Deuteronomy 2-3 And Chrysler's Old Ad Campaign

God had promised protection for obedience, even for people who weren’t Israelites.  The people of Edom were descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob (later called Israel), and as the Israelites traveled through their county, God had warned the people of Edom to let them have safe passage.  He also told the Israelites to pay them in silver for any water or food they consumed along the way.  So the land of Edom remained in the hands of its owners.

God made the same agreement with the people of Moab, who were descended from Abraham’s nephew Lot, and they too were able to keep their land.

The Amorites, however, failed to heed God’s warning and fought against Israel.  As a result, God removed His protection and they were completely wiped out as a nation. 

It wasn’t just the enemies of Israel who found themselves at odds with God.  Although he’d led the Israelites from their exodus from Egypt through all their wanderings for 40 years, and although he’d spoken directly to God, an act of disobedience disqualified MOSES from entering the land God had been leading him toward. 

Just as Israel was tasked with entering the Promised Land and removing the existing inhabitants, who had disobeyed God to the point where He wanted them gone, God had spent the 40 years of desert wanderings removing the Israelite generation that had left Egypt because they’d been unwilling to obey Him and take the land when they’d first arrived at the border.  God’s commands resemble the old advertising campaign used by Chrysler:  “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!”  He has little use for anyone who steadfastly opposes His will.

Father, for too long I opposed You, yet in love You kept reaching out to me until I finally was able to see and understand how much You really did love me, sinner that I am.  Thank You for bringing me into Your Promised Land and for giving me the chance to serve You.  How I wish I hadn’t wasted all those years fighting You!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Deuteronomy 1 -- Had They Only LISTENED!

God is retelling the story, through Moses, of the 11-day trip from Mt. Sinai, where the Law was given, to the Promised Land.  Only the audience was different.  Besides Moses, Joshua, and Caleb, all of the original cast had died.  God wanted to remind the children of those who’d left Egypt of what their parents had done wrong – not following God’s commands to take the land.  Now it was their turn to obey.

I thought of how vastly different those first books of the Bible would have been had they obeyed the first time.  Instead of sending in spies to the Promised Land, as the people requested, Moses would have simply walked in to the Promised Land with all the people in tow.  They would have quickly defeated all of their enemies and established themselves in the land, rather than spending 40 years in the desert eating manna.  What our fears DO to us!  What they should have feared more is God.  And He’s the One they should have trusted instead of their fear.

Father, help me to be assured when You speak to me.  Remind me that the consequences of disobedience will always far exceed the minor inconveniences that might crop up by following You.  As You reminded them, remind me often.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Leviticus 27 -- Thank You That We Don't Have To Do THAT

There’s much talk here about “gifts” to the Lord, yet there’s just as much talk about “buying them back” from God for 20% more than their value.  It seems like people wanted to give, but then wanted back what they’d given!  My commentary says that things that were consecrated or sanctified by a vow could be redeemed, but things that were proscribed or devoted were given completely and finally, and could not be redeemed.  What a mess!

I tend to agree with Matthew Henry’s comment in my commentary:  “We can rejoice that we are not under the dark shadows of the law, but enjoying the clear light of the gospel … That we are not under the heavy yoke of the law and the carnal ordinances of it, but under the sweet and easy institutions of the gospel … Having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a true heart, and in full assurance of faith, worshipping God with so much the more cheerfulness and humble confidence, still saying, Blessed be God for Jesus Christ!”

Father, thank You that we don’t have to be hip-deep in the blood of sacrifices because Your Son chose to die for us on the cross.  Let us never forget the terrible price He paid to free us forever from those obligations!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Leviticus 26 -- What The Signs Are Telling Us

God wanted obedience from His people then, just as He still does today.  So many feel that obedience means bondage to a set of rules, but instead it means freedom from worry about consequences.

God enumerated all of the blessings He would pour out to a nation who loved Him and obeyed Him.  By looking at them, I think it’s possible to determine whether or not God feels that our nation is being obedient or not.  He promises these blessings:

                Rain at the right time

                Abundant crops

                Safety

                Peace

                Lack of fear

                Protection from wild animal attacks

                Ability to defeat enemies

                Fertility

                Fruitfulness

                And most importantly, His presence with us.

With the extended droughts, crop failures, and inability to achieve final success in stamping out terrorism, it seems to say a lot today about how well we’re choosing to obey Him.

Father, how I pray that, as a nation, we come back to You – that we stop trying to cut You out of our government and our schools.  Father, please cause us to see what our national disobedience is costing us, and help us to deal with our national sin so that we may once again enjoy the full extent of Your blessings and grace.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Leviticus 25 -- What To Make Of This

I’ve never known how to take this chapter, because so many in the world try to blame God for allowing slavery.  But as I read today, God showed me the humanity of what He set up here as opposed to what the world imposed back then and even now. 

People found themselves in economic hardship back then as well as now, whether from circumstances beyond their control or by choices they had made.  In the rest of the world at that time, that would mean total devastation for the person and his family forever.  They were locked in by those circumstances or choices.

Here, God set limits on that.  He called for a general reset – a Jubilee – every fifty years that would return land to families forced to sell it.  Instead of slavery forever, He set up what amounted to “contracts for hire” for a limited time.  He also instituted buyback provisions so that these “contracts” could be undone.  This was vastly more humane than what existed then.  It also instituted hope, yet kept responsibility and accountability.  There wasn’t any free ride or entitlement to let people off the hook, but there was also the call for families to take care of their relatives.  If they failed to do so, then there was a safety net.  All was not lost.  There’s much wisdom in this.

Father, I’m sorry that I doubted You on this.  You are wise beyond all my ability to understand.  You can see things that we can’t.  Thank You for sharing that wisdom with us.  Help us to see these concepts as just and merciful, and not as enslaving.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Leviticus 23-24 -- What's In It For Us?

The Jewish feasts which Gold told Moses to institute had several sets of meanings.  For the Jews, the Sabbath recalled God’s rest after their creation.  The Passover remembered God’s power to save.  The Firstfruits recalled how thankful they should be for God’s provision, while the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) celebrated His strength and watchcare.  The Feast of Trumpets was a time to reflect on all God had done and to understand that no work on our part could change our standing before Him, while the Day of Cleansing reminded them of their sin and their need of a Savior.  The Feast of Shelters was associated with final harvest and God’s provision for them.

My commentary highlighted what these feasts foreshadowed for Christians:

The Sabbath reminds us that God created us.

The Passover speaks of Calvary – God saving us.

The Feast of Firstfruits reminds us of Christ’s resurrection – the first of all who will be resurrected.

The Feast of Pentecost notes the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Looking to the future, the Feast of Trumpets pictures Israel being regathered.

The Day of Atonement looks forward to the remnant of Israel repenting and acknowledging Jesus as Messiah.

The Feast of Tabernacles sees Israel enjoying the millennial reign of Christ.

So these weren’t just about history, and they weren’t solely for the Israelites.  They pointed them to their Savior.  I pray that they will see Him in them and that we will acknowledge all that God has done for us, prepictured for us all those thousands of years ago.

Father, there is no waste in anything You have us do.  These feasts were there for a reason.  Use them to remind us today of Your watchcare and love for us.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Leviticus 20-22 Giving Our Best

God set high standards for the Jewish priests who could present offerings before Him.  Physical perfection was required, and staying away from uncleanness to insure that they could present offerings meant they couldn’t defile themselves by touching dead bodies.  I can certainly understand God requiring ritual cleanliness – not bringing anything of sin into His presence.  I’ve had trouble determining how this reconciles with ministering to those who’ve just lost loved ones and are in need of comfort.  Priests were forbidden from even entering a house where people had died, and touching a person who had touched a dead person made priests unclean as well.  Ritual cleansing could apparently take care of things, but the priest would be disqualified from service until he’d fulfilled those requirements.

Offerings of livestock required sacrificing the best animals, too.  God would be offended by offerings of damaged or sick animals.

All of this didn’t mean that God hated those who were physically imperfect.  What He wanted them – and us – to see was that He expects us to offer Him 100%.  We honor Him by giving our best – not be withholding it for ourselves.  We won’t impoverish ourselves by giving in that way.  It’s impossible to outgive God.  By choosing to give our best, whether in offerings, time, talent, or anything else, we are respecting him as Holy.  That’s what He wants from us.

Father, help me never to give out of my leftovers.  I want to love You enough to give out of my firstfruits, trusting that You will take care of me if I trust fully in You.  May my offerings be acceptable to You, O God, in the New Year, whether of money, time, talents, or love.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford