Numbers 11:24-13:33
When it rains, it pours. All of these events happened very near to each other. Even with the obvious presence of God in their midst, even with the signs of His power and blessing, people still acted like people.
Num. 11:24-30
Apparently not all 70 elders made it to the tent. When the spirit came upon them, they prophesied, spoke the word of God with strength and conviction to the people to direct them to follow God. The other guys stopped prophesying, but the two guys who didn't make it to the tent kept on going. It might be that this gift is people intensive and they were among the people.
We've met Joshua before, but now his father is named. Tomorrow we'll hear more about Joshua.
What I find interesting is that Moses doesn't feel threatened, because this rose out of a genuine need that Moses begged for. His God-given desperation saved him from being closed to bringing on more leaders.
Num. 11:31-36
The birds probably were not piled 2-3 feet high, but were so dense that they only flew that high and were very easy to catch.
In the plague, the idea here is that God took care of the people with the craving, who began the avalanche of carnality that covered the camp. The timing factor is very interesting. They had it in their mouths, but didn't get to enjoy the food they craved. I'm sure some people were punished who got caught up in the sins of these other people.
God moved the people.
Num. 12:1-16
So we have heard nothing of Miriam since the Red Sea. Apparently in all of this she was the instigator and jealousy was the motive. She used Moses' intermarriage as a tool to breed discontent with Aaron. Aaron and Miriam would have both had true-blue Israelite spouses. The fact that Miriam is punished here shows that she was the real force behind the problem and discontent.
That Moses was "meek," didn't make him "weak." Meek would mean, "non-aggressively" strong. He didn't have to fight to feel secure and in the following cases, it isn't weakness that makes him fall on his face. He realizes that the decisions people are making will bring God's wrath.
It is interesting that God says He is the one who makes the choice of whom He talks to. It wasn't Moses' fault that God chose Moses. I'm sure, in a way, if Moses could have retired to a little chalet in the Alps and left someone else in charge, he would have been there, but God didn't give him that choice.
In a way, it is true with us as disciples, "success" is not our fault. It isn't even based on our talent or skills. God makes the choice. On the one hand, there is no room for pride, and on the other hand, there is no room for envy. When the disciples of John the Baptist complain to John about Jesus' growing popularity, "John answered, "No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven." John 3:27
So, the entire nation waits 7 days for Miriam.
Num. 13:1-33
So far things haven't been pretty, and now it goes totally bad.
The Lord says to send out spies. In Deuteronomy 1:21-2, Moses says it was the people's idea. I believe God simply said OK to the desire of the people. So, I think the idea originated from the fear and uncertainty of the people, but God allowed them to send the spies to confirm for the people that the land was good.
I don't know if they teach the children's song in Sunday school anymore, "10 were bad and 2 were good." We don't need to focus on the bad guys, just the good guys, and tomorrow we'll hear more.
Notice that Joshua is mentioned today in 11:28, 13:8 and 13:16. Based on 13:16, and Joshua's past history with Moses, I believe Joshua was the leader on their adventure.
Now just to put some of this in perspective, these men traveled together and talked together for 40 days. That should have brought some closeness. I've seen something like this happen in a group, oddly enough, of 12 men. Based on what I saw there, I'll suggest this. Not all of the spies were bad men, but they were not men of faith. They were swayed by the majority in the group. There were men who could see the merit of both sides of the argument when they sat at night and talked. Some of these men certainly were friendly to the point of view of Caleb and Joshua. But when it came down to the decision, it was rooted in fear and practicality, not in the reality of an awesome God. I'll bet, when they spoke to the multitude of people, Joshua and Caleb were surprised, hurt, shocked, to hear what came out of some of their mouths.
We are introduced here to Caleb first in 13:6 and then in a big way in 13:30. Caleb quieted the people. Strength and confidence in God, but he was only one man.
So what was the real problem? Giants. You would think that with all they saw in Egypt, this would be nothing.
I have seen this in church groups. If you want to see a good possibility or direction be defeated, allow the deciding group to grow and allow criticism to grow, saying, "Well, that is a valid point." The voices of faith and confidence in God get drowned out in the laughter.
Here, God isn't laughing. If you want a good man to use as a model of a disciple, look at Caleb. Tomorrow we'll read more. Just as trivia, notice the tribes that Caleb and Joshua come from. Remember the last words of Jacob. Tomorrow will be a sad day for Israel.
Mark 14:22-52
I just have a couple of observations.
First, as they were going to the Mount of Olives Jesus told them they would fall away to help them cope after they did fall away. Also, the 3 disciples eventually recovered from their failure to wait with Jesus. They kept falling asleep, but the joy of the resurrection must have erased their guilt. Peter's "fall" was deeper and he needed Jesus to pull him up.
I still think it's funny that it will take reading Luke's account before we realize that Jesus healed/reattached the cut off right ear. In artistic language you could say that Peter, "Van Goghed" the man, although for Vincent it was the left earlobe, and for the slave of the high priest, it was the entire right ear.
The young man who ran away naked is supposed to be Mark, meaning he was there for much of this. It is interesting that all the disciples get away. It is only here that we realize that the mob was looking to grab others, too. Maybe the sword play.
Psalm 52
It is sort of hard to think of these as songs sung in worship. Doeg was a real Dog. The soldiers at least had the faith and sense not to kill the priest of the Lord, but not Doeg the Edomite. He launched right in and killed the priests and their families.
God's judgment on Doeg is seen to be "typical" of how He will judge all evildoers.
The good part of the Psalm is verses 8-9. David was now on the run from Saul, and his lying had gotten others in trouble. Slowly David was learning to overcome his own fear by being secure in the love of God.
Proverbs 11:1-3
Imagine that verse one is a symbolic principle and the next 2 verses expand on that symbolism.
False balance = pride and crookedness
Just weight = humility and integrity.
Humility and integrity come from having a just way to understand and weigh life, the love of God and the Word of God.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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