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timewithgod.blog-city.com — August 2009
Numbers 8-10 Remaining Under The Cloud
We were near El Paso, TX this weekend for a mission trip. I expected it to be hotter than home, but I was pleasantly surprised when clouds covered the skies on Saturday, blocking the oppressive sun.As I read these chapters today, I thought abou
We were near El Paso, TX this weekend for a mission trip. I expected it to be hotter than home, but I was pleasantly surprised when clouds covered the skies on Saturday, blocking the oppressive sun.
As I read these chapters today, I thought about my typical idea of the Israelites' desert travels, thinking of miles and miles of sand dunes (it was probably more like the flat scrub desert we saw all around us near El Paso) and the typical early-day Hollywood "pillar" of cloud directly over just the Ark itself. Following my travels this weekend, I seemed to be getting a somewhat different view from God. After all, a little 10' circle of cloud remaining over the Ark might be very unusual, but I don't know just how impressive it might have been.
I guess my thoughts drew on the layout of the camp I read about last week, with the Ark in the center and the tribes camped around it almost in a cross shape. Because a cloud sheltering the entire group of travelers would really show God's watchcare over them. Everywhere else, a hot dry desert, but over the Israelite nation, a sun-blocking cloud!
Perhaps the cloud began to build up in the direction God intended for them to travel next, and of necessity the rear of it would recede. However it happened, it appears that the people were easily trained to remain under it.
My commentary picked up on some of this: "The cloud was, of course, a symbol of God guiding His people. Although the Lord does not lead in such a visible way today -- we walk by faith, not by sight -- the principle is still valid. Move when the Lord moves, and not before, because "darkness about going is light about staying.""
How true that should be in our own lives. In Experiencing God, Henry Blackabee said that, until you hear differently from God, you are to keep doing the last thing He told you to do.
The sidebar in my Bible today, taken from Guidance: Making Sure Of God's Direction by Phillip Yancey, says: "Does God guide? Yes. Most times, I believe, He guides in subtle ways, by feeding ideas into our minds, speaking through a nagging sensation of dissatisfaction, inspiring us to choose better than we otherwise would have done, bringing to the surface hidden dangers of temptation, and perhaps by rearranging certain circumstances ..."
I think Yancey nailed it. I remember so well asking my Sunday School class one time, "How do you hear from God? I sure need to know!" But no one had an answer. In a Sunday School class! How amazingly God has filled in those blanks since then.
Yancey finished with an awesome illustration: "A picture is being painted for me, for all who are called sons and daughters of God. Yet it does not take shape until enough time passes for me to stand up and look back on what colors and designs have been laid down. If I saw the pattern in advance, a sort of schema for paint-by-numbers, that would leave no room for faith. And besides, God does not paint-by-numbers."
Father, I've been so amazed an engaged in watching what You're doing and what You are telling me. Where once I seemed only to hear the hiss of static, it now seems like You're talking on thousands of channels at once! Please continue to train me to listen for what You're telling me. Don't let me miss any times that the cloud begins to move. I don't want to get out from under Your loving watchcare over me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Numbers 11-14 An Attitude Of Ungratefulness
The people were complaining. What about? They were bored with their food! God had brought them out of slavery, they were free for the first time, and they were so grateful for all this that they complained about the free food that r
The people were complaining. What about? They were bored with their food! God had brought them out of slavery, they were free for the first time, and they were so grateful for all this that they complained about the free food that required little work on their parts and tasted like bread baked in olive oil!
God could have simply stopped the daily deliveries. Once they'd starved for several days, they might have become more appreciative of how He was watching over them. Instead, in His love, He gave them what they asked for -- meat in the form of quail heaped 3' deep for as far as they could see. They literally did get sick of it, and those who'd complained the most actually died . They named that place "The Graves Of Lusting."
Over and over in these chapters "the people refused the good the Lord wanted to give them, so they had to suffer the evil THEY'D chosen instead," my commentary said.
How many times have I passed up the good that God has offered me, and ended up having to settle for the evil I chose instead? WAY TOO MANY TIMES!
Had those people faithfully and gratefully accepted the manna and not complained, things might have turned out quite differently.
Ten of the twelve spies worried more about the present inhabitants of the Promised Land than they did about the idea that God would ever break one of His promises, by not bringing them into the Promised Land as conquerors!
After receiving a tail-chewing from God, they sheepishly headed toward the border for battle, despite Moses' warnings not to go. He said, "Why are you disobeying the Lord's command? You WILL NOT WIN! Unfortunately, their pride won out and they disobeyed God by attacking and were soundly beaten back.
Anytime we become ungrateful for a gift of God, we'd better do an attitude check. And anytime we choose to go against God's will, we have to understand that we cannot win!
Father, yesterday was just a really bad day. So many things went wrong. How quickly I can forget Your past mercies when circumstances close in around me. I pray that You will grant me the forward-sightedness of Joshua and Caleb. Lead me to turn loose of pride, lust, or anything else that I've had ahold of, and help me to cling to You for Your future mercies and grace.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Numbers 15 -- It's Intentional
I don't know any other good way to put this -- it must have absolutely sucked to be living as a part of that Hebrew community in these chapters. Here's why:For every unintentional sin, a female goat had to be offered to obtain forgivene
I don't know any other good way to put this -- it must have absolutely sucked to be living as a part of that Hebrew community in these chapters. Here's why:
For every unintentional sin, a female goat had to be offered to obtain forgiveness of sin. I'd have to buy 200 acres just to raise enough goats for my sons and me! But the real stir comes in verse 30:
"But anyone who sins on purpose is against the Lord and must be cut off from the people .. That person has turned against the Lord's word and has not obeyed His commands... He is guilty."
There was no offering for intentional sin. There was no way to obtain forgiveness before Christ cam and died for us. I'm afraid that, for me, the intentional sins would far outweigh the unintentional ones. And that just proves our utter hopelessness and our need for a Savior.
When you look at what they face, I think we can better understand just how flippant we have become about any intentional sin. Because it says here that any intentional sin shows that we are against the Lord.
Father, this seems to be the week that Satan set aside just to torment me, and I know I've had to come before you humbly several times already for intentional sins. I thank You that I am forgiven through Your Son. Thank You for waiting to bring me into the world until You'd already offered Him up for my sins.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Numbers 16-17 When Is It Considered Rebellion?
Korah was from the tribe of Levi -- the tribe God had set apart to work with the priests. Additionally, he was from the family of Kohath -- the family group designated to be "the handlers" of the Ark of the Covenant. He therefor
Korah was from the tribe of Levi -- the tribe God had set apart to work with the priests. Additionally, he was from the family of Kohath -- the family group designated to be "the handlers" of the Ark of the Covenant. He therefore had a very special job. Apparently, it wasn't enough for him. He wanted more. He believed that he should be allowed to be a priest, but God had reserved that function for one special family. Only Aaron and his descendants could be priests, and Korah wasn't from that family.
Korah challenged Moses' authority, even saying, "All the people are holy, every one of them ..." He knew this wasn't true, but probably said it to gain popularity among the people.
God wasn't about to let such rebellion get started, and He led Moses to pronounce God's judgment on them. As Moses stopped speaking, the ground opened up and swallowed Korah and his family. Then fire came down from heaven and destroyed the 250 older leaders who'd sided with Korah.
The very next day, the people began to complain against Moses and Aaron for killing "God's people". God had heard enough, and a plague began to run through the people, killing instantly. At Moses' direction, Aaron ran among the crowd offering incense to remove their sins, and that's where the plague stopped, but not before 14,700 more had died.
God takes rebellion seriously. Whether it was rebellion against God's chosen leaders (Moses and Aaron), or rebellion against God Himself, it's important to remember how God feels about intentional sin -- it brings death. Although as Christians, we can count on God's forgiveness, intentional sin IS rebellion against God just as seriously as Korah's rebellion. I don't think most of us realize that. And the sin doesn't have to be evidenced by actions. It's the thought that counts.
Father, I've slipped some in policing my own thought life lately. I can feel Your Holy Spirit's pressure warning me that thoughts can lead to actions, and I fully agree. Guard my thoughts, Father. Examine me and remove anything within me that is not of You. Thank You for showing me that when we do take care of the thoughts, the actions will take care of themselves. I have no desire to ever rebel against Your rule in my life. Keep reminding me that intentional sin is rebellion.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Numbers 18-20 It's In The TONE
Moses had been called "the most humble man ever." Yet 38 years in the desert, waiting for the 600,000 or so who'd originally left Egypt to die could tax anyone's patience. He's now back at the spot where the spies ha
Moses had been called "the most humble man ever." Yet 38 years in the desert, waiting for the 600,000 or so who'd originally left Egypt to die could tax anyone's patience. He's now back at the spot where the spies had first been sent into the Promised Land. That old generation is all but gone, and unfortunately the new generation isn't doing much better. They're complaining about not having water and just about everything else.
Moses had always represented God well, but something different happened that day. He and his brother Aaron went before God, who appeared to them and told Moses to take Aaron's walking stick that had budded and speak to the rock in front of the people so that water would flow from it.
Gathering the people, Moses modified the script somewhat. He spoke to the people, not the rock, saying, "Now, listen to me, you who turn against God! Do you want us to bring water out of this rock?" He struck the rock twice and water flowed out.
So what's the big deal? Imagine the original design. Moses walks out of the Meeting Tent, walks over to the rock, and says something to the rock like, "Rock, give your water." The tone is different. There isn't this judgmental attitude toward the people, calling them "you who turn against God." And there's also some self-aggrandizement: "Listen to me.... Do you want us to bring water...?"
My commentary said Aaron's walking stick denoted the priesthood, while Moses' walking stick was the rod of judgment and power. The verses mention Moses' taking "the stick from in front of the Lord" (Aaron's stick), but when the rock is struck, they don't call it Aaron's stick, but instead "his (Moses') stick. Did he change it out?
Instead of being seen as a blessing and gift from God, the water that flowed out probably made the people think of God having withheld this treasure for a time, then having grudgingly provided it. That's not the way God was to have been represented.
Today, as a Christian, I represent God to both believers and nonbelievers. All Christians do. Our tone may be reflecting God in an unflattering light at times. Moses paid for his mistake by not being allowed to enter the Promised Land after all those years of leading an ungrateful nation. We'll still get to enter our promised land -- heaven. But will God say that our tone caused us to misrepresent Him?
Father, I realize this particularly as I talk with my sons. I want them to see You in me, and often I don't do such a great job. Please help me to represent You well. Help them to see Your love and watchcare over them through me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Numbers 21-24 Double-Minded, Not Two-Faced
It may seem difficult to determine exactly what Balaam was doing wrong in these chapters. It took some digging on my part over the years. After all, he keeps telling Balak (the guy who'd hired him to curse the Israelites) that he can
It may seem difficult to determine exactly what Balaam was doing wrong in these chapters. It took some digging on my part over the years. After all, he keeps telling Balak (the guy who'd hired him to curse the Israelites) that he can only say what God tells him to say.
Yet when he allowed himself to be hired to potentially curse the Israelites, he was in fact setting himself up against God. Even though he'd left himself an "out" in his employment contract, he is still traveling for the intended purpose of cursing the Israelites.
I think God would accuse Balaam of being double-minded. He wanted to get his profit from whichever side won out. For all his "show", he wasn't necessarily for God. He lived for profit. It even seemed like he attempted to bless himself once, saying, "Oh, that I might end up like them," speaking of the Israelites he'd just blessed.
When his potential employers had first approached him, he inquired of God, who plainly and clearly told him not to go with them and not to curse the Israelites. When they returned with a second offer, the correct response would seem to have been, "I've already heard from God on this. The answer is "NO!"
Instead, like a whining child, he asks "just one more time." Surely acting in grace, God says, "Go, but don't say anything." By taking that step, Balaam is moving outside of the protection he might otherwise have received from God. In fact, he suffered a crushed foot and a sore arm from flailing his donkey, who'd heard from God and stopped when Balaam hadn't.
Double-mindedness -- being loyal to two different and oftentimes opposing forces -- does not indicate loyalty to either, but in fact disloyalty to both, and it is still a problem today. Although there may be some virtue in correctly choosing the godly option, it's always better never to find yourself in that situation.
Father, my mind can be my biggest enemy at times. Possibly I could say it is my will instead of my mind that is the problem, for it is my will that ultimately decides what I will allow into my mind. I pray that You will show me clearly when I am being double-minded. Help me to resolve at that point to walk solely with You and not another. Don't let me hold out for second-best when You have Your very best planned for me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Numbers 25-27 Spiritual Attention-Deficit Disorder
The Israelites are camped at the doorstep to the Promised Land. The last of the previous generation who had known life in Egypt were all gone. The time to enter into their inheritance has just about arrived. Are they singing praises
The Israelites are camped at the doorstep to the Promised Land. The last of the previous generation who had known life in Egypt were all gone. The time to enter into their inheritance has just about arrived. Are they singing praises to God and thanking Him for His great provision for them?
No. They are having sex with the women of Moab, following them as they make their sacrifices to their gods, and even eating food that's been sacrificed to other gods! It always seems that we humans are most capable of sin when we are experiencing incredible spiritual victories. Why is that?
Our first reaction is to blame Satan. On the cusp of spiritual victories, Satan will be trying his hardest to tempt us to sin, hoping to spoil that "best" God has planned for us and also hoping to ruin our witness and discredit and disrespect God.
It seems that what we have to watch out for the most, though, is not the direct attack, but the indirect attack as we see in chapter 25.
Previously, Balak had promised rewards to Balaam for cursing the Israelites. God had forbidden this, and Balaam wouldn't speak a curse. But he desired Balak's money and apparently told Balak how he might achieve the same result without Balaam's curse being pronounced. "Just use the women of Moab," he probably advised. "The Israelite men won't be able to resist. They'll curse themselves."
The Israelite men were watching for enemies outside their camp. They'd never thought about the enemy within. They were suffering from spiritual attention-deficit disorder (ADD).
I don't think we realize how much we suffer from it as well. I watched as it happened several times to me this morning during my quiet time. Each time I was in the middle of something good and Satan seemed to deliver just the right distractions at just the right times to pull my attention away from what I was doing. Once I discovered what had been happening, I felt pretty sheepish as I kept turning back to what I'd been thinking about those Israelite men and their stupidity. I'm not all that different.
Father God, my sin nature is the cause of and not my excuse for my spiritual ADD. I get really tired of having to admit my sins to You and ask for Your forgiveness. I imagine that it gets really old for You. Make me all the more aware of moments when my thoughts begin to roam, especially during my quiet times. Help me to shut out all distractions and to listen better to what You are saying to me. Put spiritual blinders on me to keep my focus on You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Numbers 28-30 The Treadmill
God directed a calendar of holy days to help the Israelites remember him and what He had done and would be doing in their lives. Because Jesus would not arrive in the world to die for their sins for centuries, God directed the offering of bulls
God directed a calendar of holy days to help the Israelites remember him and what He had done and would be doing in their lives. Because Jesus would not arrive in the world to die for their sins for centuries, God directed the offering of bulls, sheep, lambs, goats, flour, olive oil, and wine along with incense on a regular basis. The priests probably felt more like butchers than pastors, and the continual flow of blood from around the altar would probably have had a chilling effect on those who sinned and came to realize the cost. (Over the course of a year, at least 8 male goats were directed to be offered as a sin offering to remove their sins. I could just imagine the children of a family, having tended and played with their goats, watching as their father once again selected a goat to take to the Tent of the Meeting to be slaughtered for their sins.)
My commentary said, "Ever since there was a Jewish temple, and so long as the temple continued to exist, this routine of sacrifice went on. There was a kind of priestly treadmill of sacrifice. Moffatt speaks of 'the levitical drudges' who, day in and day out, kept offering these sacrifices. There was NO END to this process, and when all was said and done, it still left men conscious of their sin and alienation from God."
At the bottom of my journal page was printed, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want." These people were forever consigned to "be in want", for they wanted and needed absolution for their sins. They wanted to feel the cleansing and the burden lifted, but they never were able. How gracious of God to provide us, through the death of our Shepherd, the method to finally achieve what Psalm 23:1 says.
Father, I have sinned, and I know the deep sense of relief that comes when I have admitted my sin and asked You for forgiveness. Thank You for that most wonderful provision. Thank You for taking care of that "want". Most of all, thank You for changing a religion into a relationship.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Numbers 31-33 When God Sounds "UnGodly"
God told Moses, "Pay back the Midianites for what they did to the Israelites; after that you will die." (That doesn't sound like a job anyone would be in a big hurry to get finished.)The world will take offense to what God ordered
God told Moses, "Pay back the Midianites for what they did to the Israelites; after that you will die." (That doesn't sound like a job anyone would be in a big hurry to get finished.)
The world will take offense to what God ordered -- all of the male soldiers, the boys, and the women who'd ever had sex were to be destroyed. The remaining younger girls would supposedly become household servants for the Israelites.
Why would God, who is known for being full of love, order such "inhumane" destruction, the world would ask. These were the very people who had intentionally seduced and corrupted the Israelite men there on the plains of Moab, just before they were to step into the Promised Land. They weren't innocent. It wasn't just about sex, either. They'd led the Israelite men to worship their gods and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
They'd been used by Satan in his last attempt to prevent God's children from entering the Promised Land that He'd prepared for them. And they'd done it willingly.
The world has also taken issue with Israel, as an invading army, coming in and taking over the territory of Canaan, slaughtering the inhabitants. The world fails to see that God had been dealing with the inhabitants of Canaan for over 400 years, trying to stop their idol worship and "sex in the name of religion" that was corrupting them and keeping them from knowing Him. Those people hadn't cared. God wouldn't allow them to stay in a land He'd richly blessed, knowing that they would corrupt His people before long.
We may think we know best, and that what we decide is "civil" is correct, but God knows better. He knows the depths of the human heart. He knows how easily we are moved by fleshly things. And because He knows, He gave His Son to die for us to bring us nearer to Him so that we may be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life pleasing to Him.
Father, I once thought like the world, and I doubted Your motives and Your methods. I'm so glad that you wised me up by showing me how stupid I really was. You are God and everything You do is right. Thank You for caring so much for me that You would do anything to draw me closer to You and keep me from sin.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Numbers 34-36 What God Said That Made My Day
God was telling them how this new Promised Land was going to be divided just before they entered. He said, "These are the men who will divide the land: Eleazer the priest and Joshua son of Nun." I imagine that they all fel
God was telling them how this new Promised Land was going to be divided just before they entered. He said, "These are the men who will divide the land: Eleazer the priest and Joshua son of Nun." I imagine that they all felt like those two were no big surprise. But then God continued: "Also take one leader from each tribe to help ... Caleb ... Shemuel ... Elidad..."
I can just imagine what it must have felt like to be standing there among the million or so and out of all of them, hearing God call my name! My response would probably have resembled David's: "Who am I Lord, that You take notice of me??"
But it's not so much, I think, about being picked for a job, but that He KNOWS me! My head says, "Of course God knows you. He knows everything. He's known you since before the worlds was created. It's in the Bible!"
Yes, but ..... my heart is thrilled that the Creator of the universe should take notice of me, much less that He would have already directed a path for my life and that He works unceasingly to help me stay upon it.
Who am I, Lord?? Warts and all, attracted to sin, so often having to apologize to You and ask for forgiveness....I'm not worth it, Father, but still You love me. And knowing what I'd be like at this stage of life and everything I would experience -- good or bad -- You still chose to create me and to have Your Son die for me. You are some kind of Father, friend, God, and Savior. I love You!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
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