to buy condoms for them. This is part of the new economic stimulus bill. Sin of any kind is always grievous but sin that destroys the family evokes the highest of response from a holy God. God is for families. His design is for the family to be strong and secure, to be the foundation upon which moral character is built in the next generation. When the family goes, so goes society. That is why God wants it to be one man, one woman for a lifetime of intimacy and love.
Here is a written thought I keep close to me during times of temptation:
If I go further down this road, I will probably grieve the One who redeemed me. I will probably drag His sacred name into the mud, which I know leads to unbelievers laughing at Christianity. One day I will have to look Jesus, the righteous Savior, in the face and give an account of my actions. If I go farther I will probably inflict untold hurt on my wife Kathie, who is my best friend and who has been faithful to me. I will lose my wife's respect and trust: I will hurt my beloved sons and daughter. I will destroy my example and credibility with my children. I might lose my wife and my children forever. I would cause incredible shame and reproach to fall upon my family. I would lose self-respect. I could create a form of guilt awfully hard to shake. Even though God would forgive me, would I ever be able to forgive myself. I could form memories and flashbacks that could plague future intimacy with my spouse. I could heap judgment and endless difficulty on the person with whom I committed adultery. I could possibly reap the consequences of disease like gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes or AIDS. Maybe I could cause a pregnancy, and that would be a lifelong reminder of my sin.
As a man of God I am not a victim of my hormones nor a slave to the seductions of the world. Through Christ I can control every thought that passes through my mind. Real men of God allow God's power to keep them from such senseless sin.
Thought for today: What method do you think Satan is using today to destroy our young men and women? Is there any possibility that he is seducing them into sexual promiscuity for the purpose of destroying their lives and future happiness?
Not much has changed in 3000 years.
Today Read: Numbers 25, 31
Tomorrow Read: Numbers 26
It will be more difficult to follow along if you are not reading “The Daily Bible” In Chronological Order 365 Daily Readings. Published by Harvest House. It is a great 15 dollar investment.
Numbers 25 Don’t Let Your Hormone Guide Your Life.
The Midianites realized they could not physical destroy the Israelites so they planned on luring them into bed. Guys have a tendency to be directed by their hormones more than their brains. Sorry guys, but this is absolutely true. So these guys jumped into bed with these women and a plague wipes out 24,000 of them. AIDS has wiped out a lot more than that. Right now in NYC one in four people have herpes.
In today’s politically correct culture this passage makes no sense. If Phinehas were on Jerry Springer he would have been booed off stage. The Israelites were just expressing themselves. Who are you Phinehas to say what is right and wrong sexually? Young people just do these things, the best we can do is to buy condoms for them. This is part of the new economic stimulus bill. Sin of any kind is always grievous but sin that destroys the family evokes the highest of response from a holy God. God is for families. His design is for the family to be strong and secure, to be the foundation upon which moral character is built in the next generation. When the family goes, so goes society. That is why God wants it to be one man, one woman for a lifetime of intimacy and love.
Here is a written thought I keep close to me during times of temptation:
If I go further down this road, I will probably grieve the One who redeemed me. I will probably drag His sacred name into the mud, which I know leads to unbelievers laughing at Christianity. One day I will have to look Jesus, the righteous Savior, in the face and give an account of my actions. If I go farther I will probably inflict untold hurt on my wife Kathie, who is my best friend and who has been faithful to me. I will lose my wife's respect and trust: I will hurt my beloved sons and daughter. I will destroy my example and credibility with my children. I might lose my wife and my children forever. I would cause incredible shame and reproach to fall upon my family. I would lose self-respect. I could create a form of guilt awfully hard to shake. Even though God would forgive me, would I ever be able to forgive myself. I could form memories and flashbacks that could plague future intimacy with my spouse. I could heap judgment and endless difficulty on the person with whom I committed adultery. I could possibly reap the consequences of disease like gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes or AIDS. Maybe I could cause a pregnancy, and that would be a lifelong reminder of my sin.
As a man of God I am not a victim of my hormones nor a slave to the seductions of the world. Through Christ I can control every thought that passes through my mind. Real men of God allow God's power to keep them from such senseless sin.
Thought for today: What method do you think Satan is using today to destroy our young men and women? Is there any possibility that he is seducing them into sexual promiscuity for the purpose of destroying their lives and future happiness?
Not much has changed in 3000 years.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
February 11
The famous Balaam’s Ass story.
Read Today: Numbers 22-24
Tomorrow: Numbers 25,31
When I read today’s passage I am reminded that there is hope for all of us. If God can speak through Balaam’s ass he can certainly speak through me.
What is going through Balaam’s mind in this story? There couldn’t be a whole lot of smarts in his old, thick, dense mind.
He is clear at the first offer from Balak .... God doesn’t want him to go and yet when Balak sends the official White House cabinet members, with a Swiss bank account number, then Balaam thinks to himself... maybe God has had a change of heart. One can’t too quickly say no to offers like this, you know they only come but once in a lifetime. Testing God’s word is not a smart thing to do; in fact it can lead to an early retirement from the prophet business.
So what are our take aways from this situation?
1. When God clearly reveals his will to us we shouldn’t doubt it?
Did God really say we shouldn’t date unbelievers?
Did God really mean we should be completely honest?
Did God really intend for us to say no to every temptation?
Did God really command us to give a tithe of our income?
Did God really order us to forgive all our enemies?
2. There is always hope when God is involved.
Even when we mess up God is not limited.
If God can speak through a donkey he can certainly speak through me.
It isn’t the giftedness of the speaker; it is the power of God.
3. We find the gospel even in failure.
There is a prediction Jesus in this passage. Balaam the fool speaks of a start that will come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel.
This is a prophecy of the star of Jesus that will announce his birth a millennium later.
Here is a thought for the day: If I am looking for some loophole in the Bible to give me an excuse for sinning, I am an accident waiting to happen.
Read Today: Numbers 22-24
Tomorrow: Numbers 25,31
When I read today’s passage I am reminded that there is hope for all of us. If God can speak through Balaam’s ass he can certainly speak through me.
What is going through Balaam’s mind in this story? There couldn’t be a whole lot of smarts in his old, thick, dense mind.
He is clear at the first offer from Balak .... God doesn’t want him to go and yet when Balak sends the official White House cabinet members, with a Swiss bank account number, then Balaam thinks to himself... maybe God has had a change of heart. One can’t too quickly say no to offers like this, you know they only come but once in a lifetime. Testing God’s word is not a smart thing to do; in fact it can lead to an early retirement from the prophet business.
So what are our take aways from this situation?
1. When God clearly reveals his will to us we shouldn’t doubt it?
Did God really say we shouldn’t date unbelievers?
Did God really mean we should be completely honest?
Did God really intend for us to say no to every temptation?
Did God really command us to give a tithe of our income?
Did God really order us to forgive all our enemies?
2. There is always hope when God is involved.
Even when we mess up God is not limited.
If God can speak through a donkey he can certainly speak through me.
It isn’t the giftedness of the speaker; it is the power of God.
3. We find the gospel even in failure.
There is a prediction Jesus in this passage. Balaam the fool speaks of a start that will come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel.
This is a prophecy of the star of Jesus that will announce his birth a millennium later.
Here is a thought for the day: If I am looking for some loophole in the Bible to give me an excuse for sinning, I am an accident waiting to happen.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
February 10
Here are my thoughts on todays reading:
You have got to be out of your mind to be a leader!!! In anything, whether it's ministry, politics or any life circumstance, to be a leader is extremely difficult. Moses was definitely a great leader then, and still is admired by others (like me) on his leadership skills. He lead a whole nation of people --with the help of God-- out of slavery. Even though Moses was a great leader, even he had his moments where he failed, and we see that in today's passage. The pride that takes over us when we are good leaders and forget that it's a God given skill and not a man made skill. "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?".
Here's one of thing i've noticed in life; When things are going well, we forget about God. Moses started to feel important and very much irreplaceable. Truth is, when we have God we don't need anything else. At that moment Moses probably thought, these people need ME and GOD. WRONG! You only need God and we must always try to keep a humble attitude and give God the glory instead of ourselves.
Leadership is just a tough place to be in. I wish the bible could re-enact what Moses must have been thinking through all this because he goes from bad to worse. First he failed to follow instructions, then he became prideful, he gets rejected from the promise land and last he loses Aaron. Aaron, if you remember, was Moses' voice. When God came to Moses he didn't want to due the work of God because of the lack of confidence he had in himself due to his speech. Now Aaron is gone and all these things happened to Moses. All of this HAD to of taken a toll on Moses, but he still has to remain faithful to God and lead these people as he is called to do. Leadership is a very tough place to be in. Do you think if God wasn't in the picture Moses would have been mentally stable? ... I doubt it. With God anything is possible, however, that does not mean it will be easy!!
How nice is it to know that no matter how bad thing go, God is in control!!!
Last thought:
How neat is it to know that Moses kept a journal on everything that he saw happening during the Exodus, and it's still being used!! God is always in control and he has a plan!
I hope my thoughts make sense!! They are only thoughts that come into mind as i read the word. I hope you enjoy them and they are of some benefit to you!
Monday, February 9, 2009
February 9
Today read Numbers 16-18
These are some thoughts about yesterdays reading ... one of my core values is racial reconcilation.
The Cost of Racism Numbers 12
Sin always has a cost. It costs us in our relationship with God but it also has a cost to the community we live in. In the introduction to the passage today I have my first criticism of their notes. It says that Moses’ first wife might have died or that this is a second wife without a name. I have a third suggestion... could this be talking about Zipporah, Moses’ first wife, and a long seated prejudice in Miriam is just now coming to the surface? Take any of the choices above and you still have Moses in an interracial marriage. Cushites are a group of African people who would now be known as Ethiopians ... they are of the darker hue. And Miriam just can’t help but criticize Moses for his interracial marriage.
This is still one of the greatest prejudices that people have today. Miriam had this prejudice and it cost her dearly and the whole community. It cost her because she came down with a case of leprosy. It cost the community of week of traveling because they had to wait until Miriam’s punishment was over and she was reintroduced back into the camp.
Prejudice is one of the sins that keep on giving. It gives grief to individuals, groups and nations.
The great tragedy today is not so much that our society is still divided along racial, cultural and ethnic lines. The tragedy is, rather, that God’s people. the church, are equally or even more deeply divided.
There is no place in God’s kingdom for racial prejudice. It is ugly and costly.
These are some thoughts about yesterdays reading ... one of my core values is racial reconcilation.
The Cost of Racism Numbers 12
Sin always has a cost. It costs us in our relationship with God but it also has a cost to the community we live in. In the introduction to the passage today I have my first criticism of their notes. It says that Moses’ first wife might have died or that this is a second wife without a name. I have a third suggestion... could this be talking about Zipporah, Moses’ first wife, and a long seated prejudice in Miriam is just now coming to the surface? Take any of the choices above and you still have Moses in an interracial marriage. Cushites are a group of African people who would now be known as Ethiopians ... they are of the darker hue. And Miriam just can’t help but criticize Moses for his interracial marriage.
This is still one of the greatest prejudices that people have today. Miriam had this prejudice and it cost her dearly and the whole community. It cost her because she came down with a case of leprosy. It cost the community of week of traveling because they had to wait until Miriam’s punishment was over and she was reintroduced back into the camp.
Prejudice is one of the sins that keep on giving. It gives grief to individuals, groups and nations.
The great tragedy today is not so much that our society is still divided along racial, cultural and ethnic lines. The tragedy is, rather, that God’s people. the church, are equally or even more deeply divided.
There is no place in God’s kingdom for racial prejudice. It is ugly and costly.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Numbers 12 to 14
Today's passage features rich insights into the nature of courage and disbelief. As Scott had written yesterday, the Israelites had received an abundance from the Lord, who sustained the throng of perhaps three million in the desert. It should have been clear to the people that they did not have the power to sustain themselves; indeed, their very survival -- as ours -- depends on the gracious hand of the Lord. Please notice Moses's trusting description of God's faithfulness in offering grace: "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does leave the guilty unpunished... " This phrase will appear frequently through the Old Testament, indicating that God has been faithful to His own character throughout history.
At first, we see Miriam and Aaron's unfounded disapproval of Moses's second wife, a Cushite. Their complaints make life even more difficult for Moses, yet he turns to God to intercede for them. The incident is reminiscent of Hebrews 13:17: "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Next, the 12 spies head up to the land that God had promised them. Instead of trusting in God's provision, 10 of the spies make up stories about why the Israelites would be endangered by attacking the people of the land. Their perspective is completely horizontal, as they judge that their own resources are insufficient for the task. Perhaps these spies are seeking their own self-preservation, fearing that the people would hold them accountable (as they clearly did with Moses), should the campaign to take the Promised Land become difficult. Their words and their stirring up of the people to rebellion strike against both Moses (the leadership that God has appointed) and the Lord Himself.
In stark contrast, Caleb and Joshua look beyond the horizontal and remember God's calling. They point to God's protection for the people and the goodness of the land. Still, despite their arguments, the people join into a rebellious groupthink and receive the just rewards for their actions: not one of the adults will experience this new land, but rather will die in the desert. (Interestingly, this passage seems to suggest 20 as an "age of majority," where children become responsible for their own decisions.) Moses's intercession on behalf of the people invokes a call to God's glory, fearing that His Name might not be fully esteemed among the Egyptians.
The passage points me to a favorite Scripture, Psalm 3: "... You are a shield around me, O LORD;/ you bestow glory on me and lift up my head." Caleb and Joshua believed this, and their trust in Him led them into the Promised Land.
Questions:
1. Which perspective do you have today: the vertical or the horizontal? Or perhaps more practically, do you see today's problems or the hope of heaven on your radar? How can you better see the vertical perspective?
2. The lessons of these recent chapters point to the folly of distrusting God, yet we do it (perhaps more subtly than the rebellious Israelites) all the time. Where are you struggling to trust God today? How can you talk it over with Him?
3. No one remembers the 10 spies who whipped the people into a rebellion, but we still name children "Caleb" and "Joshua." It seems that finishing well is of utmost importance to God. Whom can you call as a "ranger buddy" to stand strong to the end like Joshua and Caleb?
At first, we see Miriam and Aaron's unfounded disapproval of Moses's second wife, a Cushite. Their complaints make life even more difficult for Moses, yet he turns to God to intercede for them. The incident is reminiscent of Hebrews 13:17: "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Next, the 12 spies head up to the land that God had promised them. Instead of trusting in God's provision, 10 of the spies make up stories about why the Israelites would be endangered by attacking the people of the land. Their perspective is completely horizontal, as they judge that their own resources are insufficient for the task. Perhaps these spies are seeking their own self-preservation, fearing that the people would hold them accountable (as they clearly did with Moses), should the campaign to take the Promised Land become difficult. Their words and their stirring up of the people to rebellion strike against both Moses (the leadership that God has appointed) and the Lord Himself.
In stark contrast, Caleb and Joshua look beyond the horizontal and remember God's calling. They point to God's protection for the people and the goodness of the land. Still, despite their arguments, the people join into a rebellious groupthink and receive the just rewards for their actions: not one of the adults will experience this new land, but rather will die in the desert. (Interestingly, this passage seems to suggest 20 as an "age of majority," where children become responsible for their own decisions.) Moses's intercession on behalf of the people invokes a call to God's glory, fearing that His Name might not be fully esteemed among the Egyptians.
The passage points me to a favorite Scripture, Psalm 3: "... You are a shield around me, O LORD;/ you bestow glory on me and lift up my head." Caleb and Joshua believed this, and their trust in Him led them into the Promised Land.
Questions:
1. Which perspective do you have today: the vertical or the horizontal? Or perhaps more practically, do you see today's problems or the hope of heaven on your radar? How can you better see the vertical perspective?
2. The lessons of these recent chapters point to the folly of distrusting God, yet we do it (perhaps more subtly than the rebellious Israelites) all the time. Where are you struggling to trust God today? How can you talk it over with Him?
3. No one remembers the 10 spies who whipped the people into a rebellion, but we still name children "Caleb" and "Joshua." It seems that finishing well is of utmost importance to God. Whom can you call as a "ranger buddy" to stand strong to the end like Joshua and Caleb?
Saturday, February 7, 2009
February 7
Today Numbers 10-11
Tomorrow Numbers 12-14
How Big Is Your God?
1. He is non-existent. We are just cosmic accidents.
2. He started the universe but then left us to figure things out
3. He barely has things under control. Still trying to figure out how to use his IPOD.
4. Controls every detail of the universe. He knows your middle name, how many hairs are on your head and exactly how many calories
were in that piece of cake you ate last night for desert.
In Numbers 10 the journey begins for the nation. They pack up and they head out for a long walk in the desert. Some interesting facts about taking this long walk in the desert.
1) How many people were on this walk?
Num 1:45, 46 600,000 fighting men
Plus 600,000 women
2,400,000 children Remember Ex 1:7-10
3,600,000 Total and I think this is on the low side of the estimate.
2) How long a column would that make?
Marching 50 abreast – 40 miles long
At 2 1/2 miles per hour – 16 hours to pass same point
3) Food just for people not animals 30 railroad box cars each day
4) Water 300 railroad tank cars
5) Clothes and footwear... they would need some good sneakers to make it 40 years. Hey, where do you buy a nice shirt in the desert?
The Bottom Line: they were well cared for by God each day.
If God can deliver them, is he big enough to deliver you in the current economic down turn?
There is no need to worry. God will take care of you. We are in good hands not because of an insurance company ... we are in good hands because God has everything under control.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the mighty deliverance for the nation of Israel. We pray for that same deliverance today of your people. Free our minds from worry and anxiety. We ask not for seek comfort and ease but we seek for you to lead us to the promised land of freedom. We believe that you are Almighty God; nothing is too difficult for you.
Make sure you catch up in the reading this weekend!!! Don't be tempted to spend too much time outdoors in the 50 degree temperatures.
Tomorrow Numbers 12-14
How Big Is Your God?
1. He is non-existent. We are just cosmic accidents.
2. He started the universe but then left us to figure things out
3. He barely has things under control. Still trying to figure out how to use his IPOD.
4. Controls every detail of the universe. He knows your middle name, how many hairs are on your head and exactly how many calories
were in that piece of cake you ate last night for desert.
In Numbers 10 the journey begins for the nation. They pack up and they head out for a long walk in the desert. Some interesting facts about taking this long walk in the desert.
1) How many people were on this walk?
Num 1:45, 46 600,000 fighting men
Plus 600,000 women
2,400,000 children Remember Ex 1:7-10
3,600,000 Total and I think this is on the low side of the estimate.
2) How long a column would that make?
Marching 50 abreast – 40 miles long
At 2 1/2 miles per hour – 16 hours to pass same point
3) Food just for people not animals 30 railroad box cars each day
4) Water 300 railroad tank cars
5) Clothes and footwear... they would need some good sneakers to make it 40 years. Hey, where do you buy a nice shirt in the desert?
The Bottom Line: they were well cared for by God each day.
If God can deliver them, is he big enough to deliver you in the current economic down turn?
There is no need to worry. God will take care of you. We are in good hands not because of an insurance company ... we are in good hands because God has everything under control.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the mighty deliverance for the nation of Israel. We pray for that same deliverance today of your people. Free our minds from worry and anxiety. We ask not for seek comfort and ease but we seek for you to lead us to the promised land of freedom. We believe that you are Almighty God; nothing is too difficult for you.
Make sure you catch up in the reading this weekend!!! Don't be tempted to spend too much time outdoors in the 50 degree temperatures.
Friday, February 6, 2009
February 6
Today Read Numbers 3 and 4
Tomorrow Read Numbers 9-11
Our Purpose on Earth.
In our reading today the Levites are given their mission on earth. There are three clans and they are responsible for the care of the tabernacle and the outer courtyard. There are 22,000 Levites so the job they have must have been tremendously important and vital for the nation.
This position was not to be taken lightly. Numbers 4:17-20 gives a warning not to be peeking and snooping around the Tabernacle. If they do this they are facing a potential life threatening situation.
Thinking about your life in light of this truth:
What is the responsibility God has given you?
Do you know why God has placed you on this planet?
Only 3% of Americans have a written mission statement for their life. The truth is that most people have no idea why God has given them a new day of life.
Here are some tips on how to find your mission in life.
1. Ask God to show you. Start with prayer and a quiet heart.
2. Open your Bible and see the mandates that he has given to you. Write these down.
3. Write a time line of your life. God can use every event of our lives to future his kingdom.
Remember the story of Joseph... God can even use evil things for good.
4. What are your passions? What things are really important to you and set your heart on fire?
5. What do you do well? Remember God gave the skills to the artesian in Exodus 35? God has given you your skills. What are they?
This process of gathering all of this information will take you several weeks. But there is no more important task then knowing your mission.
I might surprise you one day and ask you, “What is your mission on earth?” I hope you have a solid answer for me. That is the only way to live a meaningful life.
There are three types of people in the world today:
1. Those who make things happen.
2. Those who watch things happen.
3. Those who say, “What happened?”
May God give us the strength to make things happen.
Tomorrow Read Numbers 9-11
Our Purpose on Earth.
In our reading today the Levites are given their mission on earth. There are three clans and they are responsible for the care of the tabernacle and the outer courtyard. There are 22,000 Levites so the job they have must have been tremendously important and vital for the nation.
This position was not to be taken lightly. Numbers 4:17-20 gives a warning not to be peeking and snooping around the Tabernacle. If they do this they are facing a potential life threatening situation.
Thinking about your life in light of this truth:
What is the responsibility God has given you?
Do you know why God has placed you on this planet?
Only 3% of Americans have a written mission statement for their life. The truth is that most people have no idea why God has given them a new day of life.
Here are some tips on how to find your mission in life.
1. Ask God to show you. Start with prayer and a quiet heart.
2. Open your Bible and see the mandates that he has given to you. Write these down.
3. Write a time line of your life. God can use every event of our lives to future his kingdom.
Remember the story of Joseph... God can even use evil things for good.
4. What are your passions? What things are really important to you and set your heart on fire?
5. What do you do well? Remember God gave the skills to the artesian in Exodus 35? God has given you your skills. What are they?
This process of gathering all of this information will take you several weeks. But there is no more important task then knowing your mission.
I might surprise you one day and ask you, “What is your mission on earth?” I hope you have a solid answer for me. That is the only way to live a meaningful life.
There are three types of people in the world today:
1. Those who make things happen.
2. Those who watch things happen.
3. Those who say, “What happened?”
May God give us the strength to make things happen.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
February 5
Numbers 1-2
Numbers 2:1-2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family."
Suppose you were asked to design a planned community, complete with houses, shops, schools, churches and hospitals. Would you want there to be a grid with streets crisscrossing like tic-tac-toe or, perhaps, streets ringing the inner city in concentric circles like a target? And what would you put in the center of the community? A park? City hall? The business district? When God planned a community for the Israelites, he put the “church” smack-dab in the middle, with “houses” streaming out in every direction- north, south, east and west. Of course the tabernacle wasn’t exactly a “church” as we might think of a steepled church today. In fact, the earliest church wasn’t a church at all if what we have in mind id bricks and mortar. Unlike the temples of Solomon and later Herod, the first Christians did not have any building for the sole purpose of worship over two centuries. They just went from house to house. Nothing fancy, No pulpit. No pews. No steeples. Just a gathering group of believers sitting around tables enjoying fellowship with each other and God.
So where do you put the church in the community when there is no church building? How about in the families that comprise the community? That way the church is not just in the middle of the community, but on every block. And where is God’s dwelling place when it is set within families themselves? Smack dad in the middle, of course. In godly families worship is always at the center of everything a family does, whether work or play, mealtime or prayer time. When God is at the heart of a family, and family after family centers itself on God, an entire community can be wondrously transformed – as if God planned it that way.
Thoughts from F. LaGard Smith
What is the center of your life? Why do you get out of bed in the morning?
I have never met a person who has placed God at the center of their life and later said, “God ruined my life.” But I can fill Boyle Stadium with people who have put themselves at the center and made total messes of their lives.
Put God at the center of your life, you will never be disappointed.
Numbers 2:1-2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: "The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family."
Suppose you were asked to design a planned community, complete with houses, shops, schools, churches and hospitals. Would you want there to be a grid with streets crisscrossing like tic-tac-toe or, perhaps, streets ringing the inner city in concentric circles like a target? And what would you put in the center of the community? A park? City hall? The business district? When God planned a community for the Israelites, he put the “church” smack-dab in the middle, with “houses” streaming out in every direction- north, south, east and west. Of course the tabernacle wasn’t exactly a “church” as we might think of a steepled church today. In fact, the earliest church wasn’t a church at all if what we have in mind id bricks and mortar. Unlike the temples of Solomon and later Herod, the first Christians did not have any building for the sole purpose of worship over two centuries. They just went from house to house. Nothing fancy, No pulpit. No pews. No steeples. Just a gathering group of believers sitting around tables enjoying fellowship with each other and God.
So where do you put the church in the community when there is no church building? How about in the families that comprise the community? That way the church is not just in the middle of the community, but on every block. And where is God’s dwelling place when it is set within families themselves? Smack dad in the middle, of course. In godly families worship is always at the center of everything a family does, whether work or play, mealtime or prayer time. When God is at the heart of a family, and family after family centers itself on God, an entire community can be wondrously transformed – as if God planned it that way.
Thoughts from F. LaGard Smith
What is the center of your life? Why do you get out of bed in the morning?
I have never met a person who has placed God at the center of their life and later said, “God ruined my life.” But I can fill Boyle Stadium with people who have put themselves at the center and made total messes of their lives.
Put God at the center of your life, you will never be disappointed.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
February 4
Read Numbers 3, 7, 8.
This is where if you do not have the Daily Bible it will start to become confusing.
Dealing with discrepancies in the Bible, here is one that we need to handle.
Numbers 4:3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting.
Numbers 8:24 "This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
As we read through the Bible we will run into confusing issues like the age of those going into the priesthood. What is the age? Is it 25 or 30? These verses are only 4 chapters away from each other, either someone has made a tremendous mistake or there is another explanation. For those who are skeptics they quickly point out the difference and say the Bible cannot be trusted. But I think there is a good explanation of the age difference. In the Jamison commentary he suggests: “They entered their work in the 25th year as pupils and probationers, under the superintendence and direction of their senior brethren; and at 30 they were admitted to the full discharge of their official functions.”
In other words this was a 5 year apprenticeship that preceded the actual service of the Levites. Is that too great leap of faith? I don’t think so.
If the skeptics are right and this is just a man-mad book even an elementary school child would have been able to point out the error in the text and correct it.
What is going on here is reading the Bible with a concert literalness looking for things to be wrong and others reading it looking for reasonable explanations.
Another example ... Numbers 8:25 says that at the age of 50 the Levites must retire. That would mean I would be out of work today and I would be spending my days chasing a little white golf ball around a golf course. But the very next verse says “They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites."
Just as there might be other duties after the age of 50, so there might be duties under the age of 30. The point for us is to read the scriptures to get the full picture – looking first for the obvious, then looking again for the not so obvious.
This is where if you do not have the Daily Bible it will start to become confusing.
Dealing with discrepancies in the Bible, here is one that we need to handle.
Numbers 4:3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting.
Numbers 8:24 "This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
As we read through the Bible we will run into confusing issues like the age of those going into the priesthood. What is the age? Is it 25 or 30? These verses are only 4 chapters away from each other, either someone has made a tremendous mistake or there is another explanation. For those who are skeptics they quickly point out the difference and say the Bible cannot be trusted. But I think there is a good explanation of the age difference. In the Jamison commentary he suggests: “They entered their work in the 25th year as pupils and probationers, under the superintendence and direction of their senior brethren; and at 30 they were admitted to the full discharge of their official functions.”
In other words this was a 5 year apprenticeship that preceded the actual service of the Levites. Is that too great leap of faith? I don’t think so.
If the skeptics are right and this is just a man-mad book even an elementary school child would have been able to point out the error in the text and correct it.
What is going on here is reading the Bible with a concert literalness looking for things to be wrong and others reading it looking for reasonable explanations.
Another example ... Numbers 8:25 says that at the age of 50 the Levites must retire. That would mean I would be out of work today and I would be spending my days chasing a little white golf ball around a golf course. But the very next verse says “They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites."
Just as there might be other duties after the age of 50, so there might be duties under the age of 30. The point for us is to read the scriptures to get the full picture – looking first for the obvious, then looking again for the not so obvious.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
February 3
Here are my thoughts on todays reading:
The book of Leviticus is by far the longest book in the bible. Not because of its chapters or length, but because of how much it drags on about law, after law, after law, after law. That's not reason to quit !!!!! This book was placed in the bible for a reason. There is SOMETHING that you can learn from this book and take away with you. During these times please don't quit reading, but instead ask questions and find out why do these things happen.
Today's reading deal with the killing of a lot of animals (PETA and Green peace would not of been happy if this was happening currently). What always amazes me about these passages is how dedicated these people were. If i asked any of you to go out in your back yard and slaughter an animal, i doubt many would. If i told you to do it on a regular basis for your sins, you might, but some still wouldn't. These people did this religiously and faithfully because of their trust and faith they had towards God. Luckily, we don't have to slaughter anyone or anything because the perfect lamb (Jesus Christ) died already for our sins. His blood took care of all the work that needed to be done and now we can have a direct relationship with him, instead of having a chosen person speak to him for us.
This does not excuse the fact that there are things we must do in order to keep this relationship going. With any relationship there is work involved, this one is no different. It means taking time to read your bible (that includes the book of leviticus), praying, learning and walking and his ways in order to allow this relationship to grow. These people went the extra mile because that's what they were instructed to do. Unlike them, we don't have to do that, but we do have things to do and we tend to very easily put them off.
Let them (the levites) set an example of high standards for your daily walk w/ God. Hopefully my thoughts were clear and grammatically correct, they are just my thoughts and are there to allow you to see what other people think.
Monday, February 2, 2009
February 2
Today is accountability day!!!
Send me an email telling me the chapter you are on.
These are the difficult days when most people stop reading the Bible. Hang in there. Be disciplined and stay the course. Don’t get discouraged and quit. If you fall behind, read today’s passage and one that you skipped.
Today read Exodus 39-40
Exodus 39:32 So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.
God was very specific in what he wanted in worship. We can’t just wing it; we can’t make up the rules according to our feelings. When we come to God we better read the instructions. The same is true today.
It isn’t the rules of the tabernacle that we follow, those specific rules apply only to the Israelites, but God wants us to worship in spirit and in truth… truth implies right and wrong. There is a right way to worship God today. Did you realize that worshiping God today is your highest priority? It should be first on our “Do List” so take time right now and worship. Here is a short list of how to do it correctly.
1. Am I seeking God with all my heart? Matt 22:37 We can’t worship God with half of our heart.
2. Loving God with all my heart? Matt 22:38 Do you love God above everything else on earth?
3. Have I offered my body as a living sacrifice? Romans 12:1-2
4. Am I disconnected from anyone else? If so go and make it right. Matt 5:23-24
5. Am I a person of integrity? Matt 5:37 Acts 5
6. Am I discriminating or prejudice against anyone? James 2
7. Have I treated my wife with consideration? 1 Peter 2
Lord, help us to worship you in spirit and truth… not to make up the rules ourselves.
Send me an email telling me the chapter you are on.
These are the difficult days when most people stop reading the Bible. Hang in there. Be disciplined and stay the course. Don’t get discouraged and quit. If you fall behind, read today’s passage and one that you skipped.
Today read Exodus 39-40
Exodus 39:32 So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.
God was very specific in what he wanted in worship. We can’t just wing it; we can’t make up the rules according to our feelings. When we come to God we better read the instructions. The same is true today.
It isn’t the rules of the tabernacle that we follow, those specific rules apply only to the Israelites, but God wants us to worship in spirit and in truth… truth implies right and wrong. There is a right way to worship God today. Did you realize that worshiping God today is your highest priority? It should be first on our “Do List” so take time right now and worship. Here is a short list of how to do it correctly.
1. Am I seeking God with all my heart? Matt 22:37 We can’t worship God with half of our heart.
2. Loving God with all my heart? Matt 22:38 Do you love God above everything else on earth?
3. Have I offered my body as a living sacrifice? Romans 12:1-2
4. Am I disconnected from anyone else? If so go and make it right. Matt 5:23-24
5. Am I a person of integrity? Matt 5:37 Acts 5
6. Am I discriminating or prejudice against anyone? James 2
7. Have I treated my wife with consideration? 1 Peter 2
Lord, help us to worship you in spirit and truth… not to make up the rules ourselves.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
February 1: Exodus 35:4-39:1
Today's passage describes the careful construction of the Tabernacle, a "tent of meeting," that would serve as the site of the Israelites' communal worship. This Tabernacle replaces Moses's first tent of meeting and foreshadows the Temple in Jerusalem and, ultimately, heaven.
Although the specific terms for measurements and weights may sound foreign to us, it is clear that the people were careful to follow all that God had commanded them through Moses. The Israelites eagerly offer their gold, silver, yarn, and fine linen and their time and talents as well. It is fascinating to see how a people, who had given their gold jewelry only a few chapters earlier to the production of the golden calf, have now turned their focus to honoring the Lord through this Tabernacle, where He will meet with them. We also note how the craftsmen constructed these items for portability, placing poles in many items so that the Israelites might reconstruct the Tabernacle after God has led them elsewhere.
The Tabernacle is truly a celebration of God's presence. The people go forth with the building project with joy because they have seen God's presence. As Scott wrote yesterday, we should seek nothing greater than His presence. (On this Super Bowl Sunday, we are challenged by the reminder of the many idols in American life: sports, celebrity, sensual pleasure, food, and material possessions. How many of these idols will appear in a single half-hour of the game's broadcast today?)
We also witness a helpful picture of the ingredients for serving the Lord faithfully: the Lord equips the craftsmen for His work through sending the Holy Spirit, and they dedicate themselves to serving with diligence and excellence. This interaction of God's work and man's work results in a beautiful place for celebrating His presence. We must not rely only on ourselves to serve the Lord, but we can't stand idly by either.
Questions:
1. How can you offer your "craftsmanship" in excellence to the Lord this week? How can you honor Him with the talents He has given you?
2. How can you better celebrate God's presence?
Although the specific terms for measurements and weights may sound foreign to us, it is clear that the people were careful to follow all that God had commanded them through Moses. The Israelites eagerly offer their gold, silver, yarn, and fine linen and their time and talents as well. It is fascinating to see how a people, who had given their gold jewelry only a few chapters earlier to the production of the golden calf, have now turned their focus to honoring the Lord through this Tabernacle, where He will meet with them. We also note how the craftsmen constructed these items for portability, placing poles in many items so that the Israelites might reconstruct the Tabernacle after God has led them elsewhere.
The Tabernacle is truly a celebration of God's presence. The people go forth with the building project with joy because they have seen God's presence. As Scott wrote yesterday, we should seek nothing greater than His presence. (On this Super Bowl Sunday, we are challenged by the reminder of the many idols in American life: sports, celebrity, sensual pleasure, food, and material possessions. How many of these idols will appear in a single half-hour of the game's broadcast today?)
We also witness a helpful picture of the ingredients for serving the Lord faithfully: the Lord equips the craftsmen for His work through sending the Holy Spirit, and they dedicate themselves to serving with diligence and excellence. This interaction of God's work and man's work results in a beautiful place for celebrating His presence. We must not rely only on ourselves to serve the Lord, but we can't stand idly by either.
Questions:
1. How can you offer your "craftsmanship" in excellence to the Lord this week? How can you honor Him with the talents He has given you?
2. How can you better celebrate God's presence?
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